Keyboards and trackpads pick up more skin oil, crumbs and grime than any other part of a Mac setup. Here is how to clean an Apple keyboard and trackpad without pushing liquid under the keys or scratching the surface.
The right method depends on the model. A Magic Keyboard on a desk, a MacBook keyboard and an iPad Magic Keyboard each follow different rules, and the Magic Trackpad shares the routine used for wireless keyboards. For screens, cases, cables and other Apple hardware, see our complete guide on how to clean Apple devices.
Turn Off the Keyboard and Trackpad Before You Touch Them
Power off a wireless Apple keyboard or trackpad first. If it uses removable batteries, take them out. A wired keyboard should be unplugged from the computer.
A MacBook has the keyboard and trackpad built in, so shut down the computer and unplug the power adapter instead.
Keyboards and Trackpads Get a Damp Cloth, With Alcohol Wipes for Grime
Wipe the outside with a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water. Wring it out until it is barely damp, because liquid should never reach an opening. Aerosol sprays, solvents, abrasives and cleaners containing hydrogen peroxide are all off the table.
Oily keycaps and trackpad surfaces can take more. A 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, a 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe or a Clorox Disinfecting Wipe can be used gently on hard, nonporous surfaces like these. Avoid anything containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide, and keep moisture out of every opening. Wipe each Magic Keyboard the same way, including the models refreshed with glyph key labels.
The trackpad on a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro takes the same damp cloth. For smudges that will not budge, a cloth moistened with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol can be used gently on the enclosure. MacBook Pro models from 2016 and later with a Touch Bar and Touch ID are cleaned like the display, with a soft cloth dampened with water only after the computer is shut down and unplugged.
MacBook Keyboards Need Compressed Air Held at a 75-Degree Angle
Compressed air is the method for a MacBook from 2015 or later, or a MacBook Pro from 2016 or later, with keys that stick or stop responding. Use the straw included with the can and hold its end about half an inch from the keyboard. Keep the can upright and never turn it upside down while spraying.
- Hold the MacBook at a 75-degree angle, so it is not quite vertical.
- Spray the keyboard from left to right, covering the affected keys.
- Turn the MacBook onto its right side and repeat the left-to-right pass.
- Turn it onto its left side and spray again the same way.
iPad Keyboards Come Off the iPad Before Cleaning
Remove the Magic Keyboard from the iPad first, including the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air in black. Wipe the front and the inside with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. A 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or a Clorox Disinfecting Wipe is also allowed, as long as no moisture gets into an opening and the keyboard never sits in a cleaning agent.
Window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, abrasives and hydrogen peroxide cleaners should stay away from it. Long contact with other materials can also transfer color onto the Magic Keyboard.
Polyurethane Smart Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio models take a slightly damp, lint-free cloth on the front and inside, with the same list of products to avoid.
Keys That Still Stick After Cleaning Need a Service Visit
If MacBook keys stay unresponsive after the compressed air passes, take the computer to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. The same goes for any keyboard or trackpad that has liquid inside it, since the right move is to get help as soon as possible. Liquid damage is not covered under the Apple product warranty or AppleCare Protection Plans, although customers may still have rights under consumer law.
