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Can a mechanical keyboard be modified to make less noise?

When buying a keyboard for both working long hours and playing, the number of options is basically reduced to two: membrane keyboards and mechanical keyboards. While membrane keyboards hardly generate any noise, mechanical keyboards do, depending also on the type of switch used.

For some users, the noise it generates is a problem, not only on a personal level but also for the environment in which they use it. However, once you try a mechanical keyboard, it is impossible to go back to classic membrane keyboards, they no longer offer the same haptic sensation that confirms that we have pressed the key correctly.

The solution is not to look for a quieter mechanical keyboard and make a significant investment again, since these types of keyboards are not exactly cheap.

Why do mechanical keyboards make noise?

Mechanical keyboard switches use a mechanism that, when moved all the way, bottoms out and produces a characteristic sound that depends on the type of switch used.

The blue switches are the ones that generate the most noise since they include an additional mechanism that offers the feedback that the user needs to know that they have pressed the key correctly.

How to reduce the noise of a mechanical keyboard

If you like the keyboard you use but are forced to look for a solution to the level of noise it generates, below we show you the best options to achieve this without having to buy a quieter mechanical keyboard or having to return to a membrane keyboard .

Keyboard Dampers

Using suppressor rings is the fastest and most comfortable way to reduce the noise of any mechanical keyboard when pressing its keys. These rings are located above the switch, below the key and, in addition, they are also responsible for reduce vibration.

The main advantage of using blanking rings is their compatibility with any and all keyboards that use mechanical switches. They are made of transparent silicone, so it does not affect the keyboard lighting and it has a very economical price.

foam stickers

Another interesting option to reduce the noise level of mechanical keyboards is to use stickers made of foam that are placed under the keyboard switch.

Some latest generation keyboards with mechanical switches include this system to reduce the noise level they generate.

The problem with this solution is that we can only use it on keyboards where we can extract the mechanical switches to replace them with others, since they are located between the PCB and these.

Cushioning foam

In addition to the two options mentioned above, we can also buy a foam strip that is placed between the switch and the keys that is responsible for capturing a large part of the sound generated with each press.

The problem with this option is finding the perfect size for our keyboard. Most of these types of cushioning foams are for compact keyboards, that is, without the number block or scroll arrows.

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