Not necessarily. If you spilled liquid on your laptop or someone accidentaly pulled it off, you still may be able to install the key back on. For Macs and certain PC laptops, the keys snap back on easily. For the other stubborn laptops, you may still be in luck to replace the key back on.
Each key has very small plastic mounting arms that hold the keys in place. These arms along with some small plastic hinges allow the keys to press down and release back up. As long as these arms and hinges are not cracked or broken, a laptop repair technician will still be able to fix the key. Even if the arms and hinges are damaged, a resourceful laptop repair shop usually has spares to use.
If you have spilled liquid on your laptop, and some keys don’t work, you usually have to replace the whole keyboard at that point. The reason is that the liquid has seeped so deep in the laptop keyboard that the only computer repair solution is to replace the whole keyboard. Replacing the keys individually typically will not work since the liquid has affected the keyboard under the keys.
If you encounter a key falling off, you can try to put it back on with tweezers. However, do not use glue or crazy glue to put it back on. With the glue, you will not be able to have the natural pressing of the keys. Instead, your keys might possibly stay de-pressed for good!
