Single Key Replacement In Leeds
Did a key pop off when you were cleaning? Is the letter 'E' worn out? Don't replace the whole keyboard just yet! For many laptops, we can replace individual plastic keycaps and the scissor mechanisms underneath, saving you time and money.
Don't Throw Away A Good Keyboard
It happens to everyone. You wipe your keyboard with a cloth, snag a corner, and pop—off flies the CTRL key. Or maybe a curious pet decided to claw at the arrow keys.
Many official manufacturer support centers will tell you that you need a "Top Case Replacement" costing £200+. This is wasteful and unnecessary. At Leeds Computer & Laptop Repairs, we keep hundreds of "donor keyboards" in our Headingley workshop specifically for harvesting parts.
If the metal hooks on your keyboard's baseplate are intact, we can simply click a new mechanism and plastic cap into place. It's often cheaper than a round of drinks in Leeds city centre!
Anatomy of a Laptop Key
1. The Keycap (The part you touch)
This is the black or silver plastic square with the letter printed on it. These attach via tiny plastic clips on the underside. We match these exactly to your laptop's font, texture, and colour.
2. The Scissor Mechanism (The spring)
Underneath the cap is a delicate two-part white plastic hinge called a "scissor lift." This gives the key its bounce. These are extremely fragile and often snap when a key is pulled off. We stock thousands of variants (HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Apple).
3. The Rubber Cup (The sensor)
In the center is a silicone rubber nipple. When you press the key, this touches the circuit board. If this rubber cup is torn or missing, the key will not register. In this rare case, a full keyboard replacement is usually required.
How We Match Your Keys
Not all "Dell Latitude" keys are the same. A single laptop model might use keyboards from three different factories (Chicony, Alps, Sunrex), each with different hinge designs.
- Visual Inspection: We start by looking under your missing key with a magnifying glass to identify the metal hook pattern.
- The Boneyard: We search our extensive "boneyard" of broken laptops and donor keyboards for an exact match.
- Installation: We carefully seat the new scissor clip, ensure the rubber cup is centered, and snap the keycap into place until it clicks satisfyingly.
Visit Us In Headingley
No appointment needed for single key repairs. Just pop in!
- Quick: Often done while you wait.
- Cheap: Only £5 - £15 per key.
- Green: Reduces e-waste significantly.
Key Replacement FAQs
Small parts, big questions.
Can you replace MacBook butterfly keys?
Yes, but it is very difficult. The 2016-2019 MacBook butterfly mechanism is fragile. We can often replace the plastic cap, but if the butterfly hinge itself is broken, it usually requires a full top-case replacement due to Apple's design.
What if I've lost the little white clip?
No problem. We supply the white scissor clip along with the keycap. As long as the metal hooks on the laptop base are okay, we can fix it.
Can purchase a single key online?
You can, but it's risky. Because there are so many hinge variations, it's easy to buy the wrong one. It's much safer to bring your laptop to our Leeds store so we can physically match it before you pay.