How to Fix Keyboard Keys on a Laptop
Having a key fall off of a laptop keyboard can be quite annoying. As opposed to desktop keyboards, you can't just buy a cheap replacement, and sending the laptop into the shop for a professional fix can be costly and leave you without a computer for weeks. Fortunately, fixing and even replacing laptop keys is not difficult, and with a little bit of care and grace you can have your laptop looking as good as new.
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Instructions
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Replacing Keys
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Make sure that you have all the necessary materials and that they are all in good condition. A laptop key consists of three main parts. On top is the "key cap" which is what you press on when you type a key. Under the cap are two pieces of plastic (usually, though sometimes the set up is a little different, but it shouldn't make much difference) called the "key retainer." Key retainers are often white, but may be different colors depending on your laptop brand. The key cap attaches to the key retainer by a couple small hooks on its underside. The key retainer attaches to the keyboard by a couple small hooks on the keyboard. The final piece is the key gasket, which is a piece of rubber that pushes the key back up after you press on it to type.
Unfortunately, if the key gasket is missing or damaged, you may need to send your laptop to be professionally repaired. If the problem is just with the retainer or the cap, however, you can perform an easy repair yourself. If the cap or the retainer is badly damaged, you can buy replacements; many companies sell replacement keys for their laptops.
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Completely remove the key cap and the key retainer, leaving the key gasket attached to the keyboard. You should see the hooks on the keyboard that hold the key retainer in place. Make sure that the key retainer has not been damaged. If it has been, you will need to buy a replacement.
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Using the needle-nose pliers, carefully slip the pegs on the key retainer (the outer pegs are usually the ones that connect to the keyboard) through the hooks or loops on the keyboard. Make sure to put the two pieces of the key retainer back into place exactly as you found them when you removed the key cap (or when it fell off). If you aren't sure, you can remove the cap of a neighboring key by sliding something narrow under the cap and pressing up gently, and use that retainer as a model.
When you have it in place, you should be able to press down gently on the retainer and have it stay in place.
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Line up the key cap over the retainer and press down gently. You should hear a snap as the hooks on the bottom of the cap click into place with the retainer below it. Don't press down too hard, but take your time to line the cap up properly.
Most of the time, this step is all that is necessary to reattach a key.
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Tips & Warnings
While most parts of keyboards are fairly tough, it's a good idea to treat them with some care. If you find that many keys are coming off, or one key keeps coming off again and again, you may be pressing down too hard when you type. Try typing more lightly.
Be careful when buying replacement key retainers, as different keys on the same keyboard sometimes use slightly different shapes of retainers. Make sure that the replacement you are buying matches the one on your keyboard exactly.
