This guide explains how to fix a broken keyboard connector on a laptop motherboard. I do not claim that my instructions will work for any connector type in any laptop brand, but if I can help a few people, I can call my mission accomplished.
Let’s say the keyboard in your laptop stopped working properly and you decided to install a new keyboard yourself. You disassembled the laptop, removed the keyboard, tried to unlock the keyboard connector and… OHH! MAN!… a piece of the locking clip on the connector got broken!
What can you do? Unfortunately, you don’t have a lot of options. The keyboard connector is permanently soldered to the motherboard and cannot be replaced at home. If the connector was damaged, you’ll have to replace the whole motherboard, use the laptop with an external USB keyboard, or…. try the following trick. Hopefully it works or you.
The keyboard cable is locked inside the connector on the motherboard. In order to remove the keyboard, you have to unlock the connector and release the cable.
On the picture below you see one of the most common connectors. It has the base (white in my case) and locking clip (brown in my case). The keyboard cable is jammed between the locking clip and base.
To unlock the connector, you have to move the locking clip about 2 millimeters in the direction shown by two yellow arrows.
IMPORTANT! The locking clip must stay attached to the connector base.
After that you can pull the keyboard cable (green arrow) and remove the keyboard.
If you are not careful enough, you can move the locking clip too much and break it.
On the picture below you can see the locking clip is missing the left hook.
On the next picture both sides of the clip are broken.
IMPORTANT! Do not though away the broken clip even though it looks completely useless.
If you insert the cable into the connector and will not lock it with a clip, the cable will not make good contact with pins inside the connector and the keyboard will not work.
Here’s how to install the broken clip back in place and make it work.
Position the broken clip the way it was before. In my case both sides of the connector are broken. What could have been worse?
Carefully insert the keyboard cable into the connector. Note, in this type of connector, the cable goes above the locking clip.
Carefully push the broken clip back in place. You can use a small screwdriver to push on the clip behind the cable.
The clip fits tightly when there is a cable inside the connector.
Secure the connection with sticky tape and you should be good to go. The keyboard should work just fine.
The keyboard connector shown on the following picture is very similar to the previous one. The only difference – the keyboard cable is routed under the locking clip. Fix it the same way as the previous connector.
On the next picture you see another type of keyboard connector. The cable is inserted vertically.
In order to unlock the connector, you’ll have to move the locking clip (brown piece) about 2 millimeters up in the direction shown by two yellow arrows. After that you can pull the keyboard cable (green arrow) and remove the keyboard.
If you move the locking clip too far, you can break it.
In my example the right side of the clip is broken. But you still can use it!
Insert the keyboard cable into the connector, position the broken locking clip correctly (behind the cable in my case) and carefully push it in.
Even with a broken clip the cable will make good connection with the base and the keyboard should work.
Here’s the same connector shown from the opposite side. You cannot even tell if the locking clip is broken.
If this trick worked for you, it means I just saved you a few hundred bucks on the motherboard replacement. 
If you find this article useful, please consider making a donation to the author. Thank you!
January 5th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Hi,
My dad purchased a Toshiba A505D-S6968 laptop recently and accidentally damaged the “shift” key. It still works when its pressed down, but they key itself cannot be re-attached to the laptop. What would be the best solution to repair it?
Thanks,
Cheryl
January 1st, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Thanks for the info
My situation was a bit worse as the clip got lost by the time I got to see my son’s laptop, but a piece of X-ray film bent 2-fold worked just fine (I’m pretty sure any other plastic will work, you need just to play with a few different kinds to find the right thickness).
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 am
what if you loose the clip that hold the keybaord down
pls help
December 15th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Just found this site – lots of good advice so thanks!
I’ve been using this trick on my nx5000 for a few years now (minus the sticky tape step) and it works fine. Was kicking myself when I first busted it though.
Am about to attempt fixing what sounds like a loose video cable from one of your other posts so I’ll be pulling it apart again.
December 10th, 2009 at 5:42 am
thank you very much
merry christmasts!
November 27th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Steve,
I’m sure that any keyboard designed for a Satellite M55 (any model) will work just fine. Search on eBay for Satellite M55 keyboard and you’ll find plenty.
For the keyboard removal instructions follow steps 6-9 in this guide for Satellite M55 laptop.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:27 am
My daughter has a toshiba satellite m55 s3294 which is mising a key. I know there are key repair kits available, but I would prefer to replace the keyboard. Is it necessary to get the s3294, or are there other m55 keybords which are compatible. I ask only because I am having difficulty finding that specific model inside the U.S. Thanks , this is a great site.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
thank you dear,it is very usful,but right now i am not bale to donet sonthing my side.but i am always remember you , and any time i will get money or earn money i will defint donet some amount to our side.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:58 am
a few hundred bucks? the mainboard on my laptop comes with the processor built in, so it comes to around AUD$2000
but i just did this on my other laptop…
thanks!
November 18th, 2009 at 10:38 am
on my p305-s8915, the clip flips up vertically. I tried to push it out since it looked like mine and broke it in half. It will either take long fingernails or tweezers to stand it vertically and push the connector back under the pins so it will tilt down again. A lil scotch tape and you are good to go again (thankfully)