Lubing switches can change how a keyboard sounds, but what it mainly changes is the scratch and background noise made by parts rubbing together. The sound of a key hitting bottom, the click of a clicky switch, and the resonance of the plate and case are not decided by lube alone. “Lube reduces friction noise” is a more accurate expectation than “lube makes it thocky.”
Which part of the sound does lube change?
Inside a switch, the stem slides along the housing rails and the spring compresses and returns. Kinetic Labs’ lubing tips advise applying lube only where two plastic parts rub, and describe the goal as reducing friction and scratchiness inside the switch. Their full lubing guide also lists a smoother feel and less background noise as reasons people lube.
It helps to split one keystroke into parts: the slide on the way down, the tap at the bottom, the return when you let go, and whatever ring remains. Lube is aimed at the sliding part.
Before and after lube: what to expect and what not to
| Sound or feel | Relationship to lube | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch while pressing | Can get smaller as friction drops | Housing and stem condition, unit-to-unit variation |
| Spring noise | Can vary with where and how lube is applied | Spring shape, whether it was factory-lubed |
| Bottom-out tap | Hard to claim lube alone changes it much | Keycaps, plate, case, how hard you type |
| Click of a clicky switch | Can weaken if lube goes in the wrong place | Click mechanism, maker guidance |
| Overall ring and resonance | Keyboard structure matters more than lube | Plate material, foam, mounting |
If you are curious about bottom-out sound and resonance, the plate material and typing sound column separates those conditions in the same way.
Thinking about each switch type differently
The same lube can give different results depending on the switch design.
- Linear: These move down without a bump, so a drop in friction noise is relatively easy to notice.
- Tactile: The bump is the point. Kinetic Labs notes that too much lube can soften it and describes using a lower-viscosity lube on tactile switches.
- Clicky: These are designed to make noise. The same guide says to be careful not to lose the click and that they may not need lube at all.
Start with the linear, tactile, and clicky comparison if the switch types themselves are new.
What is different about factory-lubed switches?
Some switches are sold already lubed. For example, CHERRY’s MX2A Red specifications list a factory-applied lubricant alongside a barrel spring designed to reduce noise.
What that tells you is that this model ships lubed. It does not mean it sounds the same as a hand-lubed switch, or that relubing could never matter. The amount and placement differ between products, and factory lube is not the same choice as one you make yourself.
What happens when you use too much
Lubing is not a job that improves with quantity. Kinetic Labs warns that coating the whole interior can make keys feel gummy or squishy, and that a missing bump or unresponsive keys may mean too much lube. Lube near the contacts can also affect input.
Springs and parts can bend while you open and reassemble switches. That is why guides suggest lubing a few switches first and pressing each one after reassembly before doing a full batch. If warranty or exchange terms matter to you, check the product information before you start.
What to check in before-and-after lube videos
“Before vs after lube” videos are easy to edit so the difference sounds large. Checking these conditions first makes the comparison meaningful.
- Same switch and same keyboard? If keycaps or the plate changed too, do not treat it as a lube-only difference.
- Same key at a similar force? Long keys like the spacebar mix in stabilizer noise.
- Same recording setup? Mic position, gain, and post-processing change the sound itself.
- Which part changed? Listen separately for the mid-press scratch, the bottom-out, and the ring.
If you run out of words for what you hear, the thocky, clacky, and creamy guide can help.
How does lube relate to KeyKey?
KeyKey is a keycap app where you collect and equip keycaps and switches, then tap the screen to enjoy their sound and haptics on supported devices. The app does not open real switches for lubing or measure physical before-and-after sound. Its typing sounds are digital sounds designed to match each keycap and switch.
This column has no condition-matched physical recordings, so no before-and-after audio is included. Instead, try the KeyKey typing sound samples and practice listening to the start, middle, and end of a sound separately. The same habit helps when you listen to lube videos.
On the KeyKey homepage, you can try keycaps and sounds you like at a low volume first.
Sources and scope
The Kinetic Labs guides above were cited to explain where lube goes, viscosity, and the signs of overlubing. Their methods are the author’s own working approach and are not treated here as rules for every switch. The CHERRY specification is used only as an example of a factory-lubed switch. The table and checklist organize how to listen; they are not results of measurements we performed.
