Keyboard not working on macOS
Keys that don't type, repeat, or stick on macOS can reflect a connection or power issue, an accessibility setting, an input-layout mismatch, or a physical key problem. Check those layers, then check every key live.
Step-by-step fix
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Reconnect the keyboard: replug a wired keyboard, re-pair Bluetooth, or check its power/charge switch. For a built-in keyboard, restart macOS before changing settings.
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Run the CheckMyMic keyboard test and press each key. A key that never lights up there needs a connection, accessibility, or hardware check; a key that lights up points to the app or input method.
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Check System Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and turn Slow Keys off unless you intentionally use it. Also check System Settings → Accessibility → Pointer Control and turn Mouse Keys off if the keyboard is moving the pointer or the numeric keypad behaves unexpectedly.
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Check the input layout under System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit. Keep the layout you actually use, remove accidental alternatives, and verify the active input source from the menu bar before treating the key as faulty.
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Clean around a stuck or unresponsive key only as the keyboard maker permits. For an external keyboard, compare a direct cable/Bluetooth connection and another computer before considering repair or replacement.
Frequently asked questions
Some keys don't work on macOS — is it broken?
Run the keyboard test and press the affected keys. If they light up there, check the active input source and the app; if they do not, check power/connection and macOS accessibility settings before treating the result as hardware evidence.
Why do keys respond slowly or move the pointer on my Mac?
System Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard contains Slow Keys, which deliberately adds a delay. System Settings → Accessibility → Pointer Control contains Mouse Keys, which can use keyboard keys to move the pointer. Turn either off unless you intentionally enabled it, then retest.
My Mac types the wrong characters.
Open System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit and select the layout that matches the physical keyboard. Check the active input source in the menu bar; a second layout can make working keys appear wrong.
Keys are still dead on macOS after everything — what now?
Test an external keyboard on this Mac or the same keyboard on another computer, using the CheckMyMic test. A key that fails in the tester across connections is stronger evidence of a keyboard fault; a key that passes there points back to the input source, accessibility setting, or app.
Holding a key shows an accent menu instead of repeating on my Mac.
That's macOS press-and-hold. To get key repeat back, run this in Terminal: defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false — then log out and back in. Key repeat speed and delay are under System Settings → Keyboard.