5 Ways to Make Your Mechanical Keyboard Quieter: Easy to Hard

One of the reasons why many people choose not to use a mechanical keyboard is because the mechanical keyboard is too loud. The rattling stabilizers and switches make a louder sound during use on a mechanical keyboard, which is pleasant for some people who like sound, but very loud for your neighbors. So how do you make the mechanical keyboard quieter without affecting your experience? WhatGeek teaches you 5 simple modifications to make your mechanical keyboard quieter and sound quieter and more pleasant.

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1. Easiest: Use a Desk Pad or a Large Mouse Pad

Yes, using a desk pad or a large mouse pad can also reduce the noise of a mechanical keyboard, and many friends still use a small mouse pad until now. Because the keyboard has four rubber or more silicone support bases, which reduces the sound of collision with the table during use, many friends feel that the mechanical keyboard does not need a desk pad. In fact, we could opt for a larger mouse pad, covering the keyboard and mouse, or even more. The soft and comfortable surface of the desk pad is elastic to reduce the squeeze of the mechanical keyboard on the desktop, and also has a cushioning effect, while the rubber base of the desk pad makes your work area firmer, does not move, and reduces vibration and noise.
Tip: Mechanical keyboards generally have four rubber bases, which are distributed on the four corners of the keyboard. If it is an Alice/Split keyboard or an Ergodox keyboard, there will be more, and the rubber supports will be distributed in each place where the force is applied.

2. Easy: Use silicone or rubber O-rings

Pay attention to the packaging of your keyboard, there may be another pack of tiny rubber O-rings in it. As the name suggests, O-rings are made of silicone or rubber. They are also easy to operate and the results are immediate. The O-ring is installed in a central position inside the keycap, or you can directly remove the keycap and put the O-ring on the switch. The colors of the O-ring are generally transparent and black, of course, there are other colors. Clear color is recommended, as the clear O-rings won't interfere with the RGB and clear keycaps.
But O-rings also have a downside, and that is if you like the feel and tactility of hitting your keyboard, then the O-ring may not be for you, because its presence will cause your switches to become dull and the keycap height will be a little taller, blurs your senses. Of course, the O-ring can effectively reduce the sound of the keyboard, but it is worth trying.

3. General: Replace Your Key Switches Type

Replacing your key switches is the most straightforward and efficient way. Because the characteristics of key switches are different, they are divided into Linear Switches, Clicky Switches, and Tactile Switches. It also sounds and feels different. You can read this article for a quicker understanding of the features and workings of different key switches. Quick Links: Clicky VS Linear VS Tactile Key Switches 2022.
So when you think the sound is noisy, you can replace it with a tact switch or a Linear switch, both of which are also very popular with typists and even gamers. When you replace it, you will notice that the sound is immediately quieter.

The easiest way to reduce noise in the above 3 has been immediate, if you are not satisfied, then you can turn on the fourth and fifth methods, the favorite of friends who love Do it yourself and geeks who customize keyboards.

4. Difficult: Lubricate Your Key Switches

If you want to lubricate your key switches, reduce the friction and popping of each key switch, and increase the feeling of use, then you must look at lubricating switches. This is the best way to improve the sound and feel of your keyboard.
First, you have to prepare to open the switchgear or use a flat-head screwdriver to carefully separate the top and bottom of the key switch. Then we go to the stem, have a small amount of switches lube in the brush, then lightly brush the sides of the stem, then brush the front (brush the legs if your switch is Linear, but don’t if it’s Tactile or Clicky), then lightly coat the back, and finally lube the bottom edges of the stem. After that, just reassemble, and you will have your first lubed switch done! Keep going with the rest and always make sure to start slow and small on the lube, and if you see a need for more, you can easily add a little more.
Video of Lubrication Switch:

5. Hard: Add Foam to the Keyboard

If you think you can go further, you can also add foam padding or foam to the inside of your keyboard, which is a good way to reduce vibration and reduce sound. It may sound odd to add foam inside the keyboard (bottommost), but the principle is the same as the desk mat, which will help absorb vibration from the inside of the mechanical keyboard to reduce the sound produced. The knowledge you need to know good quality foam, a screwdriver to open the keyboard and pass through it, and scissors to properly cut and shape the foam to fit inside your keyboard. Once you're done, put everything back together to assemble it, and the keyboard makes a lot less noise.

The above five methods from easy to hard to reduce mechanical keyboard noise are also the most common methods, I hope they can help you.