Is There a Way to Make Mechanical Keyboards Quieter?

There are several ways to make a mechanical keyboard quieter, but they dont all work in every situation.

If you have clicky keys, for example, you might replace them with silent linear keys.

Removing a keycap from a mechanical keyboard.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

Mechanical keyboard switches have to be removed and disassembled to lubricate them.

you’re free to take them apart without removing them, but that risks breaking the switches.

Hot-swappable switches are easier to lube thansolderedones because they have to be desoldered to remove them.

Removing a keyboard switch with a switch puller.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

If you’re taking things apart to lubricate your switches, that’s a good time toclean your keyboard.

Heres how to lubricate mechanical keyboard switches:

Remove the switch caps using a keycap puller.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

Remove the switches using a switch puller.

Taking a keyboard switch apart with a switch opener.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

you’re able to’t remove soldered switches with a switch puller.

you gotta desolder them to remove them.

you could lubricate a soldered switch without removing it, but doing so may damage it.

A disassembled keyboard switch in a switch lubing station.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

Take apart each switch using a switch opener or tweezers.

Dont lose any of the internal components.

Using tweezers can damage the switch.

Lubricating a mechanical keyboard switch with a paintbrush.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

If possible, place the switches in a switch lubing station.

Apply lube to each switch with a paintbrush.

Place the switches back in the keyboard.

Reassembling a mechanical keyboard switch.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

Place the keycaps back on the switches.

How Do You Dampen a Mechanical Keyboard?

There are three ways to dampen a mechanical keyboard.

Removing a keycap with a puller.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

If your keyboard already has o-rings, then replacing them may also help dampen your mechanical keyboard.

Using o-rings can make the keys feel mushy instead of crisp.

Heres how to install or replace o-rings on a mechanical keyboard:

Remove the keycaps using a keycap puller.

Removing an old keyboard switch o-ring.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

Remove the old o-rings if any are present.

If you have an RGB keyboard with keys that light up, use clear o-rings.

Some users simply find mechanical keyboards more comfortable.

An o-ring installed in a mechanical keyboard keycap.

Jeremy Laukkonen / Lifewire

For sticky keys, try cleaning the keyboard with alcohol and canned air.

If you’re still having problems, you might have toreplace the key switch.