Repair video
MacBook keyboard replacement after a liquid spill
This silver MacBook came in after a liquid spill. We took it down to the top case, swapped the old keyboard for a new one, then put it back together and powered it on.
Spilled Coffee, Water or Soda on Your MacBook? Do This Now
What you do in the first few minutes decides whether a spill is a cleaning job or a much bigger repair. Power off, don't charge, and get the board cleaned before corrosion sets in.
Starts at $149MacBook Water Damage Repair
Freediagnostic
90 dayswarranty
Try this first
Unplug the charger and hold the power button until the Mac shuts off. Don't stop to save work
Open the lid wide and stand it upside down in a tent shape so liquid drains out of the keyboard
Wipe off what you can see. No hair dryer, and no rice
Don't turn it back on to test it, even if it seems fine
Bring it in as soon as you can: sugary drinks and coffee corrode faster than water
What it usually means
Sticky or dead keysKeyboard or trackpad not respondingWon't turn on or won't chargeWorks at first, then fails days laterCorroded connectors and board components
Filmed in University City
On our bench
On our bench
MacBook Air keyboard replacement after a spill. Watch the full repair, step by step
SPILLKeys
If it needs a repair
Questions
My MacBook still works after the spill. Do I need to do anything?
Yes. Liquid left under the keyboard keeps corroding the board for days or weeks, which is why spilled Macs often work at first and fail later. Cleaning it early costs far less than a board repair later.
Does putting it in rice help?
No. Rice only takes moisture out of the air; it can't reach liquid under the keyboard or on the board, and the delay gives corrosion time to start.
Will I need a new keyboard?
Sometimes. Sticky or dead keys after a spill often mean a keyboard replacement, and the board under it needs cleaning too. The videos on this page show both jobs.
Can you save my files if it won't turn on?
Tell us when you bring it in if your files are the priority, and we'll plan the repair around getting them back.
Nationwide
Mail-in repair from anywhere in the U.S.
Free diagnostic when it arrives. Free insured shipping back.
- 1Tell us your model and the problem
- 2Ship it insured. We diagnose it within a day
- 3Approve the price. Fixed and back in 7–10 days
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