Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you really need to take the keys off of your laptop? You may be cleaning the keyboard section, have dropped a small earring between the crevices, or simply want to brush away the croissant crumbs over the keys. Whatever your reason is, there is an easy way of removing the keys of your laptop without damaging the pieces.
Identify which keys need to be pulled out or removed. If you are cleaning your entire keyboard, then you will definitely need to remove all of the keys. It is best to draw a mock keyboard on a piece of paper and place the pulled out keys on it so that you can map them out properly when you need to put them back. You definitely do not want to misplace the keys when you take them out. Another way to make sure you put them back in the right place is to do the cleaning of your board in phases. For example, you will remove all keys that are south of the ASDF section first. When you are done, put the keys back in place and start removing those keys to the north of the ASDF section.
Prepare to remove the keys. Once you have identified the specific keys to take out, press down the key that is on the immediate left (or right) of the first key you will be removing. For example, if you need to remove the E key, press the R or the W key down. This would make the sides of the E key exposed where you can insert a pin or a ballpoint pen cap through.
Pry the key off. Use a dull tool, such as the tip of a ballpoint pen cap, a nail file, or a popsicle stick, as leverage to lift the key from the keyboard. In some laptops, doing this may cause the key to fly off so be prepared for that situation.
Take note that in newer laptop models, this technique will not work since the laptop’s casing covers the entire keyboard – there is no space for you to insert your prying tool. If that is the case, then you will have no choice but to bring the laptop to a service center.
Take extra care. Make sure the tool that you will use to pry off the keys is dull since any sharp object can damage the underlying parts of the laptop. Keep all of the removed keys in one container so that you will not lose them. To reattach the key, place it over its designated spot and gently but firmly press down on the key to snap it in place.
Remember to do this task in a well-lit room so that you can see if there are underlying wires or chips that you might hit as you remove each key. This is also a good time to check the condition of each key – there may be some pieces that need to be replaced.
Identify which keys need to be pulled out or removed. If you are cleaning your entire keyboard, then you will definitely need to remove all of the keys. It is best to draw a mock keyboard on a piece of paper and place the pulled out keys on it so that you can map them out properly when you need to put them back. You definitely do not want to misplace the keys when you take them out. Another way to make sure you put them back in the right place is to do the cleaning of your board in phases. For example, you will remove all keys that are south of the ASDF section first. When you are done, put the keys back in place and start removing those keys to the north of the ASDF section.
Prepare to remove the keys. Once you have identified the specific keys to take out, press down the key that is on the immediate left (or right) of the first key you will be removing. For example, if you need to remove the E key, press the R or the W key down. This would make the sides of the E key exposed where you can insert a pin or a ballpoint pen cap through.
Pry the key off. Use a dull tool, such as the tip of a ballpoint pen cap, a nail file, or a popsicle stick, as leverage to lift the key from the keyboard. In some laptops, doing this may cause the key to fly off so be prepared for that situation.
Take note that in newer laptop models, this technique will not work since the laptop’s casing covers the entire keyboard – there is no space for you to insert your prying tool. If that is the case, then you will have no choice but to bring the laptop to a service center.
Take extra care. Make sure the tool that you will use to pry off the keys is dull since any sharp object can damage the underlying parts of the laptop. Keep all of the removed keys in one container so that you will not lose them. To reattach the key, place it over its designated spot and gently but firmly press down on the key to snap it in place.
Remember to do this task in a well-lit room so that you can see if there are underlying wires or chips that you might hit as you remove each key. This is also a good time to check the condition of each key – there may be some pieces that need to be replaced.
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