How to lock the MacBook keyboard for cleaning and repair

In everyday use situations, it is very normal for your laptop to collect dust, grease and grime, especially in the keyboard area, and MacBook is no exception. However, the design of modern MacBook models, cleaning the keyboard is quite laborious.

In the past, you would have to shut down your MacBook by clicking Apple > Shut Down before you wanted to clean the keyboard, or just a few specific keys to be on the safe side. But for now, any keystroke on a modern MacBook causes it to boot. You can't even open the lid without waking the Mac anymore! So what to do when you want to clean the keyboard.

In fact, macOS does not provide a feature that allows you to lock (disable) one or more different keys on the keyboard, but there are still a few tricks that allow you to do the same. Find out how to do it right here.

Use the lock screen to disable most keys

If you click Apple > Lock Screen, you'll be taken to what looks like a sign-in window, where you'll need to enter your account password or use the Touch ID button to unlock it. This inadvertently causes most keys on the keyboard to be 'disabled', and you can clean the keyboard quickly. As long as you don't touch the Touch ID button with your finger or accidentally enter a password, the system will be 'stuck' at the lock screen while you clean the keyboard.

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Overall, this is also a great option in case you want to clean the touchpad as well. However, it should be noted that the multimedia keys at the top of the keyboard will still function as they should.

Use a third-party keyboard lock app.

If the method of putting the system into lock screen mode isn't good enough, the free KeyboardCleanTool app might be the solution for you. This app lets you lock every key on your MacBook's keyboard, including the top row of multimedia keys and the Touch ID button. The only negative is that the application will not be able to disable the touchpad.

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To use the app, you'll need to whitelist it in System Preferences (System Settings) > Security & Privacy > Privacy. First, click the padlock in the bottom left corner of the screen and authenticate, then click on the Accessibility section and check the box next to KeyboardCleanTool.

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Now you can use KeyboardCleanTool to lock your keyboard whenever needed.

Kareem Winters

Update 27 July 2022