Are you wondering how you can clean your MacBook Pro keyboard? Even if you’re not that serious about cleanliness, maybe one specific keycap got stuck and isn’t working, or perhaps your keyboard is feeling sticky and full of oils and debris.
The good news is that cleaning your MacBook Pro keyboard is actually very easy. In this article, I’ll explain how to clean your MacBook Pro keyboard, step-by-step.
MacBooks are susceptible to dust, crumbs from delicious snacks, and general dirt that can build up over time. Taking a moment to give your keyboard a quick clean will help improve your laptop’s lifespan and hopefully keep your typing experience feeling smooth.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to clean your MacBook Pro keyboard effectively using compressed air and microfiber cloth. We’ll also be looking at what Apple recommends for getting rid of that nasty buildup – as well as what to avoid.
How to clean your MacBook Pro keyboard: quick steps
- Wipe down the keyboard with your microfiber cloth
- Hold your computer at an angle
- Use the compressed air to spray the keyboard, going in a left-to-right motion
- Rotate your computer a few times while doing this to ensure a thorough clean
What you’ll need
Compressed air: A compressed air can will help blow away debris that might be lodged under the keys. It’s also safe for your laptop’s keyboard. You can find this online, or at an office supplies store.
A damp microfiber cloth: Microfiber is a soft type of cloth that is typically used in cleaning electronics. It can pick up dust and debris that could be in between your keys. Be sure to lightly dampen the cloth with water (not soak it) so it’ll be extra easy to pick up dust.
Isopropyl alcohol: This agent is great for disinfecting surfaces and killing germs. It can also remove the sticky feeling from a dirty keyboard. It’s also safer than water on electronics. Make sure it’s rated at 70%, which is safe for electronics at the surface level.
Cottom ball or cotton swabs: You can use these in combination with the alcohol to swab down spots on your keyboard. Make sure to not soak them through, and just lightly dip these materials in the liquid.
Step by step guide
1. How to prep your MacBook Pro before cleaning
Regardless of the model you own, whether it’s an old-school 2016 MacBook Pro or a M2 MacBook Pro, you’ll be able to use this advice across devices with no issue. It’ll also work for external keyboards or other Apple laptops, not just MacBook Pros.
But first, you’ll need to get yourself a can of compressed air, which can easily be found on Amazon for just a few bucks. Once you’ve get your compressed air ready, you can then shut down and unplug your MacBook Pro and give the keyboard an initial wipe down with the microfiber cloth to dislodge any larger pieces of debris.
2. Position your MacBook Pro
Right! Now time for the fun part.
Tilt your MacBook Pro so it’s not flat but also not exactly vertical, at about a 75-degree angle. The straw nozzle of the compressed air canister should be just under an inch away from the keyboard when you spray; not close enough to touch the actual keys, but not too far as to be completely ineffectual.
Don’t turn the nozzle of the can at any strange angles, and avoid turning the can upside down or bending the straw in any way.
Start spraying
Once you’ve got everything angled up, let it rip!
You’re going to want to use the compressed air in steady left-to-right ‘zig-zag’ motions, doing one half of the keyboard at a time. Once you’ve done this you can then rotate your MacBook to its right side and spray the keyboard again from left to right.
Repeat this with the laptop turned onto its left side, then finally upside-down, so you’re blasting the keys from every angle. That’s it – you’re done!
Conclusion
If you have a particularly sticky key or a really grimy build-up that might need a bit more work, Apple also suggests use wiping the keyboard with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol, or even a disinfecting wipe. Just be sure you’re not using anything with bleach in it, as this could damage and discolor the keycaps.
Other general tips from Apple to avoid damaging your MacBook include not wiping too aggressively, not holding the compressed air nozzle too close, and making sure you don’t get any moisture into openings (like the charging port) when wiping it down.