How to Claim Money From Apple’s $50 Million MacBook Keyboard Settlement

Bought a MacBook with keyboard problems? If so, you may be eligible for part of a $50 million settlement that Apple agreed to in response to allegations that it hid a known keyboard design flaw from customers.

Apple agreed to the multimillion-dollar payout in July, and a California court granted preliminary approval on Nov. 28.

MacBook Pro owners began receiving emails and postcards notifying them that they were eligible for payment, and the settlement website began accepting claims on December 12.

Find out more about the MacBook settlement below, including who qualifies for money, how much you can get from Apple and how to file a claim.

For more class action caseslearn why Keurig is shelling out $10 million to users of its K-Cups and see if you’re eligible for money from T-Mobile’s $350 million data breach settlement.

What is Apple accused of in the class action lawsuit?

Apple introduced its “butterfly” keyboard design in 2015 in its 12-inch MacBook. The keys are attached with a wing-like hinge, as opposed to traditional keyboards, which use two pieces of plastic that, when pressed, intersect and close like scissors.

At the time, the tech giant said the butterfly design was 40% slimmer, meaning its laptops could be too. But customers have complained about the tendency for the keys to be sticky and to miss or repeat typed characters.

Apple launched a repair program that covered MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops in 2018. But it only replaced old butterfly keyboards with new ones.

Finally, in 2019, Apple phased out the butterfly design and introduced a redesigned Magic Keyboard that once again relied on a scissor-switch mechanism.

The butterfly design “had a couple of things that it did really well,” then-Apple marketing director Phil Schiller told CNET that year. “It felt more firm and flat under your finger – some people really like it, but other people weren’t really happy with it.”

Schiller also admitted there were “quality issues we had to work on.”

In a class action filed in California in 2018a group of plaintiffs claimed Apple knew about the quality issues and “deceptively concealed” them from customers.

As a result, they claimed, laptops were knowingly equipped with keyboards that could result in “characters repeating unexpectedly; letters or characters not appearing; and/or the keys feeling ‘sticky’ or not responding in a consistent manner,” according to the settlement. website.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment, but in the filings it denied any wrongdoing.

Who is eligible for a payment from Apple?

If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019 and needed to replace the keyboard or individual keys, you are eligible for compensation.

If you’re not sure if your model is covered, you can check here.

How Much Money Can I Get Out of the MacBook Keyboard Array?

The amount of the individual payout depends on how many repairs you had to have on your MacBook.

Consumers who had to exchange multiple keyboards within four years of purchase are considered Group 1 Settlement class members. They are eligible for an estimated payment of between $300 and $395 and should receive an email this month.

You can still qualify for Group 1 as long as you need two or more top case replacements before November 28, 2024. (The top case houses the keyboard and other components.)

If you believe you are part of Group 1 but have not received a notice, you can call the claims administrator at 855-579-1311. (You can also fill out a change of address form, if needed.)

If you had to replace the keyboard once, you are considered part of the Group 2 Settlement class and can receive as much as $125. However, you will need to submit a claim form.

And if you only had to replace individual key caps, you’re eligible for up to $50. (You will also need to submit a claim form.)

How do I file a claim in the Apple butterfly keyboard settlement?

You can submit a claim on the settlement website or mail a completed form to:

re: MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111

For all Class Members, if Apple does not have a record of your repair or purchase, you will need to provide proof of purchase or repair.

The deadline to file a claim is 11:59 PM PT on March 6, 2023. If you want to object to the settlement — or want to exclude yourself and retain the right to separate litigation — the deadline to notify the court is due February 10, 2023.

When will I get my money?

A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2023. Any payments will go out after that, but the process could be delayed by appeals.