Mechanical keyboards are great, but they can be loud. Really loud. Is your board’s noise level starting to get on your nerves (and maybe the nerves of your co-workers?)
Yeah, we’ve been there too. Luckily, there are ways to make your keyboard quieter. Some ways are easier than others, but this guide will walk you through the 5 best ways to make your mechanical keyboard quieter.
TL;DR
Use a Desk Pad or a Large Mouse Pad
Desk pads look great, but they offer man just a nice aesthetic. Quality desk mats absorb the shaking from your keystrokes, dampening the noise before it bounces around your desk. Thicker mats are even better at this.
A quality desk mat will also protect your desk, stop your keyboard from sliding, and add some personality to your workspace. While not completely silent, a desk pad will make your mechanical keyboard quieter and your workspace more peaceful.
Use silicone or rubber O-rings
Rubber o-rings act as tiny shock absorbers, softening the impact when keys bottom out against the keyboard’s base. This tactile dampening effect significantly reduces the clacking sound produced by keystrokes.
O-rings also slightly reduce the total travel distance of each key, meaning keys don’t have to travel as far before registering a press. This can further reduce noise, as less force is required to activate the keys.
There is a trade-off, though. O-rings make the typing experience a bit mushier, and it isn’t quite as satisfying to type on. It’s still better than a membrane keyboard, but it will feel different.
How to install O-rings
For this process, you will need some compatible o-rings and a keycap puller.
Gently pull the keycaps off using the puller. If you don’t have one, carefully pry them off with your fingers.
Slide an o-ring around the stem of each keycap, positioning it just above the cross-shaped base.
Firmly press the keycaps back onto their respective switches. Ensure they’re seated securely.
Test the typing to make sure everything is secure. Adjust as needed.
Additional Tips:
Variety of O-Rings: Experiment with different o-ring thicknesses and materials to find the best sound and feel for your preferences.
Clear O-Rings: If your keyboard has RGB, get clear o-rings to get the most out of the effect.
Maintenance: Check for loose o-rings occasionally and reattach as needed to maintain optimal sound dampening.
Replace Your Clicky Switches
If you have clicky switches, the best way to make your mechanical keyboard quieter is by replacing them entirely. This is easy if you have a hot-swappable keyboard. If you don’t have a hot-swappable board, you will have to replace the entire keyboard. So that means you will want to stick with one of the other solutions on this list unless you’re ready to upgrade (we have some recommendations).
If you aren’t sure where to start shopping for new switches, we have a primer on the differences between switch types you should read.
Tactile switches and linear switches are notably quieter than clicky switches, but you can go one step further and opt for silent switches.
Add Foam Inside Your Keyboard
Foam acts as a sound and vibration dampener by absorbing vibrations generated by keystrokes. This prevents the vibrations from echoing within the keyboard’s hollow structure. Foam can also help reduce the metallic “pinging” sound that sometimes occurs when springs inside the switches vibrate.
The PE Mod from Switch and Click is the best guide on how to do this. Putting foam in your board is also a great way to get the “marbly” sound that is often desired among keyboard enthusiasts.
Lubricate Your Key Switches
Lubricant smoothes the contact between moving parts in the switch, minimizing friction and the resulting noise. This cuts down on the scratchy sound and high-pitched “ping” when keys bottom out.
Applying lube to the spring coil dampens its vibrations, minimizing the metallic twang often heard with unlubed springs.
How Do You Lubricate Mechanical Keyboard Switches?
Gather your tools:
Lube: Krytox 205g0 is a popular choice.
Brushes: Small brushes for precise application.
Switch opener: Tool to safely disassemble switches.
Lube station (optional): Holds switches for easier access.
Step 1: Pull out switches using the switch puller. Use the opener to separate the top and bottom housings.
Step 2: Apply a thin layer of lube to the rails and legs of the stem. Less is more! Overlubing can cause mushiness.
Step 3: (Optional) Dip the spring ends in lube or place the springs in a baggie with lube and shake.
Step 4: Put the lubed stem back in the bottom housing, reattach the spring, and snap on the top housing.
Repeat for all switches, then rebuild your keyboard. Enjoy the newfound smoothness and quietude!
Note: While lubing is possible with soldered boards, it’s significantly trickier and requires desoldering/soldering skills. Hot-swap boards make the process much easier and enjoyable.
Bonus: Mod Your Stabilizers (Band-Aid, Clip, and Lube)
While stabilizers are crucial for keeping longer keys like spacebar and shift stable, they can also be a major source of unwanted noise in mechanical keyboards. Here’s how they contribute to sound and some tips to make them silent partners:
How Stabilizers Can Be Noisy:
Plastic-on-Plastic Rattle: The stabilizer bars and housings rubbing against each other can create a high-pitched, chattering sound.
Stabs Hitting PCB: The stabilizers’ metal bars can directly slam into the PCB, amplifying the impact noise.
Loose Keycaps: Unstable keycaps on longer keys can wobble and create additional clatter.
Tips for Silencing Stabilizers:
Band-Aid Mod: Apply small strips of band-aids where the stabilizer bar hits the PCB, dampening the impact. (Easy, no disassembly)
Clipping and Lubing: Clip off the stabilizer feet for a tighter fit and smoother movement. Then, apply lube to the rails, housings, and stems for friction reduction. (Moderate difficulty, disassembly required)
Replace Stabilizers: Upgrade to pre-lubed or higher-quality stabilizers with tighter tolerances for built-in noise reduction. (Moderate to high difficulty, depends on keyboard)
Tighten Keycaps: Ensure keycaps on longer keys are securely attached and don’t wobble. (Easy)
Foam Dampeners: Place adhesive foam sheets inside the keyboard case to absorb overall vibrations. (Moderate difficulty, disassembly required)
Do switch films make a difference?
Switch films can be a great way to subtly refine the sound of your mechanical keyboard, but they’re not a magic silencer. Here’s the lowdown on their pros and cons:
Pros:
Reduced housing wobble: Switch films fill tiny gaps between the switch’s top and bottom housing, tightening things up. This quiets down wobbly switches and can produce a deeper, thockier sound.
Smoother typing experience: The tighter fit can also make typing feel smoother and more precise.
Minimal impact on feel: Unlike some other mods, switch films typically preserve the original actuation force and travel distance of your switches.
Easy to install: Applying switch films is a relatively simple process that doesn’t require soldering or desoldering.
Cons:
Subtle changes: Don’t expect a dramatic sound reduction. Switch films mainly address housing wobble, not the inherent click of the switch mechanism.
Might not work for all switches: Some switches already have tight tolerances and may not benefit significantly from films.
Cost and effort: While not expensive, buying and applying films can be time-consuming and expensive.
Don’t even bother with switch pads on mechanical keyboards
Switch pads, while tempting for their ease of use, aren’t ideal for reducing sound on your mechanical keyboard for several reasons:
Limited Noise Reduction: They primarily dampen the bottom-out sound of mechanical switches, leaving clicky switch sounds and overall clatter untouched.
Negatively Affects Typing Feel: Their squishy nature can make typing keys feel mushy and imprecise, sacrificing tactility and responsiveness.
Potential Switch Misalignment: The added thickness can misalign some switches, leading to uneven keycap heights and potentially hindering keystrokes.
Durability Concerns: Over time, the pads can compress or tear, requiring replacement and potentially affecting switch performance.
Alternatives are More Effective: Other mods like foam dampeners, lubing, and silencing switches offer better noise reduction without sacrificing feel or risking durability issues.
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