Using a laptop in everyday life, users sometimes encounter a problem: a key on the keyboard has broken off. The reason could be any factor: cleaning the keyboard, using a vacuum cleaner for cleaning, a stray cat (yes, even this happens), a small child who is interested in everything around him and accidentally breaks a key, and much more. But not everyone knows that this small problem is quite easy to fix.
I'll tell you how to put the button back without loss.

(caution! a lot of photos)

Something has happened and your laptop's keyboard looks like this:

Laptops are all different, but most often their fastening is similar (fastening principle).
The key on the back side looks like this:

We see two pairs of fasteners:
- two latches;
- two grooves for the rocker ears.
The key cover is attached to the keyboard using a special rocker, which consists of 2 parts connected by a hinge in the middle and forming the letter X (ha).

It often happens that the key “breaks out” along with the rocker. In this case, you must first disconnect the rocker from the key cap, install the rocker on the keyboard, and only then return the key to its rightful place.
To do this, take the key, unsnap the latch on one side of the key, and remove the antennae of the rocker and grooves on the other side:

We get 2 parts: a key cover and a rocker.
The keyboard has 3 lugs for fastening: one larger and two smaller.

If for some reason these fasteners are bent (for example, a heavy object fell on the keyboard, as a result of which a key jumped out), they need to be bent into the correct position. Be careful, you cannot bend these fasteners too much, because... They are made of aluminum and break off easily, after which repairs will become much more difficult.

Install the rocker on the keyboard:
- place it under the large mounting eye

Lightly press the rocker onto the 2 small mounts.

After installing the rocker, you can put the key cover back.
- insert the protrusions on the rocker into the grooves of the lid

Here you need to act carefully and not miss :).
Next, making sure that the ears go into the grooves, lightly press the top of the key to secure the key cover,
a slight click will be heard.

Ready! the key is in place.

Large keys (Tab, Shift, space, enter), in addition to a plastic rocker, can have a metal stabilizer for uniform pressing.

There are two additional tabs on the keyboard base to secure this stabilizer. Otherwise the design is the same as described above.

First we wind the ends of the stabilizer.

Then we insert the lower “antennae” of the rocker into the grooves and, with a light press, put the button in place.

The spacebar (and sometimes other long keys) is supported by two rockers and a stabilizer.

In principle, the installation is no different from the above-described installation of the Shift key.

Above we examined the internal structure of the keys of a Hewlett-Packard laptop.

I almost forgot. If a swing, consisting of two parts, was disassembled during an emergency, do not despair. Using a needle, toothpick or other suitable object, it is easy to assemble. We put one side into the groove, and to install the second side we use our auxiliary object.

Now, dear users, you will have no questions:
- How does a laptop keyboard work?

How to replace the keycap?
- what to do if a cat tore out a key on a laptop?
and so on.

P.s. Because there were too many photos, an additional part of the article can be viewed on my blog (if anyone is interested in this topic), where, for example, you can see the devices of the keys of Asus and Apple laptops, some differences and similarities are described.

Having learned the structure of the button and a number of simple operations for removing and installing it, the user will be able to independently fix a minor breakdown or replace the faulty key with a new one.

How to insert a button into the keyboard on a laptop

A laptop, unlike a personal computer, has a built-in dialing device, the cost of which is significantly higher due to its compact size and integral design. That is why its repair, including independent repairs, is constantly in demand and economically justified.

With prolonged use and active use, parts of the keyboard fall out or break, requiring replacement, quite often.

However, before you run to the service center, let’s try to figure out whether you can insert a button into the laptop keyboard yourself at home and, perhaps, save money and personal time.

Possible reasons

There can be many possible reasons for keys breaking or falling out:

To understand what this leads to and determine the likelihood of self-repair, consider the following cases when one or more keys have fallen out or do not work:

1. the upper part simply jumped out of the mounts, got stuck, the plastic mount broke, or the fixing lugs on the aluminum base of the keyboard were bent. - We install, repair or replace ourselves;
2. there was a short circuit and/or destruction of the conductive paths due to a manufacturing defect, liquid ingress or other outside interference. - It is worth contacting the service if you do not have certain skills;
3. damage to the cable connecting to the motherboard. - Replacement (preferably by a specialist) of the film or the entire device.

Taking into account the fact that the majority of users are amateurs, we will consider only the correction of breakdowns in the first case: mechanical damage.

To do this you may need:

• a regular needle or a syringe;
• paper clip;
• glue;
• knife, small screwdriver;
• wire cutters and pliers;
• thin soldering iron and lighter;
• small vice.

The first two positions of the list are enough to simply insert the dropped item, and the rest may be needed for minor repairs.

Important: Please note right away that all work must be carried out ONLY with the device disconnected from the network and the battery removed.

Photo: Parsing the assembly of keys

Button and its design

Before inserting a button into the laptop keyboard yourself, we recommend that you become familiar with its design. This will help you carry out repairs correctly, as well as make installation easy and simple. It should be remembered and taken into account that, unlike a stationary one, a laptop keyboard has a shorter stroke.

They consist of:

A typical keyboard base in a laptop is an aluminum plate, stamped with ears for good fixation of the clamshell and the contact pad, under which there are three layers of film with conductive graphite tracks.

Reliable fastening of the swing ensures uniform movement and the absence of distortions when pressing the key.

Please note that different manufacturers may have slight design differences in the shape and types of clamps.

Therefore, if you need to disassemble it yourself for the first time, proceed carefully.

Disassembly procedure

There are often situations when it becomes necessary to completely remove and disassemble the button. For example, sinking, lack of response on the screen when it is pressed, or deformation of the folding bed mounting ears. Removing, disassembling and inserting a button into a laptop keyboard is quite easy.

To do this, you will need a thin, flat instrument, such as a dental hook. As you know from the previous section, the swing is attached to the lid in four places. You can’t just bend it and “rip it off” - this will deform the swing and lead to damage.

That's why:

Inserting a button on a laptop is very easy

First, we carefully inspect all the fasteners, ears, antennae and grooves again. If you have carefully studied the device and design, read the disassembly procedure, then putting the popped element back in place will not be difficult.

This process involves two simple steps:

Please note that sometimes the lid will fall out along with the swing. In such a case, you should disassemble it, carry out an inspection, and only then install it. Moreover, first we insert the folding mechanism, and then the lid itself.

The described process may seem complicated, but you just have to try it once and you will see for yourself that inserting a button into a laptop keyboard is very simple!

Installing large buttons

Function keys (space, register, tab, enter, etc.) are larger than the others. It is this property that requires a slightly different installation order. The reason for this is the presence of a metal stabilizer, which ensures even pressure.

There are additional lugs on the keyboard backing for reliable fixation of the rigidity amplifier itself.

And although everything else is exactly the same as described above, we install long buttons on the folding bed in three stages:

Please note that some long keys (for example, the spacebar) are fixed by two folding mechanisms and a rigidity amplifier.

We repair keys

As a rule, it is better not to start complex and time-consuming repairs yourself.

Having disassembled a faulty, poorly functioning or torn out key, you will have to, based on its careful examination, make one of three decisions:

• put it back “as is”, without changes;
• purchase and install a new one (used is also possible);
• make minor repairs or replace parts from the “donor” and continue operation.

For the last point, you may find the tools we talked about above useful.

Minor mechanical repairs include:

• assembly and installation of the popped-out parts of the mechanism into the grooves (quite often the clamshell “crumbles”);
• correction of bent lugs in the metal base of the keyboard (for example, when a heavy object falls on the keyboard);
• gluing cracks and broken fasteners.

It is not worth repairing the damage to the latches and hinge joint of the clamshell - it is better, if possible, to find a “donor” or replace the entire key. The smoothness, softness and quietness of its operation depends on this.

A rubber spring is usually glued to a film with conductive tracks. Sometimes it happens that it falls out. In this case, before inserting the button into the laptop keyboard, you should carefully install its wide part towards the bottom, strictly in the center. Displacement of the spring during installation is not allowed.

Having a problem with the keys? Try to solve it yourself if possible. It is not difficult! All you need is attentiveness, perseverance, accuracy and a little time.

Having acquired the necessary skills, you can, on occasion, save the life of your pet by promptly eliminating the consequences of moisture ingress or significantly extend it by performing a general cleaning of dust and crumbs.

Helpful advice: By the way, before completely disassembling the keyboard of your laptop, we strongly recommend taking a photo, just in case, of the order of the keys. This will help greatly simplify and speed up the reassembly process!

This article is about how to install a key that has fallen off on a laptop back onto the built-in keyboard.

A button on the laptop's built-in keyboard has fallen off. Causes

The reasons may be the most mundane:

• Improper cleaning of the keyboard, exposure to water or alcohol
• using a vacuum cleaner to clean
• kid who carelessly removed the button
• a pet that accidentally ran across the keyboard (anything happens!)

Our beloved children can also cause a laptop key to fall off!

Your actions to eliminate the cause

• Let's look at what a keyboard with a fallen key looks like on a laptop. The key structure is standard throughout.

Keyboard with a fallen key on a laptop.

• Let's look at the structure of the back side of the key.

Reverse side of the key. Appearance

• We look at the fasteners (2 pieces) and grooves (2 pieces) with a device similar to a swing. The device is designed to attach a key to the keyboard; it consists of two parts connected into a unit. In the future, we will call it, as indicated above, a device.

The structure of the back side of the key, including fastenings (2 pcs) and grooves (2 pcs) with a device similar to a swing

• in the case when the key is torn out by the “roots”, i.e. together with the device, then you should disconnect it from the key cover, attach it to the keyboard, then install the key.

When the key is torn out by the “roots,” that is, together with the device, then you should disconnect it from the key cover, attach it to the keyboard, and then install the key.

• Having carried out the above operation, we get two parts: the key cover and the device itself.

After the operation, we receive two parts: the key cover and the device itself.

• We install the part on the keyboard, placing fasteners under the “ear.”

We install the part on the keyboard, placing fasteners under the “ear”

• Pressing lightly, we place the device on two small fasteners.

We install the device on two small fasteners

• After installation, return the key cover back, strengthen the protrusions of the device into the grooves of the cover
• press the key cover, securing it in place. The operation has been completed. A slight click is heard when inserted.

Strengthening the key cover

• Large keys (spacebar, for example), in addition to the device described above, may have additional mechanical fasteners, such as in the figure below.

Large keys may have additional mechanical fasteners

• The large key stabilizer is secured with additional fasteners located on the keyboard substrate.

The large key stabilizer is secured with additional fasteners

• To do this, you should wind the ends of the stabilizer.

We insert the ends of the stabilizer into the grooves

• then, insert the lower fastenings of the device into the grooves, press, putting the large key in place.

insert the lower fasteners of the device into the grooves, press the key, putting the large key in place

• The spacebar, for example, is mounted on two devices and a stabilizer.

Spacebar, mounted on two devices and a stabilizer

• The installation diagram for the large key is similar to the case described above.

The installation diagram for the large key is similar to the case described above

Keyboard failure can be more complex:

• Several keys fell out.
• The keyboard is filled with liquid.
• the keyboard is broken.

In these cases, contacting a service center will help. We told you how to handle installing a dropped key yourself, putting it in place correctly, and fixing it on the built-in keyboard of a laptop.

Video: How to insert a key on a laptop?

Accessories for clothing are an additional decoration and accessory. However, even expensive branded clothing is often equipped with low-quality fittings. This applies to both buttons and clips, hooks and zippers. In order not to seek help from a studio, you need to learn how to work with various sewing accessories yourself. Installing buttons on clothes at home will not take much time; this can be done using a simple set of tools. Today we will tell you how to put a rivet on clothes at home, using available materials and tools, thereby saving money by not buying a special press for installing buttons.

Types of accessories

Garment accessories include the following parts:

• Buttons.
• Hooks.
• Loops.
• Lightning.
• Blocks.
• Textile Velcro fasteners.
• Holniten are metal rivets. Most often used in denim clothing to secure stitching.
• Buckles.
• Eyelets. Durable metal or plastic fasteners are mainly used in leather goods.
• Rivets. There are utilitarian rivets - those that are used for clamping, fastening and fastening, and decorative ones. Very often, sewing accessories in clothing combine both roles.

Important! All types of fittings are made from different materials. Often, their quality determines how convenient and comfortable a particular item will be worn. In addition, any accessories are designed to rivet and decorate clothes, even if we are talking about such an ordinary detail as a button.

The most popular materials for making fasteners and fasteners:

• Metal.
• Ceramics.
• Plastic.

If the part is not selected correctly, that is, without taking into account the characteristics of the fabric or leather, then the fittings simply will not cope with their functions. Then you will have to change the details on your clothes yourself so as not to throw expensive things into the far corners of your wardrobe.

How to install a button on clothes at home?

Of course, if you have the opportunity, then entrust the installation of accessories to a master who has a special press, various devices, a set of tools, and most importantly, experience, thanks to which such work will not take him much time. If you don’t have this option, or you want to find out for yourself how to install a button on clothes, then prepare the following tools:

• Awl.
• Hammer.
• Forceps.
• Punch. You will have to purchase this tool. It is necessary to ensure that the hole is smooth and the edges of the fabric do not fray.

Important! You can purchase one punch (the smallest size), but it is better to buy a set of punches with removable attachments.

• An anvil (or another hammer).

• Do not cut a hole for the block with scissors, as over time the button or block will definitely “fall out” of it. The hole for the button should be minimal, it is advisable to even slightly stretch the fabric over the leg, since the tighter the fabric is pressed against the part, the more securely it will be fixed.
• Punch a hole in leather or fabric using a wooden anvil (not metal) to avoid damaging the tip of the punch. The wood should be very dense (not loose). An area with a knot will do. You can use other dense materials as an anvil that will not damage the punch.
• Areas on knitted and bulk materials where holes will be punched can be glued with adhesive fabric so that the edges of the hole do not fray. You can also treat the edges of the hole with silicone glue.

Important! Don't start practicing fastening rivets on expensive clothes right away; practice on something cheaper first.

Rivet installation process

It is necessary to work with tools carefully, slowly and without making sudden movements. Otherwise, the fabric, accessories or tools may be damaged.

The most common type of installation of accessories is the installation of a block on clothing. In workshops and ateliers, forceps are used for this procedure. However, such a tool must be purchased of good quality so that the handles do not bend and the “cheeks” do not move.

Important! A sign of good and high-quality pliers are rigid handles that allow you to work quickly and easily.

Don’t despair if you don’t have special forceps at hand; you can do without them at home. Use the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Use a punch to make a hole of the required diameter in textile material or leather.
2. Thread the block leg and put a ring on it.
3. Place the piece of clothing with the block on the anvil.
4. Use a punch to split the stem of the block into petals. If all the steps are done correctly, the petals should bend on their own on the block ring.
5. Lightly go over the block with a hammer to finally secure it to the fabric.

Important! Do not use much force when working with a hammer, otherwise you may damage the fabric and bend the block on the front side.

When working, place the ring with the convex side away from you so that it repeats the convex shape of the edge of the block.

How to attach buttons to clothes?

The most difficult process is installing rivets on the rough fabric that outerwear is often made from. Difficulties also accompany installing rivets on jeans. But if you use a good tool and follow all the technological steps, you will probably be able to attach the button to your clothes.

Important! The easiest way to install buttons on jackets, coats and windbreakers are four-part buttons that close using a ring located at the top of the button.

You will need the same tool as when installing the block. Sometimes, special punches are included for this type of button, but using them is ineffective. It is much more convenient to use a punch that splits the stem into petals.

To make a rivet on a jacket or other outerwear, proceed as follows:

1. Unbend the leg of the four-part button at the top and bottom.
2. Carry out the standard riveting process (described above).

Important! If you often have to install accessories on clothes, then purchase several types of dowels (a construction nail with a wide head that cannot be bent) at a hardware store. Blunt several dowels of different thicknesses. A construction nail does an excellent job of flaring the legs of rivets, especially if they are very difficult to get to, for example, when installing a denim button.

How to put on a denim button?

To install the simplest button on jeans, proceed as follows:

1. Poke a hole in the waistband of your trousers with an awl.
2. Insert the button shank into the hole.
3. Place the button on an anvil (on a metal surface) and hammer in the shank. It is the leg, not the button, otherwise you will damage the decorative element.

Important! When buying a denim button, purchase a set that has a threaded stem. Such a leg will be securely held inside the button, but a smooth leg may “pop out” over time under load.

Important! To install a button of a more complex design, the leg of which will move freely, you will need a dowel cut down on sandpaper, since the leg of such a button will need to be flared on the button itself.

Read also a separate detailed material about the different types of fasteners that are used for denim clothing, and how.

Step-by-step instructions on how to install buttons on clothes at home:

1. Thread the stem of the button into the waistband.
2. Place the button on the shaft.
3. Assess how far the stem extends from the button. If necessary, “bite off” the edge of the part with pliers. Otherwise, the leg will bend and it will be impossible to flare it.
4. Place the button on the anvil.
5. Place the dowel on the center of the button shank and, by lightly tapping with a hammer, flare the shank until it fits snugly with the cap body.

Important! Proceed carefully so as not to damage the decorative surface of the fittings.

How to assemble a tendril button for clothes?

In much the same way as a denim button, a button is installed on a tendril-type garment. The only difference is that all manipulations must be carried out only for the top part of the button.

The lower part of the part is much easier to assemble:

• To install it, you can buy a special tool with a recess inside in the store.
• If you do not have such a tool, then you can use a metal plate with a hole similar to the size of the “bump”. You need to insert the bottom part of the button into the hole of the metal plate, and “slam” the leg with a hammer on the back side of the clothing.

Important! It is quite difficult to install the antenna button without special tools, so buy a little more of them than required.

• If for some reason the buttons are not installed correctly, remove them and install new ones. Do not use damaged buttons, as they will not hold securely and will need to be replaced.
• To install a button on clothes at home, you can use the tools that are at hand: a Phillips screwdriver, a bolt, a thick nail, a dowel. To expand the cylindrical part of the button, you can use any cone-shaped device, and then use a bolt (cylindrical rod) of a suitable diameter to flare (attach) the button rod completely.
• Install the button on a smooth wooden surface, but be extremely careful not to break the button or destroy it.
• You can use a block of wood to install the bottom of the button if you don't have a suitable metal object with the right hole. Use a drill to make a hole in a wooden block (the diameter and depth should correspond to the male part). Assemble the bottom of the button and place a block on top. Tap the part with a hammer.

Important! If you decide to start thoroughly practicing sewing clothes with your own hands, you will find our articles useful:

Accessories for clothing are an additional, sometimes even the main decoration of clothing and accessories. Leather products are especially decorated with various blocks, buttons, and eyelets. However, it is not always possible to install the fittings correctly and reliably with your own hands. Often you have to damage more than one block or button before installing it.
To make this work easier for you, use our tips designed specifically for installing blocks, various buttons, and denim buttons at home.

It should be noted right away that if you have the opportunity, do not “save” by installing blocks manually. Entrust this work to a master who has not only experience, but also a special press, various devices and a set of tools. Well, if you don’t have this opportunity, then let’s figure out how to install clothing accessories yourself using simple devices.

1. To install the fittings, you must first “punch” a hole

In our practice, in an atelier, to install fittings, we use a press and numerous attachments suitable for one or another type of button or block. With the help of such attachments, the edges of a button or block are carefully flared, acquiring a “factory” appearance. But since buying a press with attachments and other additional tools for home use is unjustified, we suggest that you use “improvised” tools. In your arsenal you should definitely have a small hammer and an anvil (you can use another hammer), an awl and several additional tools that you will have to buy at a sewing supply store. One of these tools should be a punch.

It is imperative to use a punch to ensure that the hole is perfectly straight and the edges of the fabric do not fray. You can have only one punch, the smallest size, or, in extreme cases, two (the second one is slightly larger). But it is best to buy a set of punches with removable attachments. It is not advisable to cut a hole with scissors, since from time to time the block or button will definitely “fall out” of it. The hole for the block or button should be minimal; it is advisable to even slightly stretch the fabric over the leg of the block, since the tighter the fabric is pressed against the leg, the more securely it will be fixed.

You need to punch a hole in fabric or leather on an anvil, not a metal one, but a wooden one. The tree should be very dense (not loose), for example the area where the knot is located. You can use other materials that are dense but do not damage the tip of the punch.
Advice: Areas where holes will be punched on knitted fabrics and other bulk materials can be glued with adhesive fabric.

Using special pliers is the easiest, but not the most effective way to install blocks. The thing is. that you need to buy tongs of good quality, otherwise their handles may bend, the “cheeks” will become mixed, etc. These pliers are quite expensive, so it’s better to find such a tool in a sewing accessories store.

With the help of such a tool, you can easily do without pliers and other devices when installing almost any blocks and buttons. This is done as follows. Punch a hole in fabric or leather with a punch, thread the leg of the block and put a ring on it. Place the piece of clothing with the block on the anvil, and use this punch to split the leg of the block into petals. Thanks to this special shape of the tip of this tool, the petals themselves will bend on the block ring. All you have to do is secure them a little with a hammer. Do not use much force; strong hammer blows can damage the fabric and bend the block on the front side.
Advice: Place the ring with the convex side away from you, that is, it should follow the convex shape of the edge of the block.

There is another way to install barrels, without any special tools at all. But it is so handicraft that it can only be used as a last resort.
The stem of the block can be “cut” with a knife blade (using a hammer) into several petals, and then trimmed and inserted into the prepared hole. Place the ring on top and bend the petals with a screwdriver. Since there will be a lot of defects, it is advisable to have several “extra” blocks in stock.

3. How to install buttons on jeans and outerwear

The easiest way to install buttons is from four parts (pictured No. 2), which are slammed shut using a ring located at the top of the button. Using the same tool as for the blocks, it is easy to “flare” the button leg into petals, both the upper part and the lower part. However, for this type of buttons, special punches are often included with them. But from practice we know that using them is ineffective. It is much more convenient and easier to use a punch that “splits” the stem into petals. By the way, if you often have to install accessories on clothes, various types of buttons, especially tendril ones (pictured No. 1), then be sure to buy several types of dowels at a hardware store. This is a construction nail with a wide head that is impossible to bend. Ask your husband to “blunt” several dowels of different thicknesses. Surely he has something in his garage to do this with (emery). Next you will understand why you need such dowels.

But first, let's figure out how to install the simplest denim button in design. Punch a hole in the waistband of your jeans with an awl and insert the leg into it. Place the button on an anvil (preferably on a metal surface) and hammer into the stem. It's a leg, not a button.
When buying a denim button, choose a set with a threaded leg, as in this photo. This leg will be securely held inside the button. The smooth leg may “pop out” over time or under load.

Now let's try installing a jeans button with a more secure design, one whose leg moves freely. This is where you will need a dowel cut down on sandpaper. The fact is that the leg of such a button needs to be flared inside the button itself. You won’t be able to “get close” to it without a special tool. But with the help of a sawn dowel this is easy to do. And since the dowel does not bend, it can be used to reliably flare the leg.
But first, insert the leg into the belt, place a button on top of it and see how far the leg comes out of it. You may need to “bite off” the edge with pliers. Otherwise, your leg will simply bend and you won’t be able to flare it later.

The antenna button (No. 1) is installed in approximately the same way, only this operation needs to be performed only for the upper part of the button. The lower part is much easier to install. To install the second part, you can buy a special tool with a recess inside in the store. But if you don’t have one, then you can use a metal plate with a hole exactly the size of the “bump.” Insert this little bump into the hole in the metal plate, and “slam” the leg with a hammer on the back of the clothing. The antenna button is very difficult to install without special tools, so buy more of these buttons than you need.

The latter type of button, which is sometimes used in knitted clothing, is not particularly difficult to install. However, some advice can also be given. First, make sure that the tabs on the bottom of the button fit exactly where they should. Sometimes they are bent, so you have to bend them or straighten them with pliers so that during installation all the petals “go” into the upper part.
If for some reason the button is not installed correctly, remove it and install another, new one. It is better not to use a damaged button again, since it will no longer hold securely. They are inexpensive, so buy them with a reserve.

At home, a press for installing buttons is not required, but in a studio, such a tool is definitely needed, especially if your studio repairs leather clothes, bags and other accessories, where various accessories are often used.

Quality sewing of fur or leather can only be done by a professional who has special equipment, tools and experience, including tools for installing clothing accessories. However, in some cases it is possible to install buttons or blocks without special tools and devices.

Almost any leather clothing and accessories use various fittings. To “punch” a neat hole in the leather to install a button or block, you must use a special punch.

For curtains, special fittings are often used - eyelets. The eyelets look like blocks, but it is impossible to install metal eyelets yourself, since without a special press you will not be able to accurately flare their edges. Use plastic eyelets. Their halves snap together and installation therefore will not cause any difficulties.

When installing accessories on clothes made of loose, knitted fabrics, be sure to use adhesive fabrics. The glued sections of clothing will be securely held between the parts of the block.