Laptop keyboard replacement
A few keys have stopped working, a whole row is dead, the laptop types letters on its own, or the keys stick after a juice spill? We are a specialised laptop keyboard replacement service and we do this work every day, on HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Acer, MSI and other laptops. Before we start, we tell you whether it needs cleaning, a new keycap or a whole new keyboard.
The faults we see most often
- Individual keys don’t work, or only respond when you press hard.
- A whole row or group of keys is dead, sometimes even keys that aren’t next to each other. Under the keycaps there is a membrane with thin conductive traces, and each trace connects several keys scattered across the keyboard. When one cracks or corrodes, the keys on that trace stop working.
- The laptop types on its own, repeats the same letter, or won’t let you type your password. The cause is usually a short circuit in the keyboard after moisture got in, or a stuck key.
- Keys stick after a spill, because sweet coffee or juice leaves a sticky film under the keycaps.
- A keycap has come off, or the backlight doesn’t work.
An external USB keyboard will get you by until the laptop comes in for repair. If the built-in one doesn’t respond even in the BIOS, before Windows loads, the problem isn’t the driver: it’s the keyboard, its cable or the connector on the board. You’ll find more checks in our article on what to do when your laptop keyboard stops working.
A separate module, or a keyboard fixed to the case
The same fault on two laptops can be a completely different job, because it all depends on how the keyboard is fitted.
The keyboard as a separate part. On older laptops and on many business models, the keyboard is a separate module: a few screws or clips hold it in place, and a ribbon cable connects it to the board. Only the keyboard gets replaced, and that is usually the quicker job.
The keyboard fixed to the top case. On a lot of home and gaming laptops, the keyboard is attached to the part of the case your palms rest on (the palmrest, or top case) with dozens of tiny plastic rivets, melted in at the factory. The board and battery are often screwed to that same part, so the laptop has to be taken apart completely. In that case we either remove the rivets, fit just the new keyboard and secure it firmly so it doesn’t flex when you type, or replace the whole top case together with the keyboard. We tell you in advance which option applies to your model and what it means for the price.
Layout, keycaps and backlight
Layout. Replacement keyboards come in a US layout and in a Serbian layout (with Š, Đ, Č, Ć and Ž), but for some models only one of the two can be sourced. Before ordering, we tell you what’s available for your laptop. If you write in Serbian on a US keyboard, you type those letters the same way as before, through the Serbian layout in Windows; they just aren’t printed on the keys.
A single keycap. If only the keycap has come off and the small plastic hinge underneath is intact, the keycap alone is replaced. Keycaps differ from model to model, so not just any one will fit. Keep the one that came off, and don’t force it back on, because the clips break easily.
Backlight. First check that it hasn’t simply been switched off with the Fn key combination. The backlight is a separate layer under the keyboard with its own cable, so the new keyboard also has to be the backlit version, otherwise the backlight won’t work.
How we work
First we check the ribbon cable and the connector on the board, because sometimes the cable has just come loose and the keyboard doesn’t need replacing at all. When keys stick because of dust and crumbs, we try cleaning. After a sugary drink, cleaning rarely saves the keyboard, but we always check the board underneath it as well. What we do in that case is described on our page on cleaning a laptop after a liquid spill.
When the keyboard connector or the traces leading to it have corroded, the repair is done on the board itself. Under the microscope we clean off the corrosion and bridge the broken traces, and a damaged connector is replaced with hot air. That falls under motherboard repair, and you get an estimate before we start.
Prices — in the official price list
Keyboard replacement is listed in the price list as a labour item. The price of the part depends on the model, the layout and whether only the keyboard is replaced or the top case along with it. Diagnostics without disassembly are free. We tell you the exact amount after the inspection, before any work starts, and we do nothing without your approval.
How long it takes, and the warranty
When the keyboard for your model is in stock, the replacement is usually done the same or the next day. We order in rarer parts, including keyboards with Serbian letters for some models, and let you know the timeframe after the inspection. We give a 6-month warranty on the work, and the warranty on the fitted part is written on your service sheet.
Independent service
We are not an authorised service centre for any manufacturer; we use brand names only to describe the laptops we repair. We fit quality parts that match your model. For MacBooks we have a separate page: MacBook keyboard replacement. For other faults, see our laptop repair page.
Frequently asked questions
My laptop types letters on its own. Is it a virus?
Almost never. Most often it’s a short circuit in the keyboard or a stuck key. If it also happens in the BIOS, before Windows loads, then it’s definitely the hardware.
I spilled water on the keyboard, but the laptop still works. What should I do?
Switch it off, unplug the charger and don’t turn it on “just to check”. Don’t dry it with a hair dryer. Bring it in or send it by courier as soon as you can, because liquid gets through the keyboard and down to the board.
Why is a keyboard replacement on my laptop a bigger job than on my colleague’s?
On some models the keyboard comes out as a separate part once you undo a few screws. On others it’s fixed to the top case, so almost everything else has to come out first. We tell you which applies to yours before we start.
Can I use an external keyboard while I wait for the part?
Yes, if the built-in one simply doesn’t work. If it types on its own, it will get in the way even then, so at the shop we can disconnect its cable until the new one arrives.
How do I send you my laptop?
Send it by courier, well packed, with a note saying which keys don’t work. You can also bring it to one of our three shops in Belgrade. If you send it, it comes back to you by courier once repaired.
Bring it to a shop or send it by courier
Three locations in Belgrade: Arena and Piramida (New Belgrade) and Centar near the Botanical Garden. If you can’t come in, send us the laptop by courier. We inspect it, tell you what it needs and, once we’re done, return it by courier.
Specialist repairs
This is our everyday work in our three Belgrade shops, with the right tools (microscope, soldering and preheating station) and parts for your exact model. Pick a service:
Laptops
MacBook & Apple
Drives, system & data
For businesses
Diagnostics without disassembly are free, and labour prices are in our price list. Bring your device to a shop or send it by courier — it comes back to you by courier.
We cover every Belgrade municipality
Bring your device to one of our three shops or send it by courier — it comes back by courier. Click your municipality for the neighbourhoods we cover and the problems we fix most often: