Alt/Option Key Issue

[U-sWYGE_f1T]

I previously had an issue with the Shift key in that when pressed it would go from showing the desktop to returning to the app I had open. I could not use it to access special characters on the keyboard. Spoke with Apple support over the phone and the person could not fix it so I had to go to an Apple store and after going through a series of diagnostics it was resolved. Don't recall what he did to solve it.

Now I have a problem is with the Alt key in that when pressing it the apps that are open are shown and when I let go it returns to the one I had in focus. Again no access to special characters. So not sure what is happening. Whether I inadvertently did something for this to happen or some sort of glitch of sorts.

Sticky keys are not enabled and Big Sur is the OS.

 

[TonyAguila]

You didn’t specify if you have a laptop or desktop Mac. With the latter, if you can get your hands on another USB or Bluetooth keyboard, you can verify if the problem is coming from the Mac or from the keyboard.

With a laptop, you can still attach an external keyboard to do the same test. If it turns out that the laptop keyboard is the problem, you will need to get in for repairs. With a desktop, if the second keyboard works, then problem solved. Good luck.

 

[U-sWYGE_f1T]

Well, when I took it the first time a full hardware diagnostic was performed and the results were all green. So do not see a week later with little use how all of a sudden it would become so.

 

[U-sWYGE_f1T]

So spent 2.5 hours with 3 different Apple online tech support specialists with no solution forthcoming. Back to the genius bar again to get a fix.

 

[TonyAguila]

Try the side-by-side keyboards test.

 

[U-sWYGE_f1T]

Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac Keyboard to do your test. Hopefully, Saturday one of Apple's so-called geniuses will have a solution.