How to Reattach a Key on a Laptop

What to do when a laptop key comes off

It is common for a key on your laptop to become broken, so what steps do you need for How to Reattach a Key on a Laptop.

Here are some steps you can follow if a key on your laptop comes off:

• Check to see if the laptop key is broken. Sometimes the keys can get stuck or just become loose. If this is the case, all you have to do is return it back into place.
• If the key has indeed been broken, try looking around the keyboard and underneath your laptop for pieces of it. You may be able to snap it back together with no problem.
• If the pieces are too small or missing, you will have to clean out your keyboard in order to get them all out. There are many tutorials online on how to do this properly and safely so that you don’t damage any other components of your keyboard. You also don’t want all those crumbs getting stuck inside!
• After cleaning out your keyboard and finding the pieces of the key, try snapping them back together before putting them back into their proper place on the keyboard. It will help ensure that everything works correctly once it has been put back into place.

Additionally, there are ways you can prevent keys from breaking in the first place:

• Make sure there aren’t any food or drinks near where you’re typing;
• Keep an eye out for hair and dust buildup underneath if possible;
• Don’t use excessive force when typing (especially important with children!).

Find the pieces of your key

• Turn your laptop over and shake it gently. Check the area around the keyboard, including in the crevices between the keys and on top of the keyboard pad. If you don’t find any pieces there check underneath the keyboard pad, then under the keyboard tray and finally in any other areas where a piece might have slipped during that unfortunate moment when things fell apart.
• Look carefully among all of these locations for each missing piece of your key’s top and bottom layers, as well as its springy center layer (if it has one).
• If after a thorough search you still can’t find all of your key’s pieces, consult your manufacturer’s website to see if they’re available for purchase separately.

Clean your keyboard

• Turn your laptop upside down and tap the back of it, then use a can of compressed air to blow out anything sticky or crumb-y.
• Grab an old toothbrush and dip it in some rubbing alcohol, then brush away any remaining dirt or grime with the toothbrush.
• Let the keyboard dry for about five minutes before turning your computer on again.

Put the key back together

• Replace the key.
• Face the piece in the correct direction. The clip should be facing the keyboard.
• Match up the two plastic pieces and snap them back into place, just like they were before you took them apart. In most cases, they will snap easily into place, but in other cases, you may have to press down hard on them to get them to snap together and attach properly. If that’s the case with your laptop keyboard, make sure you push down firmly on both sides of each piece until they click into place.
• Reattach the key securely. After putting everything back together and snapping it unto place, test out your work by pressing down on all sides of the button and making sure it feels secure and is not loose or flimsy when you press down on it from any angle.*

How to keep keys on a laptop

• Take care of your keyboard: Avoid eating or drinking over your keyboard and clean it regularly.
• Don’t drop your laptop: Dropping a laptop can dislodge keys by bending the key support bar, which will cause the key to detach from the support bar. In this situation, you may need to buy a new keyboard.
• Keep your laptop in a bag when transporting it: A laptop is particularly prone to damage while being transported. Keys are more likely to pop off while they are jostled around inside a backpack or other carrying device.

This method should work for almost all laptop key reattachments

If your laptop is missing a keyboard key, you do not have to replace the whole keyboard. You can buy individual replacement keys for about $4, or you can easily repair it yourself for free within minutes.

The above method should work on any laptop with a missing key; however, it is important to note that this is a temporary solution and will not be as sturdy as an original key.

For this reason, it’s recommended that you only use this method while you’re waiting for a replacement part to arrive.

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