FAQ | Which MacBooks Have the Butterfly Keyboard?

When it comes to MacBook keyboards, it’s been a hit or miss for Apple. The infamous butterfly keyboard is one of the most controversial keyboards MacBooks has ever featured. Many people reported problems with this keyboard because the keys didn’t work properly or got stuck.

Fortunately for most of us, that was the minority of cases. Still, it took a while for Apple to change to another keyboard finally.

If you have a fairly new MacBook, you probably don’t have the butterfly keyboard. Moreover, even if you do, you likely haven’t faced many problems.

Still, if you want to make sure you’re in the clear, read on to learn which Mac notebooks have the butterfly keyboard.

What Exactly Is the Butterfly Keyboard?

The butterfly keyboard refers to a type of mechanism. The butterfly keyboard’s mechanism consists of a small switch with components that work together like butterfly wings. This would, in theory, make the keys work as well as the older scissor-switch keyboard, while making the whole keyboard thinner.

Does My Mac Have a Butterfly Keyboard?

Apple started using the butterfly keyboard in 2015, and it didn’t change until the end of 2019. If your MacBook is on this list, then it’s rocking a butterfly keyboard.

• MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (Retina, 12­-inch, Early 2016)
• MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, 2017)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13­-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2018)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2019)

As you can see, any model made in 2020 or later doesn’t come with a butterfly keyboard. This is because Apple decided to get rid of the butterfly keyboard finally and started using a new scissor-switch keyboard. So if you have an Apple Silicon MacBook, you don’t have to worry about the butterfly keyboard.

My Mac Has a Butterfly Keyboard and Is Having Problems. What Can I Do?

Because of the large number of people who had problems with their butterfly keyboard MacBooks, Apple created a “Keyboard Services Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.“

Basically, suppose you’re having problems with the keyboard of one of the models listed above, including sticky keys or letters and characters not appearing or repeating unexpectedly. In that case, you can get a service for your MacBook.

This service will be free of charge, but keep in mind that this service only covers your Mac for the first four years after the first retail sale of your unit.