How to Fix a MacBook Spacebar

The space bar has three white clips keeping it in place, while other keys only have one.

Replacing a Macbook's space bar is slightly harder than fixing other keys. Each key has one white clip that attaches it to the keyboard. The space bar, on the other hand, has three white clips, in addition to two metal tabs and two U-shaped metal bars, to keep it in place. If you need to remove your space bar to replace a broken one or clean it due to sticking and crumbs, you can do it by pressing the bar in the correct places and lifting it off.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swab or cleaning wipe

Instructions

1. Take the "C", "M" and "Command" keys off the keyboard. Place your fingernail under the key and carefully lift it up until it unclips itself. Removing these keys will give you more space to remove the space bar and clean.

2. Press the lower half of the space bar firmly. The upper half will be higher than the other keys on the keyboard.

3. Press the upper side of the space bar firmly. The lower half will then be higher than the other keys. The change in height will cause the metal bars to unhook themselves from the space bar, and coincidentally unclip the two metal tabs. You may need to do this more than once to get each piece unclipped; you will hear a distinctive click.

4. Press the left side of the space bar until you hear a click. This means the left white clip is undone.

5. Press the right side of the space bar until you hear a click. Then press the center of the space bar until you hear a click. At this point, all the clips and hooks will be undone.

6. Pull the space bar away from the keyboard carefully.

7. Use a cotton swab or cleaning wipe to clean the now-exposed area of the keyboard. Wipe the space bar key clean as well, since sticky substances and crumbs can get stuck to it.

8. Place the space bar back on the keyboard in the correct location and click it in place.

9. Replace the "C", "M" and "Command" keys.

Tips & Warnings

• You can get a new space bar key by going to your local Apple store or contacting their customer services.

References

• DSC: Replacing Space Bar Key on Apple Macbook Pro