Left shift key on MacBook Pro (10.7.5) malfunction... how to reset?

I have a mid-2011 MacBook Pro, OS 10.7.5. After a water spill, the left shift key on the keyboard now operates as an options key by default. I cannot figure out how to reset the left shift key to perform shift functions by default. Any ideas?

Water spill more than likely damaged your shift key if that was the only key that is damaged. Did you let your MBP dry completely (48-78 hrs) prior to using it?

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My left shift key on Macbook Pro Retina (15") is behaving like the F11 key (show/hide open windows). The key behaves the same for the laptop keyboard and for an external Apple keyboard? This just started in last week after 6 months of use

My left shift key on Macbook Pro Retina (15") is behaving like the F11 key (show/hide open windows).
The left shift key behaves the same on the laptop keyboard and on an external Apple keyboard.
This just started in last week after 6 months of use. The right shift key and other keys on the keyboard all appear to work correctly.
Suggestions greatly appreciated.

I have a solution to this issue now after a discussion with Apple Support. Some where in the last few weeks, there was a change in the key that would do a Show Desktop under the Mission Control settings in the System Preferences. Even though the key sequence that was shown for the Show Desktop setting did not include the Left SHift key, by changing this first to having no key sequence and applying that and then changing it back to the F11 key, the Left SHift key issue that I was having has cleared up.
A second issue that was uncovered was that the SSD had some issues (uncovered when I ran Disk Utility using the Repair Disk key). I had to restart and use the Disk Utility through the Command R sequence to get to the stand alone Disk Utility. The SSD appears to be running better as a result as well.
Hope that this is of use to someone else in the future.

Left shift key of my new macbook pro retina 13 is always pressed.

My 1 month old macbook pro retina 13 inch model has a problem now. Left shift key is always pressed which results in booting to safe mode.
Currently i have overcome the issue by pressing "option" while booting and used keyremap software to disable "left shift key". Since this a temporary solution, I would like to know what would have caused the shift key to behave like this. If the key not working would have been better, but it is always in pressed state.
Please let me know what I can do to rectify this. If keyboard to be replaced, approximately how much it will cost for the same? I am looking for a positive response....
Regards,
Jibin

Hi BobRz, you are probably talking about the screen display which normaly dims during low light conditions, and that's true. but my concern is the keyboard brightness, it suppose to increase in low light conditions, but instead it dims to the point that i can no longer see the letters on the keyboard. I have viewed a youtube video about the normal adustment function, and mine is doing the opposite

New MacBook Pro - left shift key clicking

Just got a brand spankin' new MBP and have found that the left shift key is "clicking" - while all other keys have nice smooth, quiet action, the left shift key is harder to depress (as though it's getting slightly stuck on something on the way down) and making a loud clicking sound.
Is this something that is easily fixable? Or will I end up having to take it in for a new keyboard?

Thanks for your reply Peter. I restored defaults, and restarted twice, but still nothing. Both keys work on an external keyboard, so I think that it's a mechanical fault. I'll send it back next week when this job has finished- let's hope that it's not part fo a faulty batch.

3 letters + left shift key not working - 2 of them + right shift key working

Hi all,
as in subject, I have just bought a laptop g50-45, italian keyboard.
I encountered this problem:
"LEFT shift key" + "e" or "d" or "c" combinations do not work. Nothing happens.
"RIGHT shift key" + "e" or "d" work properly
"RIGHT shift key" + "c" do not work. Nothing happens
CAPS key + "e" or "d" or "c" work properly.
I noticed this issue before making any updates of windows 8.1
I tried making an update of the bios and later updating windows but the problem is still there.
I check with an external keyboard and everything work correctly
I don't think it could be a mechanical problem because "e", "d" and "c" keys alone work properly, so it seems more a software side problem.
Thank you for your help.

thanks, i thought there some quick procedure to do before heading to apple store. i was just wondering, it was working for a while, and then suddenly like that. i have macbook 10.6.8 software. intel core 2 duo. less than a year old, if i'm not mistaken.

Left Shift Key Remapped, How?

MacBook Air running OS X.
Left shift key when depressed remaps my keyboard, how can I get it to not do this? Example below:
Right Shift Key - ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ?><
Left Shift Key - ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒÂ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸¿¯˘
Help please.
Kent

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you boot, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, reboot as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of steps 1 and 2.

Left shift key remapped into alt key

Hi Everybody
The left shift key of my Macbook air started to work exactly like the alt key, like it was remapped.
(the alt key works normally)
The solution of the problem might be simple but I couldn't find any way to change the behaviour in Maverick.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
and14

Try a restart.
Do a backup, using either Time Machine or a cloning program, to ensure files/data can be recovered. Two backups are better than one.
Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.
Safe Mode
Safe Mode - About
Do you have another keyboard you could test with?

Left shift key is stuck down

My daughters MacBook left shift key is stuckndown. The computer is constantly on "safe boot".
What's a mom to do?

Did you double check to make sure you replaced the shift key correctly?

My return key on Macbook pro doesn't work

My return key on Macbook Pro stopped working, also the shift key

Hello there,
It sounds like the return key is not working on your computers built in keyboard. I would use these steps from the following article to help isolate and resolve the issue:
Try logging into a different user account. If the issue does not occur when logged into a different user account, then troubleshoot for software issues.
You may have accidentally set an option that changes how your keyboard operates.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Dictation & Speech, and then click “Text to Speech.” If “Speak selected text when the key is pressed” is selected, deselect it or press Set Key to select another key.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Accessibility, and then click Keyboard. Make sure Slow Keys is turned off. If Slow Keys is on, you must hold down a key longer than usual before it’s recognized.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Language & Text, and then click Input Sources. Select the checkbox next to Keyboard & Character Viewer, and then select “Show Input menu in menu bar.” Open the Input menu and make sure the correct keyboard layout is selected. To see the keyboard layout, choose Show Keyboard Viewer from the Input menu.
From: OS X Mountain Lion: If keys on your keyboard don’t work
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10680
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
All the best,
Sterling

Left shift key not working

left shift key not working.

thanks, i thought there some quick procedure to do before heading to apple store. i was just wondering, it was working for a while, and then suddenly like that. i have macbook 10.6.8 software. intel core 2 duo. less than a year old, if i'm not mistaken.

Left shift key is making a capital R..........

My Right shift key tRies to adjust volume but still woRks....left shift key makes a capital R and when I just tRy to type the letteR R it is capitalized.....what is wRong with my macbook?
you can email me at
[email protected]

I have two last things to try. The first is a hard reset. The instructions for that are here: Performing a Hard Reset or Forced Reset
If that doesn't help, the last option is to try to restore your BIOS. The instructions are here: Restoring the BIOS
If that fails, it will most likely be a hardware issue. I am not certain of your warranty coverage, you can find that information from support, as well as your repair options.
Alternatively, you might be able to look your warranty status up here: Check your product warranty
HP technical support: 800-474-6836. If you live outside the US/Canada Region please click the link HERE to get the support number for your region.
TwoPointOh
I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom to say “Thanks” for helping!

My Aperture 2.1 has gone into a continual thumbnail mode. I left the computer, a MacBook Pro, run all night, about 12 hours and it is still making thumbnails. I tried reloading Aperture 2.1, but that did not change anything. I have also turned the syst

My Aperture 2.1 has gone into a continual thumbnail mode. I left the computer, a MacBook Pro, run all night, about 12 hours and it is still making thumbnails. I tried reloading Aperture 2.1, but that did not change anything. I have also turned the system off, for a period of time, and then turning it back on, when I click on Aperture, it comes up and locks in the thumbnail mode. I can view my stored pictures, even modify them, but it still says thumbnails.
I got in this mode by trying to import "one jpeg photo", from a scanned slide using a Nikon Scan4 IS5000ED scanner. I had saved the scan to my desktop before I tried to import it.
Please Help, Maurice A Bird at [email protected]
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How do I fix my left shift key? Any open windows leave and make the desktop visible.

How do I fix my left shift key? Any open windows leave and make the desktop visible. I have tired to go into system preferences and reset all of the keyboard settings to default but the issue hasn't gone away.

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Mylenium

Left shift key doesn't work on some characters

In some applications, such as Excel and AOL, my left shift key doesn't work on some letters. Consequently, when I'm typing I get lower case letters when I've typed shift plus the letter to get a cap. Right shift works OK, but I'm not used to using it. It happens on i, t, and p, I've noticed so far. I don't know if it's the keyboard or the application. Word seems to work fine.
Would welcome any ideas on what is causing this and how to fix it.
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Is it possible that you have inadvertently switched to a different keyboard layout? Open System Preferences, then click on the Language & Text preferences. Within the Language & Text preferences click on the 'Input Sources'. You should see a long list of languages representing the various keyboard layouts that are available. Make sure that only the keyboard language you use is selected. If there are multiple languages selected then de-select the extras.
If you continue to have problems then check the 'Show input menu in menu bar' checkbox in the lower section of the preference pane. This will place an icon in the upper right menu bar (it looks like a flag representing the language you have chosen for your input device) that provides additional options. I suggest selecing the 'Show Keyboard Viewer' option and then try pressing the keys that you are having problems with to see how they show up on the keyboard viewer graphic. If you've set the correct language for your keyboard and the key sequences still don't match, then you may need to take your keyboard in for service. Better yet, borrow another keyboard to confirm that the keyboard is the issue.

T40's Left Shift key makes right click/context menu appear?

Hello All-
On my T40, on which I just recently got Windows 7 correctly installed, has a curious behavior:
When I press the left shift key, it functions the same as if I had pressed the right mouse button. It functions correctly otherwise, I.E., when using it to capitolize a letter in an email, the letter is capitolized, but as soon as I let go of the shift key, the right click/context menu immediately appears.
This is exceedingly irritating, as I cannot continue typing until I have navigated out of the menu.
I have checked to see if the Keyboard Customiser utility is causing this, as I currently have my left Alt key functioning as a Windows button, but it does not appear to be causing this particular issue.
Does anyone have any idea how I might go about fixing this?
Thanks in advance,
G
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Nevermind-
Had the keyboard customizer set to use the left shfit key as the application key. Duh.

Left shift key on MacBook Pro (10.7.5) malfunction... how to reset?

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