# Help with putting keycap back on

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 11, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217 "2009-11-11T19:33:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217/1 "2009-11-11T19:33:14Z")

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I have a Toshiba Tecra A3 notebook computer. The “l” key was sticking badly so I pried it off and cleaned underneath and it now appears to work fine, just typing on the bare post. But I would like to put the keycap back. When it came off there was a white plastic spring that came off with it and I cannot see how to put it back. Is there any trick I could use? Or is a special tool needed.

I have pried key caps off other notebook computers and they snapped right back on, but not this one. Any suggestions appreciated.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217/2 "2009-11-11T20:24:21Z")

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Is [this page](http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/03/20/key-fell-off-keyboard/) helpful at all?

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217/3 "2009-11-13T22:02:13Z")

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> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> Is [this page](http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2007/03/20/key-fell-off-keyboard/) helpful at all?

It certainly looks just like my key and the plastic connector. I don’t think I will try it though since I just don’t seem to have the manual dexterity to even insert the plastic. I can hardly pry it open actually. Why do the manufacturers impose this on us?

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217/4 "2009-11-13T22:09:27Z")

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Any computer repair shop should be able to do that for you in a half minute.

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**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-putting-keycap-back-on/517217/5 "2009-11-13T22:36:07Z")

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LOL … I misread the thread title as “help with putting KNEECAP back on”.

I was thinking “Dude, call 911! It’s not a do-it-yourself project!”