How to Lube Mechanical Keyboard Switches
By Jordan Marsh . 12 min read . Updated June 2026
Lubing switches is the single mod that changes how a keyboard sounds and feels more than any other. A scratchy budget linear becomes a smooth, satisfying daily driver after one session. A budget tactile sheds its gritty friction while keeping the bump. The process looks tedious in photos but it is genuinely relaxing once you have a rhythm, and a full board takes 3 to 5 hours the first time you do it. You need Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant for linears, Tribosys 3203 Tactile Switch Lubricant for tactile switches, and the KBDFans Switch Opener and Lube Station Kit to hold switches while you work. Here is the exact process.
The short answer
Open each switch with a switch opener, apply a thin coat of Krytox 205g0 to the stem legs and bottom housing with a small brush, add lube to the spring to stop ping, and avoid the tactile stem legs entirely for tactile switches. Expect 3 to 5 hours for a first full 70-switch board.
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What you need before you start
You need the right lube for your switch type. For linear switches like the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow Linear Switches or the Gateron Oil King Linear Switches , use Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant . For tactile switches like the Akko CS Jelly Purple Tactile Switches or the Gazzew Boba U4 Silent Tactile Switches , use Tribosys 3203 Tactile Switch Lubricant instead. Using 205g0 on a tactile switch will noticeably dull the bump, which defeats the purpose of buying a tactile switch.
You also need a switch opener compatible with MX switches, a small lubing brush with a fine tip, and ideally a lube station that holds switches in the open position while you work. The KBDFans Switch Opener and Lube Station Kit includes all three and is the most efficient way to start. If you have a hot-swap board, you also need a switch puller to remove switches without bending pins.
Optional but useful: Deskeys Switch Films reduce housing wobble on Gateron and JWK switches and can be installed in the same session. If you plan to do stabs at the same time, grab Gyros XHT-BDZ Stabilizer Lube (Dielectric Grease) for the wire.
Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant
The community standard linear switch lube. Thick, stable, and effective. Applied thin, it transforms budget linears into smooth daily drivers.
Tribosys 3203 Tactile Switch Lubricant
Thin lube formulated for tactile switches that reduces friction without masking the bump. The standard recommendation for Boba U4 and Holy Panda.
KBDFans Switch Opener and Lube Station Kit
A beginner-friendly bundle of switch opener, lube station with 30-switch capacity, brushes, and a stem holder.
Step 1: Open the switch
Place the switch in the opener with the top housing facing down. Press firmly and twist or press the lever depending on your opener style. The housing will pop apart into four pieces: top housing, bottom housing, stem, and spring.
Work in batches of the capacity your lube station supports. The KBDFans Switch Opener and Lube Station Kit holds 30 switches open at once. Set all the pieces in the station slots before you pick up the brush, so you are not stopping to open switches mid-lube.
Step 2: Lube the spring
Drop springs into a small container with a small amount of lube and shake. This is called bag lubing the springs and it is much faster than brushing each spring individually. The goal is a thin, even coat that prevents spring ping, the thin metallic ring you sometimes hear on unlubed springs.
For a more precise feel, brush the top and bottom coils of each spring lightly. Either method works. Bag lubing is faster; brush lubing is more controlled. For your first board, bag lubing is the practical choice.
Step 3: Lube the bottom housing
Dip your brush so a small amount of lube coats the tip without being so loaded that it drips. Brush a thin, even layer on the inside walls of the bottom housing where the stem legs travel. Brush the two rails where the stem contacts the housing on its way down. Do not glob lube into corners where it can pool.
Less is always more. A coat you cannot see clearly is roughly the right thickness. A coat that looks wet or beads is too thick.
Step 4: Lube the stem
For linear switches, brush all four legs of the stem with a thin coat. Brush the cylindrical section that contacts the housing walls. Avoid the very tip of the legs where the contact point is, as excess lube there can pool into the contact mechanism.
For tactile switches like the Akko CS Jelly Purple Tactile Switches or Gazzew Boba U4 Silent Tactile Switches , skip the two outer legs entirely. Those are where the tactile bump comes from. Lubing them directly will noticeably reduce the bump. Only lube the stem body and the inner surfaces.
Do not lube the top housing. It contacts the stem only briefly and adding lube there serves no purpose.
Akko CS Jelly Purple Tactile Switches
Pre-lubed tactile switches with a noticeable round bump and a light 38g actuation weight that suits fast typists and daily use.
Gazzew Boba U4 Silent Tactile Switches
Silent tactile switches with a sharp, defined bump and some of the best noise reduction available in a non-linear switch.
Step 5: Reassemble and install
Place the lubed spring into the bottom housing. Set the stem into the spring and lower the top housing down until it clicks. The switch should click shut with a firm press. If it does not seat, check that the stem is aligned and the spring is not folded.
On a hot-swap board, push each lubed switch into the socket firmly until the two pins click into place. On a soldered board you will need to solder after lubing, which is a longer session. Check that each switch actuates correctly before moving on.
If you added Deskeys Switch Films , place one on the bottom housing lip before you close the switch. The film sits between the top and bottom housing and reduces wobble.
Deskeys Switch Films
Thin TPE films placed between switch top and bottom housings to reduce wobble, improve consistency, and refine sound.
Lubing stabilizers at the same session
While the board is open, lube the stabilizers too. This makes a bigger difference to large-key sound than switch lubing does. Apply Gyros XHT-BDZ Stabilizer Lube (Dielectric Grease) dielectric grease to the stabilizer wire where it contacts the stem insert. Use Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant inside the stabilizer housing and on the stem insert legs.
Lubed stabilizers turn a rattling spacebar into a deep, solid thud. It is the most audibly dramatic single improvement you can make to a keyboard in one session.
Gyros XHT-BDZ Stabilizer Lube (Dielectric Grease)
Dielectric grease for stabilizer wires that eliminates rattle and ping from spacebar, enter, and backspace stabilizers.
Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant
The community standard linear switch lube. Thick, stable, and effective. Applied thin, it transforms budget linears into smooth daily drivers.
Featured in this guide
Krytox GPL 205 Grade 0 Switch Lubricant
The community standard linear switch lube. Thick, stable, and effective. Applied thin, it transforms budget linears into smooth daily drivers.
Tribosys 3203 Tactile Switch Lubricant
Thin lube formulated for tactile switches that reduces friction without masking the bump. The standard recommendation for Boba U4 and Holy Panda.
KBDFans Switch Opener and Lube Station Kit
A beginner-friendly bundle of switch opener, lube station with 30-switch capacity, brushes, and a stem holder.
Deskeys Switch Films
Thin TPE films placed between switch top and bottom housings to reduce wobble, improve consistency, and refine sound.
Gyros XHT-BDZ Stabilizer Lube (Dielectric Grease)
Dielectric grease for stabilizer wires that eliminates rattle and ping from spacebar, enter, and backspace stabilizers.
Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow Linear Switches
Factory-lubed linear switches with a smooth, consistent travel and a 35g actuation weight. The most recommended budget linear for first builds.
Akko CS Jelly Purple Tactile Switches
Pre-lubed tactile switches with a noticeable round bump and a light 38g actuation weight that suits fast typists and daily use.
Keep reading
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to lube a full set of 70 switches?+
Expect 3 to 5 hours on your first board. Experienced lubers finish in 90 minutes. Working in batches with a lube station is faster than opening and closing switches one at a time. After your second board the rhythm clicks and the time drops significantly.
What happens if I use too much lube on my switches?+
Switches become sluggish and the return force feels mushy. On tactile switches, over-lubing kills the bump entirely. If you over-lube, open the switches again and wipe excess off with a cotton swab. Start with less than you think you need and add more if the switch still feels scratchy after reassembly.
Can I lube switches that are already factory-lubed?+
Yes. Factory lubing on switches like the Gateron G Pro 3.0 Yellow is decent but not as thorough as hand lubing. A light hand-lube session on top of factory lube noticeably improves the feel. Use the same lube type as you would for an unlubed version, just use an even thinner coat since some lubrication is already present.