Piano Guidance
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

Can you just pull off keycaps?

To efficiently remove your keycaps, you'll need a keycap puller on-hand. You could use your fingers if you want, but it will be a slow and painful process. We recommend getting a wire keycap puller because they are less likely to scratch the sides of your keycaps.

How much is the single piano?
How much is the single piano?

So, how much does a piano cost? An upright piano costs between $3000 – $6500 on average. High-end upright pianos average around $10,000 – $25,000....

Read More »
Can a 30 year old piano be tuned?
Can a 30 year old piano be tuned?

Yes, any piano can be tuned after years of no use, as long as it is working condition. Keep in mind, however, that a severely out-of-tune piano...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Removing your keycaps is necessary to give your mechanical keyboard a good clean. Luckily, it’s a super process and we’ll walk you through the steps. All you’ll need for this a keycap puller and your keyboard. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Get a Keycap Puller (Or A DIY One)

Plastic vs Wire Keycap Puller

To efficiently remove your keycaps, you’ll need a keycap puller on-hand. You could use your fingers if you want, but it will be a slow and painful process. We recommend getting a wire keycap puller because they are less likely to scratch the sides of your keycaps. A plastic keycap puller can scratch the sides when you try to snap it on. Another option is to make your own, DIY style. We’ll go more into this later.

You can choose between the following options as your keycap puller:

Wire keycap puller (preferred) Plastic keycap puller DIY keycap puller Your fingers – ouch.

Step 2: Insert Keycap Puller Onto Keycap

The next step is to insert your keycap puller.

A wire keycap puller involves sliding the metal wires under the bottom of the keys so you can pull them off. A plastic keycap puller involves sliding it over the keycaps until the plastic snaps underneath the keycap. You’re basically trying to get enough leverage so you can pull up on the keycap to overcome the friction between the keycap and the stem of the switch underneath. If you’re using your fingers, getting the first keycap off is the hardest part, you’ll probably need to use your finger nails. Once you have one keycap off, it should be easier to get underneath the rest of them from the exposed area.

Step 3: Gently Pull Until the Keycap is Removed

Now all you need to do is pull.

You’ll want to gently pull and wiggle the keycap puller with increasing force until the keycap comes off. If you try to yank the keycaps off it can damage the stem or even yank the whole switch out.

Take a little bit of care during this process.

The larger keys, such as the spacebar and shift key, will be a bit tougher to remove because the keycap is attached to the stabilizer stems. For these keys it’s best to remove from one side first and then the other.

And that’s it! Pretty simple, right?

How to Make a DIY Keycap Puller

If you don’t have a keycap puller on-hand, another option is to make one! All you’ll need it a paper clip and your fingers. This is not a great replacement for a keycap puller, but can be done in a pinch if you need to take off one of your keycaps. Simply take a paper clip, unfold it into a straight line, and then make an L shape.

What song has the craziest guitar solo?
What song has the craziest guitar solo?

Pink Floyd | “Comfortably Numb” GUITARIST: David Gilmour (1979) Van Halen | “Eruption” ... Led Zeppelin | “Stairway To Heaven” ... Queen |...

Read More »
What is the highest BPM genre?
What is the highest BPM genre?

Speedcore Speedcore is a form of electronic music that is characterized by a high tempo and aggressive themes. It was created in the early to...

Read More »

Then all you need to do is slide it under a keycap and then lift. The keycap should pop right off. It’s not perfect and may need to be reformed many times before all your keys are pulled, but it’s super simple. You can see a simple example in this YouTube video. For a keycap puller that you can reuse, look at this simple video here.

Why Remove Your Keycaps?

If you’re looking this article up, chances are it’s for one of these reasons. Here’s what else you can do while your keycaps are removed! Clean your keyboard: If you remove your keycaps, you can give your keyboard the deep clean it deserves! Now is the time to clean off all of the gunk and dust bunnies that have accumulated over the past few months. If you remove your keycaps, you can give your keyboard the deep clean it deserves! Now is the time to clean off all of the gunk and dust bunnies that have accumulated over the past few months. Fix your switches: After heavy usage or if gunk gets inside them, your switches can get sticky or backed up. With the keycaps off, now is the perfect time to replace the switches or clean them out. After heavy usage or if gunk gets inside them, your switches can get sticky or backed up. With the keycaps off, now is the perfect time to replace the switches or clean them out. Replace your keycaps : There are few ways better to give your keyboard a facelift than by replacing your keycaps. Check out a new set of PBT keycaps and see what will work the best with your setup! : There are few ways better to give your keyboard a facelift than by replacing your keycaps. Check out a new set of PBT keycaps and see what will work the best with your setup! Mod your keyboard: There are dozens of mods out there to improve your keyboard and the vast majority of them require you to remove your keycaps. Might as well keep going!

Conclusion

Removing your keycaps is a super simple process that anybody can do! Just follow the simple steps laid out in this guide and you’ll remove them in no time. We highly recommend getting a wire keycap puller as it’s the easiest to use and won’t damage your keycaps like a plastic one will. Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt your fingers when you try to pry them off.

Happy typing!

What is the lifespan of a guitar?
What is the lifespan of a guitar?

The roughest estimation would be around 10 years for a cheap acousticclassical guitar. On the other hand, even cheap electric guitars will be able...

Read More »
What is the closest thing to ivory?
What is the closest thing to ivory?

Elforyn Super Tusk is the closest material to ever replicate genuine elephant ivory. An unbelievable imitation of the color, grain and “Schreger...

Read More »
How long should kids practice piano every day?
How long should kids practice piano every day?

Anything longer than 25 minutes will cause most children to become tired and not be able to focus. If you are serious about piano lessons for your...

Read More »
How many lessons do I need to learn piano?
How many lessons do I need to learn piano?

If you want to be a professional classical performer, you're looking at a minimum of 10 to 15 years of concentrated study with a master teacher,...

Read More »