The loud clack of a mechanical keyboard can be very off-putting, especially if you’re using it in an office environment or other public space. Mechanical keyboards are popular because they offer better tactile feedback than rubber dome keyboards, but some users might find the noise distracting. 

Fortunately, there are several ways to make mechanical keyboard quieter—and even get rid of the click completely. In this article, we’ll discuss why mechanical keyboards are noisy and how to make them less so. You’ll also learn about some advanced techniques that will help you get rid of clicks entirely. 

To test your keyboard noise you can use this Space Bar Counter online tool!

1. Use O-Rings to Reduce Noise

O-rings are a great way to reduce keyboard noise, but there are a few things you should know before buying and installing them. The following information will help you choose the correct size and type of o-ring for the keyboard that you want to quiet down.

The first step when looking into quieting your mechanical keyboard is deciding how much noise reduction is necessary. There are two main types of o-rings: thin or thick (also known as low profile). 

You can use either kind depending on what kind of sound dampening you need—thicker rings provide more sound reduction than thinner ones do, but they also require some effort to compress them properly without damaging anything else while using them on your mechanical keyboard switches. 

O-rings are mainly available in two materials – silicone and rubber, among which, silicon usually lasts longer. However, it doesn’t make much difference whether you use silicone or rubber o-rings. Also, in case you own an RGB keyboard, make sure you choose white-colored o-rings to maintain the RGB effect of your keyboard. 

2. Use Silent Switches

 If you’re tired of the clacky sound that comes from using a mechanical keyboard, there is an alternative. Silent keyboard switches’ sounds are less noisy than other switch types and produce significantly less noise on the downstroke. 

The tradeoff is that they are more expensive than standard Cherry MX switches, they have lower durability ratings, and their tactile feedback can be hard to feel (especially compared to clicky MX Reds). 

With so many different options available in the world of mechanical keyboards today, there’s no need to accept a noisy typing experience when it can easily be made quieter with some simple adjustments! One of the best options out there is the OUTEMU silent white switches, OUTEMU linear black switch, and OUTEMU red switch. 

The PG 150 series of switches offer exceptionally smooth keypress and have silencing pads installed on both ends of the stumps. With the help of this, the sound of the keypress is dampened and provides you with a silent typing experience. They Are available with white bottoms, and clear tops, and are compatible with LEDs as well. 

3. Lube Stabilizer, wires, and Switches

You can also lube the stabilizers and wires. Stabilizers are what hold the keys in place on mechanical keyboards, so it’s good practice to lubricate them regularly to ensure they work smoothly. 

You can use a keyboard-specific lubricant like krytox 205g0 or super lube, but be very careful not to get any of this stuff on your hands because it’s incredibly sticky and difficult to wash off. You can use a paintbrush to apply this lubricant safely on the keyboard components. 

You may also need to lubricate your switches with super lube if you experience squeaking sounds when pressing certain keys or feel an unevenness when pressing down on different keys. 

Some switch lubes also help make typing easier by reducing bottoming out (the act of pressing down until you bottom out at a hard stop) and improving tactile response (the feeling of feedback from each key).

4. Use mechanical keyboard foam

This method is similar to the silicone foam method, but it’s a bit more advanced. You’ll need to purchase a case foam or plate foam for your mechanical keyboard of choice. The case foam will go underneath your keycaps, while the plate foam will go between them and the switches underneath.

Once you’ve applied these two types of foams together, you’ll notice that they work together with each other to reduce noise in different ways: 

 – Case Foam

The case foam dampens the sound when keys hit their plates and creates friction between them so they’re harder to press down. 

 – Plate Foam

Meanwhile, the plate foam dampens any noise created by springs activating inside the switches themselves (which can be quite loud). 

This method is an effective way to quiet keyboard noise without any additional hardware needed beyond what comes standard in most mechanical keyboards—but it does require some time spent applying these materials correctly before use!

5. Fix Your loose stabilizer to get rid of rattle 

If you have a mechanical keyboard that is making an annoying rattle, the problem could be caused by loose stabilizer components. Stabilizers are used in older keyboards to hold the longer keys down (spacebar, shift, enter, caps lock, etc). 

But, on newer mechanical keyboards, they are not necessary and may be removed if you prefer a cleaner look. 

If you find that your key sounds like it’s rattling when it hits the base plate of your keyboard, this is likely because your stabilizer has come loose from its mounting point. That’s why you should not press the keys hard as it may damage the stabilizer. 

Make sure you have some dielectric grease to use it as lubricant and a piece of sponge to place it in gaps in stabilizer. Then, to fix this problem:

• Remove all keys from your keyboard (excluding the spacebar)
• Remove keycaps from all affected keys using a small flathead screwdriver or knife (if necessary)
• Place a new piece between the bottom of each keycap and rear stabilizer bar (so no metal touches metal when typing)
• Replace keycaps onto respective posts/mounting points

6. Use lightweight Quiet Keycaps.

Aside from the mechanical switches, another factor in determining how loud or quiet a keyboard is is its keycaps. The two types of keycaps you’ll see are ABS and PBT. 

ABS is made with less durable materials and can wear down faster over time, making them more prone to scratches. These keycaps are thinner but provide a silent experience while typing. 

PBT, on the other hand, is much more durable and won’t scratch as easily.  PBT keycaps are usually thick and thus are louder while typing. Hence, ABS are the quietest mechanical keyboard switches as compared to PBT one.

ABS keycaps are usually cheaper than PBT keycaps. Hence, you can use it if you are running out of pennies in your pocket and make your mechanical keyboard quieter. 

ABS plastic is also impact resistant, which means it can easily bear a million keystrokes without wearing them down. On the other hand, PBT plastic is textured and lasts longer than the former. 

7. Film Switches on Keyboard

Using a switch film can also help you make your mechanical keyboard quieter. It is made up of a thin silicon layer that produces a muffled sound when pressed. Although switch films are more expensive than their mechanical counterparts, they usually last longer and are more durable.

To make your mechanical keyboard silent with film switches, you’ll need a handful of things such as a switch opener, switch film, tweezers, and some lubing supplies. Once you’ve arranged the required materials, follow the steps given below: 

• Firstly, take the switch apart and apply lube to it 
• Place the switching film above the bottom housing 
• Put the switch together and install it into your keyboard 

And that’s it! You’ve successfully made your mechanical keyboard quieter using switch films. 

How to Make Spacebar quieter?

To make your spacebar quieter, you need to use a small piece of foam. You don’t want the spacebar foam to be too thick because then it wouldn’t sit flat on the spacebar and you would have problems pressing it down. 

You also don’t want a thin piece of foam because then it will feel bumpier when typing on your keyboard. If you can find a piece of spacebar foam that is around 1/16 inch thick, this should work well for most mechanical keyboards.

When adding this extra layer between your fingers and the key switch mechanism in your mechanical keyboard, make sure that both sides are even so they don’t rub against each other while typing. 

This can cause rattling over time as well as uneven wear on certain parts of your keys which could lead to damage in future repairs or replacements if left unchecked!

You may also consider using silent switches or lubing and modding stabilizers, as stated above to stop the crackling sound from your mechanical keyboard. 

Final Words 

Using a mechanical keyboard is certainly more fun and engaging. However, the loud noise is not appropriate all the time, especially if you are in a place like Library or a workspace. In that case, you can use any of the aforementioned solutions to make it quieter.