One of the many perks of owning an excellent mechanical keyboard is that the keycaps are made to be easily removed and put back on. You could theoretically remove all keycaps without any tools, but that would be incredibly time-consuming and potentially damage your keyboard.

This article will show you the best way to remove keycaps – which is via a special device as well as best practices and common pitfalls to avoid.

Although removing your keyboard caps is relatively straightforward, I’ve still managed to break down a few keyboards in the past due to not knowing how to remove keycaps properly. Here is a short list of things to watch out for when doing this:

The best way to safely and quickly remove your mechanical keyboards keys is to use either a specialized plastic key remover or a wire keycap puller. The latter works best, but most mechanical keyboards come with just a basic plastic keycap remover. Please note that the plastic version is less likely to scratch your keys as opposed to the metal wire one, so be careful when using it.

If you are unsure what it looks like, it’s usually a plastic ring shape with two short extensions on the sides to grip the keys. After your keycap remover of choice, follow these steps:

As the step’s name suggests, it’s exactly what you need to do first. Note that if you are using either a plastic keycap puller or a metal wire one, in both instances, you should hear and feel the ends snapping onto the back side of your keys. 

If you are using a plastic double-sided keycap remover, always align it horizontally when snapping it onto a key, as the keycaps are naturally angled to the side and thus have more space for the keycap to fit.

If, for whatever reason, you are using just your bare hands, remove the adjacent ones next to it if you find the key hard to access and grip properly. Suppose you want to remove the “Q” key – start by removing the 1,2,3, ~, tab, and caps lock keys. Otherwise, it’s nearly impossible to remove a key that is surrounded by others with just your fingers.

Gently wiggle the keycap sideways as you pull it straight to the top. Start with a pull force and slowly increase the force until the keycap is removed. Larger keys might require slightly more force to pull than smaller ones.

Keep the stabilizers in mind for the space and enter keys. With these keys, it’s best to remove them by pulling from one corner side and then from the other (for the space key). If your space key is connected with just one mechanical switch in the middle and without any stabilizers (like on my keyboard), have the keycap remover in the middle and pull it towards the top.

Putting your mechanical keyboard keys back on is as simple as aligning them gently and adequately pressing them onto the mechanical plastic retention bit, there are however a few nuances that shouldn’t be overlooked. Here are the exact steps to putting your keyboard caps back on:

After all the keys are assembled, see if the different keys give the correct input, if not you probably switched up two or more keys in the wrong slots.

The short answer is yes; the long answer is that it depends. Like we mentioned above, some keyboard caps are soldered – meaning that it’s a single piece between the switch and the key, and it can’t be just removed. This depends solely on your exact keyboard manufacturer and model. Some keyboards that feature flat keys can be incredibly difficult to take down properly. 

Unless your laptop is incredibly high-end and features a mechanical keyboard with easy takedown keys, never attempt to remove laptop keys just by pulling them like you would on a mechanical keyboard.

Laptop keys are much more intricate and house multiple small parts that can easily get damaged if you apply too much force. Additionally, many laptop keyboards are not accessible for takedown or maintenance unless you disassemble the whole laptop. 

No, even though you put a differently-named key onto your keyboard, the input remains the same as the specific command is already soldered onto that specific mechanical switch. Nonetheless, it’s a good practice to put the keys in the wrong place to prank your gamer friends. 

I am a tech writer, hardware enthusiast, and programmer. I started writing how-to articles about 10 years ago. When I am not writing tech content, my passions include macro photography, dancing, and building new software. Nothing beats the feeling when someone has easily resolved their technical issues thanks to a well-written troubleshooting article. My aim is to give readers the best information delivered in a fun and humorous way.

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