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Repair guides, support, and troubleshooting information for the first 13-inch MacBook Air to feature Apple's ARM-based M1 SoC (with an 8-core CPU and up to an 8-core GPU). Released in November 2020 and identified by model numbers A2338 or EMC 3598.

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Keykaps removal - how to avoid cracking?

I need to clean my keyboard, so remove keycaps. Despite I act very gently, and tried different technics (prying from the bottom or from the sides) upper "teeth" of lover hinge on the keycap itself cracks. They remain in the place, but you can notice their appearance changed - a crack forms in their basement. Putting it back without a very delicate glue work would cause them to fall out, so the key is wasted.

How to properly lift them so they remain intact?

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Sorry you had trouble with the KeyCaps over time the plastic becomes brittle so the assumption they will go back on is a bit of a myth! Sure, some have been lucky!

The best option is to contact someone who makes a business of getting the KeyCaps. I would review this listing from TheBookYard in the UK MacBook Air KeyCaps click on the image to dig deeper into the discreet parts. I would also recommend you don’t take the KeyCaps off as tempting as it is to clean under them. I just use compressed air as the better way to blow the dust out.

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2 Comments:

Oh, I didn't think this keyboard is built anti-repair THAT much(

I'm in Russia currently, so getting something from UK is, sadly, not as straightforward. So I tried getting spare keycaps from Aliexpress. First try turned out to be a flop - material and form is the same, but engravings are different. Seller promised to send a set from another factory (!) for replacement, but I doubt it would be genuine.

So, actually, I will have to replace all the keys and there's no way back, right?

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@intenditore - Just like a cracked egg you can’t undo the damage.

Depending on how many you damaged you may need to see if you can get a replacement keyboard to replace it Vs the discrete KeyCaps.

Are you able to leave Russia? Then maybe you’ll need to find your way to a friends home in another country having him order the needed parts so he has them when you visit. Hopefully, you don’t damage any in the process of installing.

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Anri will be eternally grateful.
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