Apple ends free repair program for MacBook butterfly keyboard, users have to pay for it themselves

Apple’s butterfly keyboard free service plan for some MacBook models officially ended last weekend. The plan has been implemented for nearly six and a half years since its launch. Apple and its authorized service providers will no longer offer free repair service for MacBook owners with defective keyboards. The program has ended. In some special cases, however, users may still receive free repairs for the MacBook butterfly keyboard issue. For more tech updates, visit GearBest Blog.

For much of the 21st century, MacBook keyboards used a traditional scissor-foot switch mechanism.

In March 2015, Apple launched the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook with a new butterfly switch mechanism. This keyboard design fit into the slim body of the MacBook but was prone to issues like repeated keystrokes and unresponsive keys.

In October 2016, Apple updated the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with the second-generation butterfly keyboard. Users soon began complaining about sticky keys and unresponsiveness. A few years later, Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard to the MacBook Air series, which led to even more complaints.

In May 2018, Apple faced a class-action lawsuit in the United States for knowingly using a defective butterfly keyboard. That same year, an online petition about the issue gathered nearly 43,000 signatures.

In June 2018, Apple launched the “Keyboard Service Plan” globally. The program covered certain MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models. It stated that a small number of keyboards in these models could experience issues like repeated characters, missing letters, or sticky, sluggish, or inconsistent key responses.

Apple and its authorized service providers offered free repairs for MacBook keyboards for four years after the first retail sale of affected laptops. However, this service window has now closed as all eligible models were discontinued four years ago.

Eligible MacBook models included the Early 2015 12-inch Retina MacBook, the Early 2016 and 2017 12-inch Retina MacBook, and the 2018 and 2019 13-inch Retina MacBook Air. Several 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models were also eligible.

In March 2019, Apple issued an apology for the keyboard issue. An Apple spokesperson stated, “We are aware that a small number of users have experienced problems with the third-generation butterfly keyboard, and we apologize for this. However, the vast majority of Mac notebook users have had a positive experience with the new keyboard.”

In November 2019, Apple officially abandoned the butterfly keyboard with the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The company switched back to the scissor foot switch mechanism, which had been well-received by users. Furthermore, the MacBook Air adopted this change in March 2020, followed by the 13-inch MacBook Pro in May 2020. As a result, this marked the official end of the MacBook’s troubled butterfly keyboard era. Today, all MacBook models equipped with Apple’s self-developed chips continue to use scissor keyboards.

In July 2022, Apple agreed to pay $50 million to resolve a U.S. class action lawsuit related to the MacBook butterfly keyboard issue. Affected users who submitted valid claims before the March 2023 deadline received compensation ranging from $50 to $395.