How to Fix Double Space Problem on Mac

Want to know how you can solve the double space problem on your Mac?

Getting annoyed with the double spaces your Mac creates when you press the spacebar? Well, this issue is quite common with the recent MacBook lineup. 

If you work on documents and type a lot, you’ll find this issue very annoying. 

Most of the time, this issue is caused by software-related problems. However, it can also be due to faulty keyboards. 

In this guide, we’re going to show you how to solve the double space problem on your Mac. 

Let’s get started!

1. Restart Your Mac. 

When you encounter issues on your Mac, the first thing you should do is restart it. 

This should reload your resources and eliminate temporary errors that may have occurred during use. 

Restarting your Mac should also clear your memory and eliminate unused data from previously opened applications. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Access the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click the Restart option in the drop-down menu. 
3. Confirm your action by clicking Restart in the dialog box. 

Once done, try using your Mac’s keyboard to check if the double space issue is solved. 

2. Adjust Key Repeat Settings. 

When you hold certain keys on your Mac, the key’s character starts to repeat. If you hold the spacebar, it will continue to add spaces until you release it. 

The key repeat settings on your Mac might be set to fast, explaining why a double space is added when you hit the spacebar. 

To prevent this, follow the steps below to adjust your key repeat settings: 

1. Open the Apple Menu by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. On the side menu, look for the Keyboard tab and access it. 
4. Under the Delay Until Repeat section, drag the slider to the left to increase the delay time. 
5. Finally, drag the slider under Key Repeat Rate to Slow or Off. 

Try typing a few lines on your Mac to check if you’ll still encounter the double space problem. 

3. Clean Your Keyboard. 

Dirt and debris may have accumulated between your keyboard, causing the spacebar to get stuck for a brief moment when you press it. 

To rule this out, we recommend cleaning your keyboard to ensure that there’s nothing between the keycaps and the actual keys. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Make sure that your Mac is turned off. 
2. Hold your laptop or keyboard upside down. 
3. Gently tap the spacebar to shake dirt and debris loose. 
4. You can also use compressed air to blow any dust under the keys. 

Restart your Mac and see if the double space problem is gone. 

Related: How to Fix Macbook Key Press Bug

4. Disable Add Period with Double Space. 

Some users suggest disabling the ‘add period with double space’ feature on your Mac’s keyboard settings. 

While there’s no official explanation why it causes problems, we believe that it’s due to a bug or glitch with the feature. 

Follow the steps below to disable the feature: 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, go to System Settings. 
3. Open the Keyboard tab from the side menu. 
4. Under Text Input, click the Edit button beside Input Sources. 

5. Look for ‘Add Full Stop with Double-Space’ and click the toggle switch to disable the feature. 

Restart your Mac afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

5. Update Your Mac. 

The version of macOS you’re using might have an issue related to text input. In this case, we recommend updating your software to patch possible bugs and errors. 

See the steps below to update your Mac: 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. After that, click on System Preferences. 
3. Open the Software Update tab. 
4. Click on Update Now or Upgrade Now if there’s an available update. 

Try using your keyboard again to see if the double space problem is solved. 

6. Use A Different Keyboard. 

If you are using an external keyboard for your Mac, it might be the one causing problems. 

Try using your MacBook’s built-in keyboard and see if the issue persists. For Mac users, try a different keyboard and see if the double-space problem will occur. 

If your Mac works properly with other keyboards, it means that the initial keyboard you’re using is the problem. 

7. Try Other Text Editors. 

You can try using a different text editor if you still experience the double space issue on your Mac. This way, you’ll know if the problem is caused by a specific text editor. 

For instance, you can try using Google Docs or Pages if you encounter double spacing issues in Microsoft Word. 

If the issue is isolated to one software, try updating the problematic software and see if the double space issue will get fixed. 

Related: How to Fix Wireless Keyboard Lagging When Typing on Mac

8. Check For Third-Party Software Conflict. 

You may have recently installed a third-party application that is conflicting with your keyboard settings. 

Follow the steps below to check for software conflicts: 

1. Make a list of applications that you’ve recently installed on your Mac. 
2. Press the Command + Space keys on your keyboard to open Spotlight. 
3. Look for the Activity Monitor and open it. 
4. Check the list you’ve made and see if any of your recently installed apps are running in the background. 
5. Close all the applications and restart your Mac. 

After restarting your Mac, try typing on any text editor to see if the problem is solved. 

9. Reset SMC. 

The System Management Controller is a chip on your Mac that is responsible for power management, battery charging, and other hardware functions. 

Resetting the SMC can sometimes resolve hardware issues, including keyboard issues like double spacing. 

If you’re using a Mac with an M1 chip, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Make sure that your Mac is plugged into power. 
2. Now, click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen. 
3. Choose Shut Down and follow the prompts. 
4. After a few minutes, press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

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For Macs with a T2 chip, follow the steps below to reset the SMC: 

1. Make sure that your Mac is turned off. 
2. On your built-in keyboard, press the Control (left) + Option (left) + Shift (right) keys for seven seconds. 
3. Now, press and hold the Power button while continuously holding the other keys. 
4. Keep holding all four keys for another seven seconds and release them. 
5. After a few more seconds, press the Power button to turn on your Mac. 

Once done, fire up any text editor and see if you’ll still encounter the double space problem on your Mac. 

10. Contact Apple. 

Apple acknowledge that a small percentage of the keyboards in some MacBooks may exhibit the following behaviors: 

• Repeating letters and characters
• Characters and letters that do not appear
• Keys feel sticky and do not respond in a consistent manner

If your MacBook is eligible, Apple will service your device free of charge. The type of service will be determined after they have examined your MacBook. 

Repair may involve the replacement of one or more keys or the entire keyboard. 

Bring in your MacBook to the nearest Apple Store to have it checked by an Apple-certified technician. 

That ends our guide on how to fix the double space problem on your Mac. If you have questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to respond. 

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