• Mac Commands Cheat Sheet
• Macbook Pro Keyboard And Trackpad Not Working

CMD + OPTION + G to Group on a Mac keyboard CTRL + G to Group on a Windows keyboard. Reset your PRAM. Shut down your Mac and hold down Command-Option-P-R during boot. Wait for the chimes and let go. Check your keyboard (especially if it's a Bluetooth keyboard). Try using a wired keyboard if possible. Hey guys, so I just recently got another Preonic that I flashed with my preferred keymap, but for some reason, the Mac Command key (left os) doesn't seem to work. The flashing process is successful as the other keymap changes are present, but the Command key seems to be disabled as it appears in two different places in the keymap and is the. This is one of the least-known keyboard commands on a Mac, but it’s super useful. It works like this: You are working in an app, and you want to open the application’s Preferences.

When your computer encounters a serious problem that normal troubleshooting methods can’t fix, you can try installing a fresh copy of your macOS to resolve it. If you want to install the latest macOS version that was previously installed on your computer, just press Command + R when restarting your Mac to pull up the macOS Recovery dialog.

But what happens when the Command + R shortcut doesn’t work? You can still access your macOS Recovery options, but it’s going to be a bit more complicated. This guide will teach you how to reinstall your macOS even if Mac Recovery Mode is not working on your MacBook.

But first, it is important to understand the reasons why the Command + R shortcut may not work.

Reasons Why Command R Is Not Working on Macbook

There are a few reasons why the Command + R combination may not work on your computer, such as:

• Age of your Mac – If you’re using a Mac that’s still running OS X Snow Leopard or older operating system, then your version doesn’t have Recovery Mode. This feature was introduced with the release of OS X Lion in 2011 to allow users to diagnose hardware features and troubleshoot common Mac problems on startup.
• macOS version – If your macOS version is older than Sierra, then the Recovery options you have may not be the same as those running newer versions.
• Faulty keyboard – It is possible that your letter keys are not working.
• Corrupted recovery partition – Your recovery partition may have been corrupted or deleted.

Before we discuss how to access your Recovery mode when Command + R is not working on Macbook, let’s first talk about what this mode is and its functions.

What Is MacBook Recovery Mode?

Not all Mac users know what the Recovery Mode is and what it is for. Many users don’t even know this feature exists. To put it simply, the Recovery Mode is a dedicated partition on your hard drive housing a recovery image and a copy of your macOS installer. This partition is completely independent from the other partitions on your disk that even if you wipe your hard drive clean, it would still be there.

The recovery partition is helpful in extreme cases where you might need to reinstall a fresh copy of your latest macOS or OS X. Even if you format your drive and start from scratch, this partition remains intact and you can still reinstall your macOS, restore from a Time Machine backup , or repair your disk via Recovery Mode.

The Recovery Mode makes troubleshooting a lot easier and faster because all you need to do is press two keys: Command + R. But before you proceed with the solutions below, make sure to back up all your important files and optimize your Mac using an app such as Tweakbit MacRepair.

How to Check if Your Mac’s Recovery Partition is Working

The first thing you need to rule out is whether you actually have a recovery partition and if it is working fine.

To boot into your Recovery Drive, follow these instructions:

1. Shut down your Mac by clicking the Apple menu and choosing Shut Down.
2. Once the computer is turned off, hold down Command + R, then press the Power button.
3. Keep holding the Command + R keys until the Apple logo appears. Let go of the keys and wait for the startup process to complete. This may take longer than your usual boot up process, but don’t worry because it’s just loading items from your recovery partition.
4. When you see the macOS Utilities window or OS X Utilities for older Macs, then it means your recovery partition is working.

But if your Mac boots into the regular login window or just loads a blank screen, then you don’t have a recovery partition.

You can also use Terminal to verify if you have a recovery partition by following the steps below:

1. Launch Terminal via Utilities folder or Spotlight search.
2. Type in diskutil list. This will show you a list of all the volumes and partitions on your Mac.

Look for drive with Boot Recovery HD in its name because that’s your recovery partition. If you see it on the list but can’t boot into it for some reason, then the drive could be corrupted. If it’s not on the list, then the drive could have been deleted or you never had it in the first place.

Let’s look at some of the things you can do when Mac Recovery Mode is not working on MacBook.

Method 1: Use Internet Recovery to Reinstall macOS

If you have a corrupted or missing recovery partition, you can still reinstall your macOS or OS X via the Utilities tool. This feature is available for newer Macs, and it allows you to boot directly from an internet connection even without a recovery partition.

To use macOS Internet Recovery:

1. Shut down your Mac by clicking the Apple logo > Shut Down.
2. Hold down the Command + Option/Alt-R keys, then press the Power button.
3. Let go of the keys when you see the spinning globe and the message “Starting Internet Recovery. This may take a while.”
4. A progress bar will appear after this message. Wait for it to complete and for the macOS Utilities window to appear.
5. Click Reinstall macOS from the options that appear and follow the on-screen instructions.

Take note that Internet Recovery only works with networks using WEP and WPA security. If your network is using a different protocol, we suggest you connect to one that is compatible with the Internet Recovery feature because this method, by far, is the easiest way to reinstall your macOS.

Method 2: Create a USB macOS Bootable Installer

If you have no access to Internet Recovery, you can try creating a bootable macOS installer using a flash drive. You need one with at least 12GB in storage. If you’re using an existing flash drive, make sure to back up all the files in it because this process completely erases all the content of the USB.

The easiest way to create a USB macOS installer is via Terminal. But first, you need to locate the Install files for the macOS version you want to install. Go to your Applications folder and look for the installer files, or you can get them from your Mac App Store under the Purchased tab.

Once you have downloaded the installer, follow these steps to create your bootable drive:

1. Connect your flash drive to your computer.
2. Launch Disk Utility and select your flash drive. This should be listed under External in the sidebar .
3. Click Erase.
4. Once the drive has been erased, you’ll see that the name of the drive has been changed to Untitled.
5. Launch Terminal and copy the following command, depending on the version you want to reinstall:
   • Mojave: sudo /Applications/Install macOS Mojave Beta.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/USB –nointeraction –downloadassets
   • High Sierra: sudo /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra.app
   • Sierra: sudo /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app
   • El Capitan: sudo /Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X El Capitan.app
   • Yosemite: sudo /Applications/Install OS X Yosemite.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X Yosemite.app
   • Mavericks: sudo /Applications/Install OS X Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia –volume /Volumes/MyVolume –applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X Mavericks.app
6. Type in your admin password. Next, type in Y and hit Return .

This will erase your hard drive first, and then convert your USB into a bootable installer. Wait for the process to finish, and then use your new bootable installer to reinstall your macOS using the steps below:

1. Shut down your Mac while your USB installer is connected.
2. Hold down the Option/Alt keys, then press the Power key.
3. You’ll see your startup device list with the USB drive highlighted in yellow.
4. Choose your bootable drive and hit Return.
5. Choose Disk Utility and select your main hard drive.
6. Click Erase, then give your drive a name.
7. Select Mac OS Extended (Journaled) under Format and GUID Partition Map under Scheme.
8. Click Erase > Done.
9. Go to Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
10. Hit the Install macOS button, then click Continue.
11. Follow the installation instructions.

The whole installation process can take around 30 minutes to one hour , so make sure that you have enough battery or your Mac is plugged in to avoid interruptions.

Summary

You can use any of the above methods to reinstall your macOS even without a Recovery partition. However, if your computer is running Snow Leopard or older, you need to install the operating system using the original discs that shipped with your Mac (if you still have them), or purchase them from Apple for $19.99.

MacBook comes with its luxurious look and some amazing set of features that never fade away. Apple has gained enough trust to date with all the Mac models but eventually, it’s a system and there will be a few issues in hardware if not software. And the most common issue faced by a lot of Mac users is that their Macbook keyboard isn’t working at times.

So if you’re one of them whose Macbook keyboard is not working, you’ve arrived at the right place. We’ve got the best possible solutions to get it sorted. Before we get you the fixes for this problem, you must know why it’s not working and what’s the reason behind the same.

Why is Your MacBook Keyboard Not Working?

Did you ever notice that MacBook keyboards are slimmer as compared to other laptops? The reason – Mac keyboards come with a different design – Apple butterfly-like keyboard. And due to this design, if any dust particle or dirt goes beneath the keyboard, it can result in keyboard problems. If this is the case, you need to get it done with an authorized Apple dealer and if not, follow the troubleshooting guide to fix keyboard not working on the Mac issue.

How to Fix MacBook Keyboard Not Working Problem

Of course, not all these fixes might work for you as different Macs have different issues. But there’s nothing wrong giving it a try as you may save a few hundred dollars or more with these troubleshooting tips. So make sure you try each one of them until your Mac keyboard gets working. Here you go!

Quick Access:

Solution #1. Clean the Keyboard (Be Careful) of MacBook

As mentioned earlier, dust particles in the keyboard may cause such problems with your MacBook or MacBook Pro. So you need to clean Mac’s keyboard with compressed air along with a straw to limit the airflow. And the giant Apple itself recommends you to clean your keyboard this way. But you need to do it with care as more air flow could result in damaging your keyboard.

So it’s recommended to follow this method if you’re sure about your cleaning skills. Else, we don’t recommend you to take a chance with this solution and instead, get it done with an expert. And if you’ve made up your mind, here’s how you can do it. Hold your Mac at a 75-degree angle and use the compressed air from left to right on the keyboard. Now do it vice-versa by rotating your laptop. Do it at least two times so that it can be cleaned to perfection.

This should most probably fix the issue and if it still pursuits, you need to try a few other tips given below.

Solution #2. Deleting Recent Apps on MacBook

It’s not all about the hardware issues or software issues but if you have recently installed an unknown app and if it’s not stable, you might face issues as well. This is not about hiding or removing the icons on desktop but completely deleting the recent apps.

To delete recent apps on your Mac, head over to Finder and click on Applications option.

Next, drag the apps from Applications folder to Bin and then Empty Bin to permanently delete the application from your Mac.

Now see if the keyboard is working and if it works by chance, you might have messed up something wrong with the recently installed apps. So better try this method if the app isn’t important to you and you can install it later when needed.

Solution #3. Reset PRAM and SMC on your MacBook

PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) and SMC (System Management Controller) could be considered as the heart of your Mac as they handle important functions. PRAM stores core values and SMC takes care of your CPU fan, lights on Mac and keyboard as well.

Before you reset the PRAM and SMC on your Mac, ensure that you have taken a backup to an external drive and no other external devices are connected to Mac while you perform the process. Although you need not reset PRAM, you must reset both if resetting SMC alone doesn’t work. If you aren’t aware of how to do it, here’s a detailed guide on how to reset PRAM and SMC on Mac. Give it a try and see if that gets back your Mac keyboard to working condition.

Solution #4. Use an External Keyboard on MacBook

Of course, it doesn’t make sense and it might not be the best way to fix the issue but to know whether the keyboard has the issues or whether the Mac system has the issues in it, this is the best way to find it. By using an external keyboard, not only you can get the keyboard working for the time being but you can also get to know the reason behind the problem.

So use an external keyboard and see if it works. If it does, then your Mac keyboard itself is having issues and if it doesn’t, the macOS is having issues in detecting the keyboard.

Solution #5. Update macOS

After all, a simple macOS update can fix the issue within a matter of minutes. Just check if your system is running on the latest version of macOS. If not, update it right away because, at times, the updated firmware can fix the issue by itself.

To update your macOS, head over to System Preferences and navigate to the Software Update section. It will now automatically update the OS if there’s any pending one. This might not fix the issue for most of you but it’s working for at least a few users who have already faced such issues in the past. So there’s nothing wrong in giving it a try with this troubleshooting tip.

Summing Up…

These were some of the troubleshooting tips which might get the things sorted, at least for now. But if you face similar problems in the future, make sure you get it checked with a professional or Apple customer center itself.

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Mac Commands Cheat Sheet

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Macbook Pro Keyboard And Trackpad Not Working

Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.