How to Fix a Laptop's Broken Keys From Water Damage

You can replace water damaged keyboard keys.

Water and laptops don't mix well, but if only a few laptop keys stop working after a liquid mishap you may not have to replace the entire laptop. Since your keyboard keys are attached separately, you can remove and replace individual malfunctioning keys. Each key is locked to a plastic hinge that lets the key pop up and down, so replacing the hinge is usually necessary to fix the water damaged key.

Things You'll Need

• Flat-head screwdriver
• Cloth
• Needle nose pliers
• Keyboard key replacement kit

Instructions

1. Click the laptop's "Start" menu and select the "Shut Down" option. Close the laptop's top cover lid after the operating system turns off and unplug any cables attached to the computer.

2. Rotate the laptop case so the bottom half is facing upward. Set the laptop down on a flat work surface and locate the rectangular battery pack, which is located near either the top or bottom edge of the case. Press down the battery pack's release latch and slide it toward the unlock setting.

3. Pull the battery pack upward and remove it from the laptop's case. Turn the laptop over again so the top half of the case is facing upward and pull open the top cover lid so the keyboard becomes visible.

4. Locate the key that has been damaged by water. Insert the edge of a flat-head screwdriver underneath any side of the key and lift upward until the key pops off the keyboard and the plastic hinge and rubber plunger pieces become visible.

5. Grip the right side of the square plastic hinge and lift the hinge off the rubber plunger. If you have difficulty removing the hinge, grip the edge of the component with a pair of needle nose pliers and pull it upward.

6. Wipe off the area around the plunger with a cloth if the area is still wet. Set your replacement plastic hinge onto the plunger. Line up the notches on the sides of the hinge with the metal tabs around the plunger and push the hinge down until it snaps into place.

7. Place the replacement key on top of the plunger and plastic hinge. Check to make sure the key is oriented properly with the letter or number facing in the correct direction. Gently push down all four corners simultaneously to lock the new key onto the hinge.

8. Repeat the entire process with any other keys that were water damaged. Close the top lid and turn over the laptop. Push the battery pack back into the laptop's case.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your laptop's manufacturer or access a laptop parts retail website to buy replacement key kits, which include both the key and the plastic hinge.

• In many cases water damage may ruin the entire keyboard, rather than individual keys. In this case, you'll need a replacement keyboard. Remove the Phillips-head screws hidden underneath the battery pack to unlock the keyboard. Press a flat-head screwdriver against the small locking tabs along the top of the keyboard and pull the keyboard toward you. Unplug the cable on the bottom of the keyboard and pull it off the laptop. Connect the cable from a replacement keyboard and set the component back into place. Reconnect the screws underneath the battery pack.

References

• Laptop Repair 101: A Key Fell Off The Laptop Keyboard. Fixing The Problem.
• Machina Electronics: How To Replace A Keyboard Key On A HP Pavilion DV9000