How to Make Mechanical Keyboard Quieter

Mechanical keyboards are popular with gamers and typists thanks to their precision and customizable design. Each keystroke also creates a distinctive sound. While some enjoy the combined audio and tactile feedback, many prefer a quieter typing experience, especially when gaming, live-streaming, or working in shared spaces.

Fortunately, the customizable nature of a mechanical keyboard gives you many options for reducing keystroke noise. In this post, I'll show you nine mods and adjustments to make your mechanical keyboard quieter. Some are very simple, but some need special tools and techniques.

Why Are Mechanical Keyboards So Loud?

The loudest noises in a mechanical keyboard usually come from the mechanical switches under each key. Linear switches are smooth and almost silent, tactile switches have a noticeable 'bump' of resistance and noise during the keypress, and clicky switches are designed to make a sharp 'click' noise. 

Aside from the general switch type, there are a surprising number of other components that affect keyboard noise. Different keycap materials create different sounds when striking the switch housing, and the stabilizers used to support larger keycaps also add to your keyboard noise. Even the type of plastic used in your switches has an impact! 

The material of the switch mounting plate, keyboard housing, and the work surface underneath your keyboard also amplify or reduce your typing sounds. The design of some keyboard housings can even create hollow spaces that amplify each keystroke noise. 

How to Make Mechanical Keyboard Quieter

Now that you have a better idea of why these keyboards are so loud, let's take a closer look at how you can make your mechanical keyboard quieter. 

1. Using O-Rings

O-rings are small rubber gaskets placed around the stem of each keycap. This dampens the sound created when it bumps into the switch housing at the end of its travel distance. The soft O-ring makes contact with the switch housing instead of the hard keycap plastic, producing a quieter sound. 

O-rings are made from various rubber and plastic materials, but silicone is the most common choice. They are available with different diameters, thicknesses, and hardness ratings, each with its own unique sound-dampening properties.

You can add O-rings to any mechanical keyboard to reduce your typing sound, but they can also impact the feel of each keystroke and reduce key travel distance. Most keyboard modders now prefer using other techniques, but some still enjoy the modified sound and feel created by O-rings. 

2. Add Foam Dampening Inside the Housing

Adding a foam dampening layer is one of the best ways to quiet a loud keyboard. The empty internal space between the PCB layer and the keyboard housing can act as a resonance chamber that amplifies keystroke sounds, similar to the hollow space in a musical instrument. 

Most dampening layers use PORON, neoprene, or Sorbothane foam to reduce vibration and dampen sound. Sorbothane is the most effective but also the most expensive. Neoprene is cheaper but less effective, and PORON provides a good balance between the two. Some DIY keyboard modders use leftover EVA packing foam from shipping boxes, but this is less effective than buying a high-quality foam layer. 

You can purchase foam sheets in your choice of material and cut them precisely to match your keyboard layout and housing design. You will need to open your keyboard housing to place the foam layer between the PCB and the housing, but this process only involves a few screws on most mechanical keyboards.

3. Lubricate the Switches

Lubricating each switch is one of the more popular yet challenging mods. It significantly reduces sound and improves feel, but you must open and lubricate every switch on the keyboard, one at a time. Some switches are pre-lubed at the factory and will not benefit from additional lubrication until they have been used heavily. 

This mod is best used on keyboards with hot-swappable switches. To lubricate soldered switches properly, they must be desoldered and removed from the keyboard PCB, then resoldered after lubrication. Do not try lubricating your switches while they are installed!

Most modders recommend using Krytox 205G0 for lubing linear switches, the thinner Tribosys 3203 for tactile switches, and Krytox 105 for lubing clicky switches and springs. In a pinch, you can use the same lube for the entire process. There are many more types than I can discuss here, but these options are a good place to start. 

Many keyboard enthusiasts do not recommend lubing clicky switches, but you should be able to lube them in a similar way to tactile switches without affecting their sound.

Materials Needed

• Keycap puller
• Switch puller
• Switch opener
• Tweezers
• Fine-tipped paintbrush
• Switch lube
• Sealable plastic bag

Step 1: Remove your keycaps with your keycap puller, then remove each switch from the switch plate using your switch puller. 

Step 2: Use your switch opener to carefully open the switch housing, following the manufacturer's directions. Each switch manufacturer uses a different housing design, but there should be between 2 and 4 small plastic clips holding the two housing pieces together. Repeat for all your switches. 

Step 3: Place all your switch springs in a plastic bag with a few drops of your chosen lube, and seal the bag with some air left inside. Shake for several minutes to distribute the lube evenly across all your springs. 

Alternatively, you can use your paintbrush to add a thin coat of lube onto each spring individually. 

Step 4: Using your tweezers and paintbrush, carefully lubricate the interiors of the upper and lower housings, but do not lubricate the metal leaf switch! 

The goal is to create a thin, even layer without overlubricating. Some modders do not bother lubricating the upper housing, but if you want to reduce any possible sound, it's worth doing. 

Step 5: Next, it's time to lubricate the stem. This process is slightly different for linear and tactile switches because tactile switches have small bumps on the stem legs that create their signature tactile resistance. 

Some modders argue that lubricating these bumps will remove the tactile resistance from your switch, while others claim that it's a minor difference and just lube the entire stem anyway. You may want to try assembling a few switches with each method to test which you prefer. 

For linear switches, you can lubricate the rails, both flat sides of the stem, and the stem legs - essentially, all four sides of the entire stem. 

For tactile switches, most modders recommend only lubing the rails and the flat side of the stem that does not face the leaf switch. Avoid lubing the stem face with legs unless you don't care about the tactile resistance of your switches (or if you want to experiment).

Step 6: Reassemble the switch. Repeat the process with each remaining switch. 

4. Modifying Key Stabilizers

Key stabilizers support the larger keycaps, like the spacebar and shift keys. They ensure each keycap travels smoothly, even if you don't press down in the exact center. Unfortunately, they're often made of cheap metal and poorly fitted, which can add a lot of rattle to your large keys. 

How to Modify

There are three popular modifications to reduce stabilizer sounds: lubrication, the clip method, and the bandaid method. 

You will need to remove the keycaps and stabilizers for each method. Depending on your stabilizer type, you may be able to use all three methods to reduce sound as much as possible. 

Note: these methods only apply to the popular Cherry stabilizer format. 

Method 1: Lubricate the Stabilizers

Remove the stabilizer from the mounting plate and disassemble it. With a fine-tipped paintbrush, apply a thin coating of Krytox 205G0 to each part of the stabilizer, including the wire and the interiors of the housing. Reassemble the stabilizer and reattach it to the plate. 

Method 2: Bandage the Stabilizers

During each keypress, the stabilizer will bottom out against the PCB. By cutting small pieces of adhesive bandage and attaching them to the PCB in the correct position, you can dampen the click sound made during contact. 

Method 3: Clip the Stabilizers

This method actually involves removing a piece of plastic from your stabilizer housing with clippers. This is very difficult to visualize from a text description, so the best way to explore this method is by watching this excellent DIY video from Taeha Types.

5. Custom Keycap Options

As I mentioned in the O-ring section, keycaps create a sound when they hit the switch housing at the end of their travel distance. Keycap material and thickness both affect the sound that is produced. You can reduce your keyboard sound by changing your keycaps, but you'll probably have to combine this with other mods.

Most keycaps are made from ABS or PBT. PBT is a denser material, and PBT keycaps tend to be thicker, which helps to produce a deeper, more muted sound. POM keycaps are even denser and quieter, but POM is more commonly used in switches and switch plates, and there are fewer POM keycap models available. 

Different keycap shapes, known as 'profiles,' can also affect your key sounds:

• SA profile keycaps have a tall shape that produces a deep and hollow sound, so they should be avoided for quiet builds. 
• Cherry profile keycaps have a slightly lower profile than standard OEM keycaps, and the smaller interior space helps to mute the sound. 
• XDA and DSA low-profile keycaps create the deepest, most muted sounds, but it may take some time to get used to their uniform shape. 

6. Switch to Silent Switches

Silent switches are now the most popular way to make a mechanical keyboard quieter. These switches have internal sound-dampening systems that make them virtually silent without compromising on performance. They are available in tactile and linear styles, but for obvious reasons, not as clicky switches. 

Cherry MX Silent and Gateron Silent are two popular models, and other manufacturers are constantly creating new silent switches at different price points as the demand grows. Outemu Honey Peach and Cream Silent switches are popular with budget builds.

7. Use a Desk Mat

This simple adjustment can have a surprising impact on your typing experience, and it doesn't require any complex internal adjustments. Placing a desk mat made of high-density foam padding under your keyboard will reduce the vibration transmitted through your keyboard housing into your work surface. Not only does this help reduce sound, but it can also help reduce finger fatigue during a long session on the keyboard. 

8. Regular Maintenance and Cleaning

Over time, dirt and debris will collect on the switch plate beneath your keycaps. This can cause scratching, rattling, and other problematic keystroke noises. Keeping your keyboard clean will make it quieter and perform more consistently, so it's a good idea to stick to a regular maintenance schedule. 

How to Maintain

Step 1: Remove each keycap using a keycap puller, and wash them in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Place them on a clean towel to air-dry overnight. 

Step 2: Wipe down the switch plate and keyboard housing using a clean microfiber cloth to remove any debris. 

Step 3: You can optionally remove and re-lubricate your switches at this point, although you may want to wait until it's necessary. You should clean and wipe down your keyboard more often than you lube your switches! 

9. Adjust Your Typing Technique

Last but not least, it's always worth taking a second to reflect on your personal typing style. Some typists press their keys quite hard when their fingers start flying across the keyboard, which causes significantly more noise as each keystroke bottoms out. Adjusting your typing style to press each key more gently may be the final step needed to make your mechanical keyboard quieter.

Conclusion

Gamers, modders, and DIY enthusiasts love mechanical keyboards for their precision, responsiveness, and customizability. The best ways to make a mechanical keyboard quieter include using silent switches, lubricating them properly, and following a regular maintenance routine. Additional mods and techniques can also help to create a perfectly silent typing experience. 

How to Make Mechanical Keyboard Quieter I FAQs

Will Making My Keyboard Quieter Affect Its Performance?

No, sound-dampening mods will not negatively impact your keyboard performance, but adding O-rings and adjusting key stabilizers can change key travel and rebound. On the other hand, lubing your switches can reduce sound and improve key feel at the same time. 

Are There Any Risks Involved In Modifying My Keyboard?

Yes, there are always some risks involved when modifying your keyboard! But with proper caution and careful preparation, you can modify your keyboard without causing any damage or negatively impacting your keyboard's performance. Some mods are more complex than others, so make sure that your knowledge and dexterity are up to the task!