If a MacBook Air keyboard or trackpad stops responding, first rule out a hidden power problem: connect the charger, wait a few minutes and try again, because a very low battery can leave the keys and trackpad dead before any message shows. If the keys type but the trackpad clicks wrongly, check Trackpad settings for Tap to click and the click firmness. A key that does nothing may be held by crumbs, and the Caps Lock key has a short delay by design. Test with a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse; if they work, the Air's built-in input hardware is the question, and Apple replaces the top case as one unit.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple MacBook Air keyboard or trackpad is not working correctly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A very low battery
What separates it Neither keys nor trackpad respond and the Air seems on
How to confirm Connect power and wait a few minutes before testing again
- 2
A stuck or dirty key
What separates it One key repeats or does nothing while the rest work
How to confirm Hold the Air at an angle and tap the keycaps; use a soft brush or a short burst of air for crumbs
- 3
A trackpad setting
What separates it The pointer jumps, clicks by itself or will not drag
How to confirm Review System Settings, Trackpad for Tap to click, Dragging and Click firmness
- 4
A software or accessibility setting
What separates it Keys type wrong characters or Sticky Keys behavior appears
How to confirm Check Keyboard and Accessibility settings, especially Sticky Keys and Slow Keys
- 5
A hardware fault or liquid damage
What separates it A row of keys, the trackpad click or the whole top case fails and an external keyboard works
How to confirm Book Apple service; the keyboard and trackpad sit in one top case
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which keys or trackpad actions fail, and whether an external keyboard or mouse works
- Whether the Air was wet, dropped or recently updated
- Accessibility settings for keyboard and pointer control
- Which Air it is, M2, M3 or M4
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedConnect power
ReversiblePlug in the charger and wait a few minutes in case a low battery is stopping input.
Restart
ReversibleRestart the Air and try typing in a different app.
Test an outside keyboard and mouse
ReversibleConnect a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to see whether the problem is the built-in input.
Check the settings
ReversibleOpen System Settings, Keyboard and Trackpad, then Accessibility, Keyboard and Pointer Control, for Sticky or Slow Keys and tap settings.
Clean the keys
ReversibleHold the Air at an angle and use a soft brush or a gentle puff of air to clear crumbs from under the keys.
Book service if hardware is faulty
ReversibleIf an outside keyboard works and the Air's own does not, Apple replaces the keyboard and trackpad together.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Same top case design
- The M2, M3 and M4 Airs all have a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a Force Touch trackpad, and the 15-inch models add a larger trackpad.
- Repair cost
- Apple quotes keyboard and trackpad repairs after diagnosis.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3), MacBook Air 15-inch (M3).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If an external keyboard and mouse work and the built-in ones do not, book a service check
- !If whole rows of keys or the trackpad click fail after a restart, contact Apple
- !If liquid was spilled, switch off and take it to Apple the same day
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
External and built-in keyboards, low battery alert, Caps Lock and Media Eject delay, accessibility options and service.
One finger to move the pointer, hidden low battery alert and service.
Force Touch trackpads, Force Click and haptic feedback settings.
Ports, MagSafe 3, Wi-Fi 6, one external display, four speakers, adapters and weight.
Wi-Fi 6E, one external display plus a second with the lid closed, adapters and weight.
Thunderbolt 4, two external displays, 12MP Center Stage camera, adapters and weight.
Fanless design, one and two external display limits by generation, SSD, memory and the M5 generation.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my trackpad click but not move the pointer?+
Resting a second finger or scrolling stops the pointer, since only one finger moves it. Lift all fingers and try again before suspecting a fault.
Why is Caps Lock slow to respond on a MacBook Air?+
The key has a short built-in delay to avoid accidental presses, so press and hold it a moment.
Does a MacBook Air have a replaceable keyboard?+
Apple replaces the keyboard, trackpad and battery as a top-case unit, so it is not a single-key repair.
What if the keyboard stops working after a macOS update?+
Restart and install the latest point release; if an external keyboard works and the built-in one still does not, contact Apple.
keyboard trackpad: model differences
Also covered: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2018 to 2020).