5 Most Common MacBook Faults We See (And How We Fix Them)
The most frequent MacBook problems we repair at MTM IT — including faults that other shops often say are 'not fixable'.
MacBook repair is one of our specialisms at MTM IT. Over the years we’ve seen every common (and many uncommon) MacBook fault — and we’ve developed the techniques to fix most of them, including ones that other repairers write off.
Here are the five most common MacBook faults we see, and what the repair actually involves.
1. Failed or Swollen Battery
MacBook batteries typically last 3–5 years before capacity drops noticeably. The signs are familiar: shorter battery life, sudden shutdowns at low charge, or — in more serious cases — a visibly bulging trackpad or lifted keyboard (the battery is underneath, and when it swells, it pushes upward).
A swollen battery should be replaced promptly — continued use risks damage to surrounding components and, in severe cases, presents a fire risk.
The fix: Battery replacement. On M-series MacBooks (Air and Pro), this typically takes 2–3 hours at our Tiverton workshop. Prices start from £89 for MacBook Air M1.
2. Broken or Damaged Screen
MacBook screens crack less often than phone screens (they’re better protected by the lid), but it happens — usually from being dropped with something on the keyboard, or from the lid being closed on an object.
M-series MacBook screens are OLED or high-quality Retina LCD — expensive to source but worth replacing. A cracked MacBook screen affects not just the display but, in severe cases, can affect ambient light sensor and camera functionality.
The fix: Full display assembly replacement. Prices start from £229 for MacBook Air M1 and go up to £449 for MacBook Pro 16” M4.
3. Water Damage and Liquid Spills
This is the most common “my MacBook won’t turn on” presentation we see, and it’s the fault where acting fast makes the biggest difference. Coffee, tea and juice are the usual culprits — they’re acidic and conductive, which means they cause corrosion faster than plain water.
Many repairers will tell you that a water-damaged MacBook is a write-off. In our experience, that’s not usually true — particularly if the machine is brought to us quickly and hasn’t been repeatedly powered on since the incident.
The fix: Full disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning of the logic board and components, targeted repair of any damaged chips or circuits, and full testing. Prices start from £89 depending on the extent of the damage.
4. Keyboard Faults
MacBook keyboards — particularly the butterfly mechanism design used from 2016 to 2019 — are notorious for key failures. Dust and debris get underneath the keycaps and prevent keys from registering. The scissor mechanism keys (2020 onwards) are more robust.
Common presentations: keys that don’t respond, keys that register twice, or the spacebar sticking.
The fix: For butterfly keyboards, replacement of the top case (which includes the keyboard and battery on those models) is often the most practical repair. For newer scissor models, targeted key replacement or cleaning is usually sufficient. Prices start from £79 for keyboard repair.
5. Not Turning On / No Power
A MacBook that won’t power on is one of the more anxiety-inducing faults — but it’s often not as catastrophic as it seems. Common causes include:
- A completely dead battery (leave it on charge for 30 minutes before calling it truly dead)
- A failed MagSafe adapter (try a different charger if possible)
- A charging port fault
- A logic board fault, often related to previous liquid damage
The fix: Depends entirely on the cause. We diagnose all no-power MacBooks for free. Most turn out to be charging port, battery or minor logic board issues rather than the complete board failures people fear.
If your MacBook is having any of these problems, bring it in to our Tiverton workshop. We’ll assess it for free and give you an honest picture of what the repair involves.