Safely Remove Keyboard Keys & Switches: Your Ultimate Guide

Whether you want to deep clean your keyboard, install a new set of keycaps, try out different switches, or fix a key that isn't working, knowing how to properly remove keycaps and switches is a very useful skill. This guide provides a straightforward process for doing it correctly.

The most important things to remember are to be patient, use the right tools for the job, and understand what kind of keyboard you have. Above all, never use force. If a part feels stuck, stop and check what’s wrong instead of pulling harder and potentially breaking something.

What to Do Before You Start

Taking a few minutes to prepare can save you a lot of trouble later. The first step is to identify your keyboard type, as this determines which tools and methods you’ll need.

Know Your Keyboard: Hotswap vs. Soldered

The maina difference in mechanical keyboards is how the switches are attached to the circuit board.

• Hotswap Keyboards: These are designed for easily swapping switches. They have sockets that allow you to pull switches out and plug new ones in without any soldering. This is the most user-friendly type for customization.
• Soldered Keyboards: On these boards, each switch is soldered directly to the circuit board (PCB). Removing them requires melting and removing the solder, which is a more involved process.

How can you tell which type you have?

1. Check the product page, box, or manual for your keyboard. Manufacturers will almost always advertise a keyboard as "Hotswap" or "Hot swappable."
2. If you can't find it in the documentation, search for your specific keyboard model online. Forum discussions or video reviews will often mention if it's a hotswap board.
3. For advanced users, opening the keyboard provides a clear answer. On the circuit board, hotswap sockets are small plastic or metal housings where the switch pins plug in. A soldered board will just have the two metal pins of each switch sticking through the board and covered with a small mound of solder.

This guide covers both types, but please note that the section on soldered switches is intended for advanced users only, as there is a risk of damaging your keyboard if it's done incorrectly.

Gather the Right Tools

Using the correct tools is essential to avoid scratching or breaking your keyboard components.

For All Keycap Removal:

Wire Keycap Puller: This is the recommended tool. It's much less likely to scratch the sides of your keycaps than the cheaper plastic ring-style pullers.

For Hotswap Switch Removal:

Switch Puller: This is a small, tweezer-like tool made to press the release tabs on a switch and grip it securely for removal. Hot swappable keyboards often include one in the box.

For Soldered Switch Removal (Advanced):

• Soldering Iron: One with temperature control is necessary to melt the solder without damaging the PCB.
• Desoldering Pump or Braid: A pump (solder sucker) uses suction to remove molten solder. A braid (solder wick) is a copper mesh that absorbs it.
• Fume Extractor: This is highly recommended to keep solder fumes away from you while you work.

Optional but Helpful Items:

• Small trays or bowls to keep your keycaps and screws organized.
• A clean, well-lit workspace.
• Isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs for cleaning.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Keycaps

You can start the process now that you have your tools available. If you follow these procedures, you will be able to take off all of the keycaps, big and little, without breaking anything.

1. Get the Keyboard Ready

Before you pull the first key, a couple of quick steps will prevent headaches later.

• Unplug Your Keyboard. This is an important initial step to keep you from accidentally pressing keys or causing electrical shorts as you work.
• Take a Picture. Take a clear picture of the layout of your keyboard from above with your phone. This photo will be very helpful for putting the keycaps back on correctly, especially if your set has keys that are various shapes or heights in each row.

2. Remove Standard Keys

Put your wire keycap puller over the keycap and slide the wires under two opposite corners for regular-sized keys, including letters and numerals. Once it has a good grip, carefully wiggle the keycap and pull it straight up, away from the keyboard. Don't pull at an angle because this can put tension on the switch stem underneath and break it.

3. Remove Larger, Stabilized Keys

Stabilizers, which are wires that keep keys from swaying, are used on bigger keys like the Spacebar and Enter. To get rid of these, slowly pull up with your tool until you can see the wire underneath. Before you can fully peel off the keycap, you need to carefully detach the wire from the small plastic clips. Be patient; if you pull on the keycap too hard right now, you could shatter the fragile stabilizer pieces.

How to Remove Switches

After the keycaps are off, you can get to the switches. As we covered in Part I, the method you use depends entirely on your keyboard type.

1. Remove Hotswap Switches

This is the more straightforward method. Start by locating the two small plastic tabs on the top and bottom (north and south sides) of the switch housing. Position your switch puller so that its prongs are aligned to press both of these tabs inward. Squeeze the puller firmly to release the switch from the top plate, then gently wiggle it while pulling straight up.

Be careful as the switch comes out, as the two delicate metal pins on the bottom can bend easily. If you feel strong resistance, stop pulling. The pins are likely caught or bent. Try to straighten the switch and pull again gently.

2. Remove Soldered Switches (Advanced)

Warning: This process carries a high risk of permanently damaging your keyboard's circuit board (PCB) if done incorrectly. If you are inexperienced with soldering, it is strongly recommended that you practice on an old or broken electronic device first before attempting this on your keyboard.

To begin, you must disassemble your keyboard's case to get access to the back of the PCB where the switches are soldered.

• Heat one of the two solder joints on a switch with your soldering iron until the solder becomes molten and shiny.
• Quickly remove the liquid solder. You can do this with a desoldering pump (a solder sucker) or by pressing desoldering braid (a copper wick) onto the joint with the iron to absorb it.
• Repeat the exact same process for the second pin on the same switch.
• Once both pins are free of solder, the switch will be loose. You should now be able to gently push it out from the top side of the keyboard.

Inspection, Cleaning, and Reinstallation

As soon as you take out your switches, it's the best time to clean your keyboard and check its parts. If you take a few minutes to prepare here, everything will go back together easily and work as it should.

Inspection and Cleaning

Check your parts before putting them back together. Look at the two metal pins on each switch. If one is a little bent, you can use tweezers to carefully straighten it out. If one is severely creased, the switch shouldn't be used again. After that, use a brush or compressed air to clean the top plate of the keyboard. If you have any stubborn dirt, use a cotton swab with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol on it. Make sure everything is totally dry before you move on.

Reinstalling Hotswap Switches

Before you put a hotswap switch back in, be sure that the two metal pins are precisely straight. Put the pins in the holes in the keyboard's socket so that they fit only one way. Then, press the switch straight down until you hear a click that means it is secure. To keep the circuit board from bending, it helps to support it from behind with your other hand. After you've put the switch in, check it quickly to make sure it's flat and doesn't feel loose.

Reinstalling Keycaps

Use the picture you took previously to make sure that each keycap goes back to the right place when you put them back on. Press down hard on the stem at the bottom of the keycap so that it lines up with the switch's stem. When you press down on bigger keys like the Spacebar or Shift key, make sure the keycap is lined up with the stabilizer posts underneath it.

Perform the Final Check!

With everything reassembled, plug your keyboard in. Open a text document or use a free online keyboard tester to check every single key you worked on. If a key isn't registering, the most common reason is that one of the switch pins bent during reinstallation and missed the hotswap socket. If this happens, simply unplug the keyboard and reinstall that specific switch, paying close attention to the pin alignment. By being patient and methodical, you can confidently customize and maintain your own keyboard.