Spilling liquid on your MacBook or Mac keyboard can be a worrisome situation. Thankfully, if you act quickly and follow the right steps, you can often minimize the damage and potentially save your keyboard from permanent failure.
What types of liquids cause the most damage?
Not all liquids are equally hazardous to your Mac keyboard. Water, coffee, tea, juice, soda, alcohol, and other non-corrosive liquids are generally less harmful than acidic or sugary liquids. Acidic liquids like citrus juice, vinegar, or wine can corrode metal contacts and components inside your keyboard. Sugary liquids like soda, juice, or sweetened coffee or tea can leave behind a gummy residue as they dry. Oily liquids like salad dressing are also quite damaging due to their ability to penetrate deep into the keyboard’s inner workings.
How quickly should you act after a spill?
The sooner you can begin cleanup after a liquid spill on your Mac keyboard, the better. Ideally, you’ll want to start the keyboard recovery process within seconds or minutes of the accident. The longer the liquid sits there, the more time it has to seep down under keys into the interior components where it can cause corrosion, electrical shorts, or stickiness. Even if the keyboard seems to be working normally at first, damage can still be occurring internally.
Step 1: Disconnect power immediately
As soon as you spill a liquid on your MacBook or keyboard, the first thing you should do is quickly disconnect it from any power source. For a MacBook, this means immediately unplugging the power adapter from the laptop itself and from the wall. This stops electrical current from flowing to the components and reduces the chance of short circuits while liquid is present. If the Mac is getting power over USB-C from an external monitor or accessory, unplug that connection as well.
Step 2: Drain or blot excess liquid
After disconnecting power, your next urgent step is to drain or blot away as much excess liquid as possible from the keyboard and surrounding area. With the MacBook tilted at an angle to direct liquid away from openings, gently shake the device to drain as much as you can, while blotting the keyboard area with a dry towel or paper towels. You want to soak up as much liquid from between and under the keys as possible. But avoid vigorously shaking the computer when there’s still a lot of liquid present, as you don’t want it splashing around internally.
Step 3: Dry the keyboard with compressed air
One of the most effective ways to remove lingering moisture from inside your Mac keyboard is to blow it out with compressed air. Canned compressed air (sold as a dusting product) works well for this. Hold the keyboard at an angle and spray the compressed air liberally across the keys and into any openings. This will help displace any water or other liquid that has gotten trapped under keys or in other crevices. Be sure to dry any other moisture on the computer exterior as well.
Step 4: Let it dry thoroughly before powering on
Once you’ve drained, blotted, and blown out as much liquid as possible, the next critical step is to let the keyboard and entire Mac thoroughly air dry before powering it on again. Water and spilled liquids can remain trapped in tiny crevices and take hours to fully evaporate. If you apply power while moisture is still present, you risk short circuits, so be patient. Let the Mac dry overnight with the keyboard slightly elevated if possible.
Follow your Mac manufacturer’s guidelines for proper drying time. For example, Apple suggests letting their products dry for at least 5 hours before attempting to power on. Longer is often better if the spill was significant. A good way to tell if moisture remains internally is to shake the computer gently – if you hear any liquid sloshing sounds, more drying time is needed.
Step 5: Inspect for physical damage before powering on
Once the drying time has passed, carefully inspect your MacBook and keyboard for any evidence of physical damage from the spill. Look for debris trapped under keys, sticky spots, corrosion, or damaged pins. Also give it one last shake to listen for any remaining interior moisture. If everything seems OK physically, it’s time for the moment of truth – reconnect the power adapter and press the power button.
Step 6: Test keyboard functionality
If your Mac powers on successfully, immediately test to make sure the keyboard is fully functional. Type on it extensively and press every key to confirm none are sticking or non-responsive. Also try keyboard shortcuts like media playback controls. If certain keys aren’t working properly, you may need to take the device in for repair or replacement.
Step 7: Back up your data if needed
If you notice keyboard issues or any other problems after powering on post-spill, your Mac may have underlying liquid damage that could get worse over time. Be sure to quickly back up any important data from the computer just in case. You want to preserve your files in case the issues progress.
Step 8: Clean the keyboard to prevent sticky keys
Even after thorough drying, spilled sugary or oily liquids can leave residues that make your Mac keyboard keys stick or become unresponsive. Use a can of compressed air again to blast out grime from under the keys. You can also carefully clean around and under keys with a toothpick or cotton swabs dipped in isopropyl alcohol – just be gentle.
Step 9: Get professional help if needed
If drying and cleaning attempts don’t restore your Mac keyboard to fully working order, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance. Locate an Apple Authorized Service Provider or computer repair shop with experience cleaning or replacing MacBook keyboards affected by liquid spills. They have the proper tools and techniques.
Precautionary measures to take
To help avoid or minimize liquid damage to your MacBook or keyboard, follow these tips:
- Don’t eat or drink around your computer.
- Make sure kids and pets don’t have access to set drinks on your desk.
- Keep drinks in sealed containers with lids nearby.
- Shut down and unplug your Mac before moving it with liquids present.
- Consider a waterproof keyboard cover that can be wiped clean.
- Set drinks on a coaster instead of directly on your desk.
- Position your Mac out of range of splashing liquids.
What to do if your Mac won’t power on after liquid exposure
If you’ve drained, dried, and cleaned your Mac after a spill, but it still won’t power on or boot up normally, this indicates the liquid has likely caused significant internal damage. You’ll need to take it to a repair shop – and the sooner, the better, before corrosion has time to advance. Be upfront with the repair tech about the liquid damage so they can provide an accurate diagnosis and repair cost estimate.
Steps for troubleshooting keyboard issues
If only certain keys are unresponsive after a spill, try these keyboard troubleshooting steps before seeking professional repair:
- Carefully clean under sticky keys with a toothpick, cotton swabs, and isopropyl alcohol.
- Press down firmly on sticky/dead keys to reseat them in place.
- Blow out the keyboard with compressed air in case debris is trapped under keys.
- Let the keyboard fully dry out for at least 72 hours.
- Check for updated drivers and firmware for your model.
- Try an external keyboard to rule out software and drivers.
- Boot into Safe Mode to isolate hardware issues.
- Reset the Mac SMC and NVRAM/PRAM.
- Back up data and reinstall the Mac operating system.
When to replace your MacBook keyboard due to liquid damage
If multiple keys remain sticky, dead, or unreliable after thorough troubleshooting, it’s likely time to replace the MacBook keyboard. A liquid spill can corrosion contacts, ruin electronic components under keys, or bend pins beyond repair. Replacement is the only option when several keys or the entire keyboard matrix is no longer functioning properly after liquid exposure.
Cost to repair liquid damage on a MacBook
Unfortunately, fixing liquid damage on a MacBook or Mac keyboard is not cheap. The repair costs will vary based on factors like:
- Model of Mac – newer models with thin, butterfly-switch keyboards often cost more to work on
- Degree of damage – was it a minor spill or did liquid get into multiple components?
- Parts needing replacement – just the keyboard, or also trackpad, logic board, etc?
- Apple or third-party repair – Apple’s own repairs cost more, but may have better warranties
Some sample repair costs for common models:
| Mac model | Average cost range for liquid damage repair* |
|---|---|
| 13″ MacBook Pro | $300 – $700 |
| 15″ MacBook Pro | $400 – $900 |
| 12″ MacBook | $500 – $1,000 |
| MacBook Air | $400 – $700 |
*Prices are estimates only based on reported averages. Actual repair costs can vary significantly.
Apple’s official keyboard liquid damage policy
Under Apple’s official warranty and extended AppleCare terms, liquid damage is not covered for free repair in most cases. Accidental spills are considered out of Apple’s control. However, exceptions are sometimes made on a case-by-case basis if there is evidence the liquid indicator tabs were triggered falsely during normal use instead of an actual spill.
Consider investing in spillproof accessories
Given the potential cost of MacBook keyboard repairs, investing in protective accessories can help provide peace of mind against spills and moisture:
- Keyboard cover – Waterproof skin to shield keys and openings
- Trackpad protector – Seals the trackpad area from spills
- Laptop sleeves – Carry case with water-resistant fabric
In summary…
Dealing with a liquid spill on your Mac laptop or keyboard requires quick action to avoid permanent, costly damage. By moving fast to disconnect power, drain excess liquid, dry internal moisture, and allow proper dry time, you can often revive an Apple keyboard after a moderate mishap. For best protection, take precautions to avoid spills near your Mac in the first place.