Chosen Solution
My right shift button wasn’t working. I took it off with a paperclip in order to clean around underneath. After putting the key back I was confronted with a far more annoying problem—the computer is now registering that the key is always being pushed. I restarted my laptop, which was a terrible idea, because now I can only boot in safe mode. Ideally, I’d like it all to be better. How could I possibly fix this key? If not that, I’d at least have it not working again in the sense that it isn’t stuck “on” anymore. There are a limited number of things that I can do from “Safe Boot,” and it totally sucks. Worst comes to worse, is there a way I can just completely disable my internal keyboard so that I’m only using this external one? Apparently it doesn’t register as connected until AFTER my computer has booted in to safe mode. Any suggestions? :)
Turn the computer off, take off the shift key, and reboot the Macbook. If the computer boots as it should, make sure to reinstall the key correctly. I guess the scissor mechanism or the metal arm under the key is not well fixed.
I had a similar problem, the left shift key appears to be damaged, it doesn’t feel ‘right’ when pressed. The machine works perfectly with a USB keyboard. Apple are only interested in replacing the whole keyboard, and say they may need to replace the top cover too. Not cheap! I’m not too confident about fixing the key myself, so I used a software fix. I downloaded and installed KeyRemap4MacBook, then disabled the left shift key, clicked on the ‘Reload XML’ button, and all now works OK, except i can only use the right shift key, which isn’t a huge issue. Caps lock is still OK. This fix is at the software level, so you still need to hold down the option key to bypass safe boot. You also need to go into the system preferences and add KeyRemap4MacBook as an application that should start on login.
I spilled some milk all over my keyboard a month ago. It has slowly been improving (keyboard didn’t used to work, but now it works near perfectly). The only problem that I still have is that the left shift button seems to be stuck. It was mentioned above in this discussion that the c or esc button needs to be held down to not boot up in safe mode with a stuck shift key. This did not work for me. I held down the option key and that worked for me. Finally out of Safe Mode! I’m on version 10.7.5
during booting < after restart> press the c key and it will log in as normal»> also you could use a external key board>
While I was investigating my problem of a stuck shift key I found multiple answers that pointed in a faulty mainboard direction (I had a moisture spillage on the laptop). After the spillage had happned I disassembled the complete laptop, put the top cover with glued-on keyboard complete in a very hot water tub and let it stay there for a while, to clean out the moisture residue, also the trackpad which didn’t register hardware cilcks anymore. I managed to compeltely clean out the microswitch under the trackpad, it clicks really snappy again but it still doesn’t work, neither was the problem of the stuck shift key solved. You can switch “Touch pad to click” on in settings and that works once booted. Currently I’m using the macbook pressing C or Esc key while booting (both work in snow leopard) and I use a small wireless iMac keyboard with it as external keyboard. I already tried installing OSX Lion on this macbook but had to revert to leopard, no audio/webcam and unable to do a normal system boot. I thought I had a corrupt lion install but swapping the lion harddrive to my mac mini worked ok. I must admit i didnt know about pressing C during boot maybe that still works under osx lion. Regards Jeroen.
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All the people who got the ALT/OPTION working… What do you do to go into Boot Menu (startup manager)? For me it’s only bypassing the Safe Boot, but I can’t load the Boot menu to reinstall the system through USB
one drop of rain fried my left shift button _ after hours of reading it appears that only a compleat new keyboard fixes a shift key _ others can be cleaned and repaired> just my luck the shift took the raindrop »>
I had the same problem with my MacBook Pro 13.3" A1278 year 2010 and after replacing the keyboard it’s still doing the same thing. Replacing the keyboard will not fix this issue 100% as once my logic board was repaired then it’s all working fine. P.S. I also had issues with running applications as it would highlight 20-30 programs when just choosing one to run, that also has been resolved after the logic board repair because of an ounce of water spillage.
I downloaded and installed KeyRemap4MacBook, then disabled the left shift key, clicked on the ‘Reload XML’ button, and all now works OK, except i can only use the right shift key, which isn’t a huge issue. Caps lock is still OK.
Hold down the options (Ctrl) key while it boots.
I can’t even open my computer because the password has capitals and lower case and the key board is stuck. Any ideas?
I had the same problem with the shift key and I fixed it replacing the keyboard. Customer spilled liquid on it. I tried to clean it up but it didn’t work. I hope it helps.
I just had the same problem, but I solved opening my macbook air and disassemble battery and localizing the keyboard flex cable and then disconnect and reconnect again… and Great!!! It worked for me!!
i had the same problem .but i plugin in a extend usb keyboard.system ask me to identity the keyboard . after identity completed . i restart the system and unplugin usb keyboard. the shift stuck problem gone.
Easy fix, just use the free Karabiner app to disable the stuck key. Also Ctrl+R at boot to enter recovery mode, where you can add a firmware password to make it boot straight to login, might be wise to set a password in all caps as Karabiner won’t start up at that stage. You can try using compressed air on the keyboard to clean it, that worked for me.
I to have the same problem, at first the right arrow key continues press down after booting, but now the shift key continued being press down so it boot at safe mode, so I restart and press the command key or any key before the apple logo comes out and came out of safe, by the way the arrow key does not bug me anymore right after the shift key become my new problem.
Finally, I resolved the issue by cutting wire of shift key. The caps key has also been sacrificed, but I can avoid the issue that always boot safe mode.
i replaced my keyboard with a new one.. made no difference.. next do i replace the trackpad or the flex? or is it likely a board issue?
After I installed Karabiner, it does solve the stucked shift key issue. But still can use the right shift key with no problem. But to avoid booting in safe boot, still have to press the option key.
i had the same MAC SHIFT key stuck issue, the problem was with my US Keyboard software, So i added Canadian Keyboard software using Preference then made it to a default keyboard. Then it got fixed, i guess my US keyboard software got corrupted. Actually after logging in you preview your Stuck key in RED color if you choose to preview from Desktop TOP right corner icon(Show Keyboard Viewer)
