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Make sure you don’t jam the toothpick into the key’s underside; as always, be gentle. Only insert the toothpick around an eighth of an inch into the space below the key.
This is to remove any sticky or greasy build-up around the key, which will make removing the key easier. This step will also help clear away any residual grit left from your toothpick scraping. You can use isopropyl alcohol instead of water if the residue around your key is particularly stubborn.
It may help to press the bottom of the key down once the tool is inserted to help the tool gain more traction.
If the hooks don’t catch, remove the key and try again.
If the key doesn’t spring back up, that means that the hooks didn’t properly catch. The key failing to spring up can also be symptomatic of a faulty key assembly.
