Definition: The keyboard ribbon is a thin, flat, flexible cable that connects a laptop’s keyboard to the motherboard. Every keypress travels along it, so when it’s loose, dirty or torn, keys stop registering.
Ribbon fault or keyboard fault?
A clue is the pattern. When whole rows or groups of keys die at once, or the keyboard works one day and not the next, the ribbon or its connector is a likely suspect. When one or two keys stick or repeat, it’s more often the keys themselves or liquid residue under them.
Common causes
A drop that jolts the connector loose, liquid spills corroding the contacts, or a previous repair that didn’t reseat the cable properly.
Quick check before you bring it in
Plug in a USB keyboard. If it works fine, the computer itself is healthy and the fault is in the built-in keyboard or its ribbon. If typing still fails, it may be a software or motherboard issue.
Related terms
→ Flex Cable — the same type of cable, used for displays
→ Corrosion — what spills do to connectors over time
Keys stopped working?
Free diagnosis to find whether it’s the ribbon, the keyboard or the board.