One or more keys fell off the laptop keyboard and you are not sure how to put them back? Don’t worry, most likely you can fix the keyboard and it’s not necessary to buy a new one. There is no universal repair guide because all keyboards are different. Here’s what I usually do in this case.
Situation 1. The key cap and key retainer fell off the keyboard and you cannot figure out how to assemble them back.
Missing a key? Find a new one at LaptopKey.com
Carefully remove the cap from any other working key so the key retainer stays connected to the keyboard.
Take a closer look at the key retainer, it’s connected to the keyboard at four different points.
Assemble the disconnected retainer the same way as one on the keyboard and put it back in place.
Put the key cap on the retainer and snap the cap back in place.
Situation 2. The key fell off the keyboard and you lost the cap or the retainer. In this case you can purchase a single key here, just search for it. (Search examples: “Dell keyboard key”, “Toshiba keyboard key”, “HP keyboard key”, etc… )
After you found a new key, put it back in place the same way as I described in the situation 1.
Installing the space bar key.
The space bar key is connected to the keyboard a little bit differently then any other key.
There is a metal retainer connected to the space bar key (on some keyboard models). Separate the retainer from the space bar key with a flathead screwdriver.
Install the retainer back in place as it shown on the picture. You have to engage the retainer with the small hooks on the keyboard.
Put the space bar key back in place and gently press on it with fingers until it snaps back in place.
That’s it. The space bar key is installed back in place and should work as before. If you still cannot fix your keyboard, then you’ll have to find a new one and replace it.
Here’s another technique you can use to fix a broken keyboard key.
As you see on the picture below the keyboard is missing the U key. The key cap, retainer and even silicone membrane were lost. Let’s see if it’s possible to temporarily fix the U key without buying any spare parts.
Personally, I cannot use keyboard without U key but I can live without a key located on the side from the right ALT, I’m not even sure what this key does. In the following guide I will remove the useless key and install it in the place of missing U.
Carefully remove the key cap with your fingers.
Remove the retainer. The retainer has two pieces connected to each other. If one piece got disconnected from the other, connect them back together.
The silicon membrane is glued to the keyboard. Very very slowly separate the membrane from the keyboard with a sharp knife. While creating this disassembly guide I damaged one membrane because I wasn’t careful enough.
Again, you have to be very careful removing the membrane.
If you damage the membrane you’ll end up with two broken keys instead of just one.
The silicon membrane has been removed.
Now apply some superglue on the bottom edge of the membrane, just enough to keep the membrane in the place.
Carefully place the membrane in the center of the U. Make sure the membrane is positioned correctly. Wait until the glue cures.
Install the retainer.
Position the key cap above the retainer. Gently press on the key cap until it clips in and connects to the retainer.
Now you can use the U key again.
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September 15th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for the instructions.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Hey Thanks Man!!! I just fixed my W key on my HP dv6000 series Lappy with your help… Now I can use my W over and over and over again!!!
WWWWWW hehe
September 15th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Many thanks!
Extremely,extremey useful!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
“Q” popped off while wiping down the laptop, I just about had a stroke… first return on Google and the photos are excellent, thanks so much!!! qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
works great again
September 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
You totally saved me! I missed the metal retainer bar on the space key and your instructions shined light on it.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
thank you!
September 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
mine is a panasonic touchbook laptop…and my spacebar fell off;how do i fix it?:(Pls help me!!
September 10th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Thank you so much! My X key fell for some stupid reason a couple months ago and I fought with it for awhile, got fed up and gave up so I have been pressing on the little black button ever since… Got tired of it today, found your wedsite and got it snapped back on in no time, thank you for fixing my frustration!
September 9th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
steve,
Man! Your baby is strong!
I think you’ll have to replace the whole keyboard.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Dell Latitude D520
trying too much to clean the small grain which i felt went in betwee, i struggeld so hard to figure this out, but to tell you the truth reading through this didnt help much because there werent any four hooks on my laptop, anybody facing issue of such kind with the above laptop. Check the above pics and see how to build a retainer,also remember the key goes last and it HAS TO SNAP to get affixed, but since in the above laptop there are no 4 hooks, there is one hook in the top center and 2 hooks on the bottom half of the key. first fix the top center, which i couldnt make the plastic hook go underneath it, i didnt have any tools and i almost mauled the plastic strip, scare that if it breaks i am done for, i had a presentation and i dont know what would i do. So i used a kitchen knife and gently i mean GENTLY wrenched the top centre metal hook just enough so i can slide the top of the plastic retainer under neath it, i used the same knife to bend the hook back on the plastic, there that was the trickiset part. Then slide the other retainer around and over the one beneath, attach them on their middles, and you would notice the retainer which is underneath the metal hook you just tightened upon is now putting its legs up in the air for you to slide the key on top of it and press to hear the magical sound of Snap !…:) . thanks for the post above , may god bless you.
Key O which pulled out myself
Thanks
Sorabh