Are your keyboard switches not working properly? Is it time to get rid of those keycaps for good? Cleaning mechanical keyboards or testing your keyboard switches is a breeze when you know how to remove your keycaps.
That’s why we’re here to help you with a full guide on how to remove keycaps without tool.
This detailed guide helps you save your time and make this difficult task much easier! Continue reading to learn about each type of keyboard and how to take keycaps off without tool?
How to remove Laptop Keyboard keycaps?
In case you use a laptop with a quite flat keyboard structure, how to remove keycaps without tool?
First and foremost, see the following three types of keyboards available for your laptop:
- Traditional keyboards have slanted borders with minimal spacing between them. Nowadays, they are quite rare.
- Chiclet keyboards are really popular today with rectangular, flat keys.
- Mechanical keyboards: The mechanical keys on laptops are similar to those on mechanical keyboards. They feature a more traditional design and are more robust than Chiclet ones.
If your laptop includes mechanical keys, you can use the same steps as for a mechanical keyboard we will discuss in the next part below. And now we’ll give you the guide on how to remove keycaps from Chiclet keyboards with a screwdriver.
In order to remove keycaps without tool, you’ll need to use a screwdriver with a flat head. Then, follow our steps below:
- Insert the tip of a flat-head screwdriver into the little gap on the side of the key you intend to remove.
- To remove the keycap, use gentle upward pressure.
- For smaller keys, such as the Function keys, place the screwdriver beneath the keycap. This will protect the switch beneath the keycap from getting broken.
- Some keys such as Space bar, Shif, and Backspace are kept from swaying and moving by stabilizer bars. When working on bigger keys, be cautious not to accidentally shatter these bars.
To make it even easier to imagine how to take out keycaps without tool, we highly recommend you to watch the video below:
How to Remove Mechanical Keyboard Keys?
The mechanical keyboard includes the switches under its keys. The circuit transmits the signal to the CPU when the keys make contact with the switch, counting it as a keystroke.
As a result, even when pressed lightly, mechanical keyboards detect the keystrokes. As you begin typing, you will also hear a clicking sound.
With this fast signal, the keys need to use in the proper way to maintain this speed, so do cleaning the keycaps.
Let’s take a look at the guide on how to take off keycaps without tool and with two types of keycap pullers.
Using a rounded keycap puller
A key puller is generally included with certain keyboards, some give you a wire puller (we will discuss in the next part), and some give you a rounded keycap puller. And here is how it works (see image below):
Follow these steps on how to pull keycaps with a rounded keycap puller
- Hold the hoop with your keycap puller.
- Place it on top of the keycap so that both of its prongs are in contact with the key’s sides.
- Push down on the puller so that the prongs are under the keycap and are firmly attached in place.
- You can wriggle it to make sure it’s in place.
- Pull the keys up and it should readily come off.
Watch this video to understand more about this method:
Using a stainless-steel wire keycap puller
A stainless-steel wire keycap puller is also a great choice if you don’t have rounded pullers. We’ve included instructions on how to pull off keycaps with this tool below.
And here are what you need to do:
Step 1: Hold your keycap puller so that the two stainless-steel wires are on opposite sides of the key.
Step 2: Push the keycap puller all the way down to the key.
Step 3: When you slightly pull up on the key, you should feel a tug indicating that the wires are under it.
Step 4: Pull up on the keycap when you’re sure it’s in the appropriate place, and it’ll come right off.
Watch this video to learn more how a stainless-steel wire keycap puller works:
Using everyday items
Before going into a guide on how to remove keycaps without tool, you will need to know what other items you have on hand can also pull keycaps:
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Butter knife
- Guitar pick
- Old ATM card
- Ruler
To remove the keycap using one of those things, simply slide them under the key and pull them upwards.
When do you need to remove your keyboard keycaps?
There are several reasons why you want to remove the keycaps from your keyboard. And here are 3 main reasons for that:
Maintenance
By removing the keycaps, you can provide your keyboard with the thorough cleaning it needs! It’s time to get rid of all the grime and dust bunnies that have gathered over time and give your keyboard a new look.
Check out this post: How to deep clean your keycaps and mechanical keyboard safely and easily? to get a full guide on how to clean your keycaps.
Fixing your switches
Your switches might get backed up or sticky after a lot of use or if dust gets inside of them. Taking the keycaps off now is the ideal opportunity to replace or clean the switches.
You may look for a guide to replacing switches. And here you go The Secret Of Mechanical Keyboard Switches.
Customization
There are a few greater ways to freshen up your keyboard.
Most avid keyboard geeks enjoy customizing their keyboards, as well as replacing their keycaps. This is a reasonably affordable option to do it. You can read this article to find best keycaps to upgrade your keyboards.
You can buy keycaps with a variety of “feels,” as well as a variety of colors and typefaces. You can even get customized keycaps with artwork on the surface or in various 3D-printed designs.
Check out Hirosart artisan keycaps if you desire to showcase your hobbies on your keyboard.
Best tools for removing keycaps
With some common household items such as a ruler, screwdriver, or knife, you can easily remove keycaps from your mechanical keyboard. However, there will still be some mistakes due to inexperience or hurry.
With that in mind, we must emphasize the importance of purchasing a suitable key puller. Do you wonder What are the best keycap puller and how to make one? Check out this article!
They may come for free with your keycaps, but if not, you can buy one or make one yourself. Wire pullers and ring-type pullers are the main types of key pullers.
While both keycap pullers work well, we prefer the wire-pullers because they provide more flexibility with larger keys and are quicker to use.
Indeed, you can pull 3 different letter keys with a wire puller while no need to stop to remove them. The ring puller, on the other hand, requires you to remove the keycap from the ring puller with each pull.
Besides, we also recommend obtaining a slender and robust tool like a mini screwdriver since it will really help you in extracting (and afterward putting) the bigger keys with a spring bar.
How to Make a DIY Keycap Puller
If you’ve already known how to remove keycaps without tool, then it’s time for your creativity. Consider making a DIY keycap puller. Firstly, you need to prepare the following items:
- 2 paper clips
- A ruler
- A marker
- Pair of pliers
It’s now time to get started on this enjoyable craft.
Step 1: Measure the length of one of the keycaps with a ruler. It should be roughly 1.5 cm long.
Step 2: Take a paper clip with a wire base and flatten it out.
Step 3: Mark two spots 1.5 cm apart in the center of the paper clip using a marker.
Step 4: Pick up a pair of pliers and use them to flip the paper clip upwards on the spots you noted previously.
Step 5: Once they’ve been bent, grab the clip’s edge and bend it into a hook. Repeat with the opposite edge.
Step 6: Do the same thing with the rest of the paper clip.
Step 7: At this point, you need to connect the two clips. You can change them to your preference.
Step 8: Using the pliers, completely seal the hooked loops so that the ends do not slip out.
Step 9: Grasp the keycap puller by the hooks and lay it over the key, aligning the bottom wires with the key’s sides.
Step 10: You’ll need to place pressure with both hands to get the wires beneath the key.
How to put the keycaps back
After you’ve known how to remove keycaps without tool, you’ll need to know how to put your keycaps back.
It’s wiser to start the game with some trickier keycaps. As a result, when you reattach them, you will have more space to see and navigate. Hence, you will get more room to see as well as navigate when reattaching them.
For starters, align your cleaned-up keycaps with your now-empty keyboard, as this will make key placement much simpler.
When installing the larger keys, align them with the support spring bar by first placing the support stems into the non-switch holes, as shown below.
Next, it’s only a matter of putting one support stem over the spring, carefully flexing the spring open to fit over the other end with a little screwdriver, and gently seating the real stem into the keycap’s center before slowly but strongly pressing it down.
Repeat this step for the remaining key.
See how you should press the keycaps down below:
Bottom Line
Removing your keycaps is a simple task that anybody can complete! Simply follow the easy guide on how to remove keycaps without tool that is outlined in this article and they’ll be removed in the fastest way.
For the best tool, we highly recommend a wire keycap puller. It is the simplest to use and will not damage your keycaps like a plastic one.
Have fun typing!
