Lock your keyboard and trackpad to clean them
Clean Mode is a free keyboard cleaner that runs in your browser. It locks your keyboard and trackpad so you can wipe away dust, crumbs and fingerprints without typing, clicking or swiping anything. There's nothing to install and no need to turn off your computer.
- Pick a timer. 30 seconds, 1, 2 or 5 minutes, or no limit.
- Click Start Cleaning Mode. The screen turns black, which also makes smudges on the display easy to spot.
- Wipe everything. Keys, trackpad and screen. Every key press, click and swipe is blocked.
- Unlock. Wait for the timer, or hold esc or press and hold the trackpad for 3 seconds.
What Clean Mode blocks
| Input | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Letters, numbers, arrows, space, enter | Blocked | Blocked |
| Trackpad or touchpad clicks, scrolling, pinch | Blocked | Blocked |
| System shortcuts | ⌘ shortcuts blocked in Chrome, Edge, Arc | Win key and Alt+Tab blocked in Chrome, Edge |
| Volume, brightness, media keys | Blocked after turning on standard function keys | Blocked after turning on Fn Lock |
| Three- and four-finger swipes | Turn off in Trackpad settings | Set to “Nothing” in Touchpad settings |
| Always handled by the system | fn (🌐), Touch ID / power | Ctrl+Alt+Del, Fn, power |
How to clean a MacBook keyboard and trackpad
- Start Clean Mode so nothing you touch triggers an action.
- Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth, slightly damp with water. Never spray liquid directly onto the keyboard.
- For germs, Apple says you can gently wipe the keyboard and trackpad with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe. Avoid bleach and getting moisture into openings.
- Blow crumbs out from between keys with compressed air, holding the laptop at an angle.
- Wipe the trackpad last, then the screen while it's still black so smudges stand out.
How to clean a Windows laptop keyboard
- Turn on Fn Lock (often Fn + Esc) so the top row sends F-keys that Clean Mode can block.
- Start Clean Mode in Chrome or Edge so the Windows key and Alt+Tab are blocked too.
- Wipe the keys and touchpad with a slightly damp microfiber cloth, and use compressed air between keys.
- Leave Ctrl+Alt+Del and the power button for last, since no app can block them.
How to clean your phone or tablet screen
Clean Mode works on iPhone, iPad and Android too. Open this page in your phone's browser and tap Start Cleaning Mode. The screen turns black, which makes fingerprints and smudges easy to see, and taps and swipes on the page are ignored while you wipe.
- Unlock: hold a finger still on the status card for 3 seconds. Moving, or touching in several places at once like a cloth does, cancels it.
- iPhone and iPad: for a lock that also covers the screen edges and Home swipe, turn on Guided Access (Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access) and triple-click the side or Home button while Clean Mode is open. For a full black screen on iPhone, add Clean Mode to your Home Screen.
- Android: turn on app pinning (Settings → Security → More settings → App pinning) to stop edge swipes from leaving the page.
- Wipe with a soft, dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth. Avoid paper towels and harsh cleaners that can damage the screen's coating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I lock my keyboard to clean it?
Open Clean Mode in your browser and click Start Cleaning Mode. Your keyboard and trackpad are locked until the timer ends, or until you hold esc or the trackpad for 3 seconds.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Clean Mode runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is installed, and nothing you type or click is uploaded.
Why do the volume and brightness keys still work?
macOS and Windows handle these keys before any browser sees them. On a Mac, turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” in Keyboard settings. On Windows, turn on Fn Lock. Clean Mode then blocks them.
Does it work on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Clean Mode works on Mac and Windows in Chrome, Edge and Arc. Safari and Firefox work too, but can't block system shortcuts like ⌘Tab.
Can I clean my keyboard without turning off my computer?
Yes. Clean Mode locks the keyboard and trackpad while your computer stays on, so nothing happens when you wipe the keys.
Does it work on iPhone, iPad and Android?
Yes. Open Clean Mode in your phone or tablet browser and tap Start Cleaning Mode. The screen turns black and ignores touches, so you can wipe away fingerprints. To unlock, hold a finger still on the status card for 3 seconds. Swipes from the screen edges and the hardware buttons are handled by the phone itself; use Guided Access on iPhone or app pinning on Android to block those too.
How do I unlock Clean Mode?
It unlocks on its own when the timer ends. To unlock early on a computer, hold esc or press and hold the trackpad for 3 seconds. On a phone or tablet, hold a finger still on the status card for 3 seconds.