Has anyone else noticed a problem with the Pi 500 keyboard where the space bar only registers if pressed in the middle? If you press either end of the space bar, the whole space bar moves down and gives a satisfying thud, but nothing appears on the screen (ie. looks and feels like the tactile feedback I'd expect). Only a central press seems to work reliably, despite it feeling the same as pressing on the edge.

Out of curiosity, we walked to the Raspberry Pi shop in Cambridge and tried a couple of Pi 500s and was surprised they behaved the same. The Pi 400s next to them were fine.

The staff mentioned that a few people had commented on it, and their advice was to press the space bar centrally. That’s not ideal for a primary school age kid who doesn't touch type (though they had an amusingly nerdy chat about QMK with him that started because he asked what the triangle/square/circle LED is for).

Our Pi400 and Pi-branded USB keyboards are all fine. I've searched here a few times, when I think to, but not found any mention of it.

The early pi400s appeared to have issues with the space bar...

Raspberry Pi 400 Space Bar Strange Behaviour - Raspberry Pi Forums https://share.google/4LPKQbXdMvBd3VrKK

Raspberry Pi 400 US spacebar remains pressed - Support - Pimoroni Buccaneers https://share.google/ecNG1xdvSzI1Lx6L0

But l believe it was fixed ...

Same here drives me nuts, especially when using the terminal I constantly have to keep looking up and having to use backspace or arrow keys to fix the mistake.

The issue exists on any recent version of Linux.

Raspberry PI 500 Pi OS Trixie Kernel: 6.12.58-v8 Ram: 8GB DE: XFCE
Debian - "The Universal OS - One OS to Rule Them ALL"

I believe it's a physical problem, not software. At least, the Pi Store staff told us there's a single switch in the middle and pushing at the side doesn't quite push it down far enough, even though sounds and feels like it should have worked.

It's a shame. My Pi 400 (bought on the day of launch from the Cambridge Pi shop) doesn't have any problems except it feels a bit spongy. My (slightly newer) Pi USB keyboard is really nice, so I had assumed the Pi 500 would be as good quality as that.

Since I'm boring people about the Pi 500 keyboard, I thought I'd mention that I think the keycaps labelling is a mistake. The '+' and '-' are the same size and both vertically aligned on the key. Why would a kid (who can barely type) know that shift now means left/right, rather than up (ie. mine didn't)? Shift keys always (apart from the Pi 500) have an up arrow on it, not right arrow. It's better for the number keys, but only because you'd expect a number key to enter a number.

And, since I'll never otherwise bother posting about my final Pi 500 gripe, I think the all-white colour scheme is also a mistake, on boringness grounds :-)

As a computer, though, it's lovely and has handled homework via Microsoft Teams very well.

I don't have that problem with my space bar on Raspberry Pi 500, but that has Nordic keyboard which is probably newer.

Thanks for checking. Interestingly, a brand new UK Pi500 (from the Cambridge shop) has exactly the same problem, but it's quite plausible it's from the same batch or manufacturing line.

All white probably to give a false impression that it is an 'Apple' computer..... :lol: :mrgreen:

I have some pink & white kit, but they look much better in black......or maybe all red.... :P

this is a problem with a lot of cheap keyboards. can sometimes be fixed by using a metal rod across the length with more mass

wcl55 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 9:28 am

this is a problem with a lot of cheap keyboards. can sometimes be fixed by using a metal rod across the length with more mass

Not really. The fix is to have a mechanical linkage under the space bar which pulls the other end down when pressed at one end. Nothing to do with mass.

Oh no, not again.

They actually have metal linkage bars, and both sides go down with a pleasing thud. The problem is that, if you push at the sides, it doesn't quite go down far enough in the middle to trigger the membrane switch - it's particularly frustrating because it feels like it would have worked - and my son doesn't look at the screen when he types, though it's annoying for me, too.

I've tried sliding some paper in between the plastic space bar and top of the rubber membrane but didn't seem to help.

piersw wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 5:02 pm

They actually have metal linkage bars, and both sides go down with a pleasing thud. The problem is that, if you push at the sides, it doesn't quite go down far enough in the middle to trigger the membrane switch - it's particularly frustrating because it feels like it would have worked - and my son doesn't look at the screen when he types, though it's annoying for me, too.

I've tried sliding some paper in between the plastic space bar and top of the rubber membrane but didn't seem to help.

Try pushing the space bar closer to the middle.

Oh no, not again.

For me, the pi400's keyboard was possibly the worst designed keyboard I've ever used. And I was midway through a project to slap that mobo onto a full-sized keyboard when the 500 was released. I abandoned that project and got a 500. Naturally, I encountered a much better keyboard on that device but that spacebar downright sucks.

I was beginning to revive my previous project to stick the 500''s mobo onto its own full sized keyboard on the day they announced the 500+.

I've had a few reports from others on usenet that the spacebar works fine on the mechanical keyboard. So, regardless on where the thumb lands, it will register a space.

Decided to retire my 500 once the 500+ arrives.

I just think that spacebar key wasn't designed properly. It has been a serious bit of frustration on my part. I had to plug in a separate keyboard, which defeats the purpose of owning a wedge computer.

Workhorse computer: Rpi 3b+
Workstation computer: Rpi500
Where's my sock? There it is.

I hate those chick-let keyboards, though I did buy a 400 I skipped the 500. I've been happily using the 500+ for a few days now and even ignoring the fancy light displays I can't say I've any complaints about the keyboard apart from it can be a little too sensitive for my taste (brushing the power button brings up the shutdown menu etc).

I have to say though this is more due to my aged arthritic fingers than a fault with the keyboard.

wildfire wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 01, 2025 8:11 pm

I hate those chick-let keyboards, though I did buy a 400 I skipped the 500. I've been happily using the 500+ for a few days now and even ignoring the fancy light displays I can't say I've any complaints about the keyboard apart from it can be a little too sensitive for my taste (brushing the power button brings up the shutdown menu etc).

I have to say though this is more due to my aged arthritic fingers than a fault with the keyboard.

Thanks for describing that qwerk. I'll probably pop off that key and keep it nearby unti it's needed. I tend to remove caps lock on any keyboard I use since I never ever use it.

Workhorse computer: Rpi 3b+
Workstation computer: Rpi500
Where's my sock? There it is.