Recently, I helped my girlfriend to remove her laptop keyboard keys for regular cleaning. Suddenly, I minded that there are many people who didn’t know how to remove keyboard keys. Or they never thought to regularly clean the keyboard for better use. Therefore I decided to write a complete guide on how to properly remove keys from your keyboard.
For a complete guide, I will share why you need to remove keyboard keys sometimes, how to remove different keyboard keys, and what you should know when you remove them. Let’s follow me to know them!
Table of Contents
Situations You Need to Remove Keyboard Keys
Whether you’re a typist for work/study or a gamer for fun, we are using keyboards. For better use or personal preference, there are 4 situations you need to remove your keyboard keys.
1. Regular Cleaning
Over time, dust, hair, and debris can accumulate beneath the keys, making them difficult to press. Removing the keys allows for deeper cleaning of the keyboard.
2. Repair
If a key is non-responsive or stuck, it may need to be removed for repair or replacement.
3. Customization
Some people enjoy customizing their keyboard keys with different colors, designs, or symbols. Removing the keys is necessary for this process.
4. Access
In some cases, you may need to remove keyboard keys to access parts of the keyboard or the computer itself, such as when upgrading or repairing hardware.
Difference Between Kinds of Keyboards When Removing Keyboard Keys
There are many different types of keyboards available on the market today and each type has a unique set of keys. And we need to remove keyboard keys depending on the type of keyboard.
Mechanical Keyboards
Mechanical keyboards are one of the most popular types because they offer a more comfortable typing experience. These keyboards have individual switches beneath each key and require more effort to remove the keycaps. The keys themselves have a spring-loaded design that allows for smoother actuation when typing. Removing keys from mechanical keyboards requires special tools, such as keycap pullers, which are designed specifically for this purpose. It needs to take care not to damage the keycaps or switches while attempting to remove them.
Membrane Keyboards
Membrane keyboards are another popular type and they often feature an array of colors and designs. This type typically has rubber domes beneath each keycap that depress when pressed down. To remove the keys from a membrane keyboard, you must first locate the small plastic clips located underneath each keycap. Gently press down on these clips until you feel them release their hold on the keycap, then lift it off gently with your fingers or tweezers if needed.
Scissor Switch Keyboards
Scissor switch keyboards are similar in design to membrane keyboards but feature additional stability thanks to small scissor-like mechanisms beneath each keycap that help keep them in place during use. It’s prevalent in laptops, but you can also find it on some desktop keyboards To remove the keys from this type of keyboard, simply insert a thin flathead screwdriver underneath each key and gently pry it up until it pops loose from its housing. Be careful not to damage any internal components while doing so!
And the following steps can generally use for laptop keyboard keys, mechanical keyboard keycaps, mac keyboard keys, and so on.
How to Remove Keyboard Keys?
If you never did it, you may think that removing keyboard keys can be tricky and it is easy to damage the keyboard if you don’t do it carefully. If you’re not confident in your ability to do so, it’s best to seek the help of a professional. But if you are confident you can do that, you can follow my steps to do it yourself.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials or Tools
To safely remove the keys from your keyboard without causing any damage or breaking any components, you will need several materials including a flathead screwdriver, keycap pullers, a plastic pry tool (or something similar based on your keyboard types), cleaning wipes/alcohol wipes, and paper towels. For the mechanical keyboard, if you need to smooth your keyboard switches, you need to prepare the smooth oils. if you want to change the keycap’s appearance, you need to prepare new keycaps. If you want to lower the keyboard sound, you can prepare the keycap rings too…If you don’t have these items available at home, they can easily be purchased at most hardware stores, specifically keyboard stores locally or online.
Step 2: Unplug/disconnect the keyboard from your devices
When we start to remove the keyboard keycaps, we need to make sure our keyboards are in close status. If you are using the laptop, please close it. If you use wired keyboards, please unplug them. And disconnect it if you use the BlueTooth keyboards.
Step 3: Locate the key you want to remove
Use a small flat-blade screwdriver or a keycap removal tool to gently lift the key cap up and away from the keyboard. You may need to wiggle the keycap slightly to loosen it. If removing a keycap does not remove the underlying mechanism, locate the small plastic clips or metal hooks that secure the key in place. Use your screwdriver or removal tool to gently pry the clips or hooks up and away from the keyboard. If your mechanical keyboard came with a keycap removal tool, use it to grasp the keycap by the sides and gently pull it straight up. If you don’t have a tool, use a small flat-blade screwdriver or a similar tool to carefully pry up the keycap from the sides.
Note: Make sure not to twist or turn too much when attempting to lift off the key as this could break it or cause other damage to your keyboard.
Step 4: Clean &cCustomize Keycaps
After removing all of the individual keys from your keyboard’s surface, check them! If the keycaps are sticky or dirty, take the opportunity to clean them or the surface below the keys using compressed air, cleaning wipes, or alcohol wipes. Be sure not to apply too much pressure when wiping down each key as over-cleaning can also cause damage if done improperly.
If you need to smooth the switches, you can lubricate the key shaft to make the keyboard switch smoother and reduce friction. If you want to make the keyboard sound even smaller, you can add the sound-absorbing ring to the keycaps.
Step 5: To reinstall the keycaps or new keycaps
Align the clips or hooks under the free ends of the key while sliding the stabilizer bars onto their corresponding mounts. Then press the key down until it snaps back in place.
What You Should Notice When You Remove the Keyboard Keys Yourself?
Removing keyboard keys can potentially affect the keyboard’s functionality if not done properly. Here are some things to keep in mind that can affect removing keyboard keys:
1. Damage to the keys
If the keys are not removed carefully or with the proper tools, they can become damaged, affecting their functionality.
If the keys are removed forcefully, the keyboard’s underlying components, such as the switches, can become damaged as well.
2. Incorrect reinstallation
If the keys are not correctly reinstalled, they may not function or may become stuck. This can make typing difficult and lead to frustration.
3. Warranty
Removing keyboard keys may void the warranty of the keyboard or computer. It’s important to carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions and consider the warranty before attempting to remove any keys.
Final
Removing individual keys from your keyboard is not only easy but also crucial for maintaining optimal performance over time. Following these steps correctly and carefully to remove your keyboard keys to realize your remove keyboard keys goals!