The procedure for the space bar replacement has also changed from the previous model. The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. The repair document is the first direct confirmation we’ve had from Apple that the membrane is specifically designed to protect the new keyboard from encountering the same problems as its predecessors. Thanks to iFixit, we know that the reduced noise from the keyboards is due to the addition of a rubber membrane under each key.

But Apple insisted that the only real difference was that the updated models were quieter. When Apple announced its latest MacBook Pro updates last week, one of the more notable changes to the hardware was a third-generation version of the much-maligned butterfly keyboard.

They’re also there as a protective layer to block dust and debris from interfering with the sensitive butterfly mechanism that has proved so problematic for some users. A recently leaked Apple service document obtained by MacRumors confirms what many already suspected: the newly introduced silicone membranes discovered by iFixit that are beneath the keycaps on the new MacBook Pro keyboard aren’t just there to muffle sound.

Spacebar not working mac pro 2017