How to swap out keyswitches: A quick guide

If you’re wondering how to swap out keyswitches for your new Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless, or indeed any hot swappable keyboard, you’re in luck. Today we’re going to give you a quick lesson on how to swap out keyswitches the easy way.

Note that this guide is for hot swappable keyboards only. Yanking a soldered switch runs the risk of breaking the keyboard’s PCB and the switch itself.

Hot swappable keyboards are great, because if you’ve gotten bored or have grown unsatisfied with how your current switches feel, you can swap them out to breathe new life into an otherwise aging keyboard.

The cost is minimal too, with keyswitches being relatively cheap, especially compared to buying a new keyboard altogether. The process is easy, quick, and fun. So, let’s take a closer look at what you need, and how to do it.

• Keycap puller
• Keyswitch puller

You don’t technically need a keycap puller, as you can lever keycaps off with a thin plastic tool, or in some cases pull them off with your fingers; however, you will need a switch puller. Switches are nigh on impossible to remove without the correct tool.

If you’ve got the Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless, you’re in luck, as it comes with a switch and keycap puller in the box, so you’re ready to go. We’re going to assume that you’re replacing all the keyswitches in this case, so you’ll need to repeat each of the following steps for each switch. If you’ve decided to have a mixture of switches in your keyboard, you’re beyond help, frankly.

TOP TIP: Take a top-down photo of your keyboard before starting the process. Referring to this at the end when you’re putting the keycaps back on will ensure you put them in the correct place. It’s deceptively difficult to do this from memory.

First, unplug the keyboard from your computer, unless you want to type random garbage in while you swap the switches. Using the switch puller that came with the K70 Pro Mini as an example, press the tool down onto the key until both arms slide down the sides of the keycap and hook underneath the edges of the cap.

Now hold the keyboard down with your other hand and pull the switch puller firm up, directly away from the keyboard. Pulling directly upwards will stop the puller from sliding off the keycap and other potential accidental damage. Once the keycap pops off, set it aside somewhere that it won’t become lost and repeat with the rest of the keycaps.

If you’re using one of the more traditional wire keycap pullers, spread the two sides apart so that they slide down the side of the keycap and snap back together underneath. Then simply pull directly up in the same way.

If you’re replacing the switches and the keycaps, with one of our PBT double-shot Pro keycap sets, for example, store the original caps in the box that the new ones came in. This will ensure that you don’t lose them and make it easier to swap back in the inevitable event that you fancy switching up your keyboard again.

This step is very similar, but it will require more force as the small sockets that the switch pins slide into grip the pins tightly.

Now change to the switch puller and slide the two arms over the top and bottom of the switch. Keyswitches have smaller tabs that clip the switch into the keyboard on the top and bottom. The switch puller will press those in, and hook under the lip where these tabs are. This both unclips the switch from the keyboard and allows the switch puller to grip the switch.

Once you’ve done this, hold the keyboard down with your other hand, and pull directly up, just like you did with the keycaps. You’ll have to pull significantly harder this time as those sockets really do hold onto the switch pins tightly. If you’ve paid attention to the preceding steps, the switch will come out with relative ease.

Just like you did with the keycaps, set the switches aside somewhere safe, or in the box that the new switches came in.

This part is easier than removing the switches, however, there is more risk of bending pins or breaking switches here. This is because the switches must be installed in the correct orientation, otherwise the pins won’t go into the sockets. If you then apply pressure to the switch in this incorrect orientation, the pins will press up against the circuit board. This will bend the pins and can harm the circuit board itself.

Take a close look at the 3 pins on the bottom of the switch, and the corresponding holes in the PCB. Don’t worry about the central post, but the pins on either side are offset so that they only work in one orientation. Check that the switch is oriented correctly to match the holes in the PCB, then insert the switch, pushing directly downwards until the switch slots firmly into place.

Repeat this process for the rest of the switches. Continue to check the orientation on every switch. A moment of overconfidence could spell disaster for the switch, the keyboard, and your own personal happiness. Next we’ll put the keycaps on.

You took that photo we mentioned right? Because you’re going to need it now. Using the photo that you definitely took as guidance, install the keycaps by positioning them on top of the stem of the keyswitch and firmly pressing down. You’ll feel a small amount of resistance as the keycap is pressed down onto the stem. When the key has been pressed all the way down, the keycap is on.

Ok, so you forgot to take the photo before taking all the switches and caps off, didn’t you. Well, luckily there is salvation, but it’s a bit of a mission.

With all the new switches installed, plug the keyboard in and open keyboard-tester.com. This will show you what key you’ve pressed. Press down on the stem of any switch to type the corresponding character in. Now find the keycap that matches and press it onto that switch with the method we described. Repeat this step over and over until all the switches have the correct keycap on.

And with that, you’re done. You’re now ready to game and type with your new switches and/or keycaps. Make sure to bookmark this page for the next time you decide to change switches. Enjoy.