Why Are Gaming Keyboards So Clicky?

Keyboards are gamers' favorite accessories for control and input. Since the gaming aspect of computers started to grow in the 1990s, it has heavily relied on keyboards. Computer keyboard manufacturers found the need to produce a keyboard that appealed to the gaming community. They aimed to create a keyboard that would improve the gaming experience. Now, gaming keyboards are an indispensable accessory for a gaming PC setup.

Most users notice one aspect of modern gaming keyboards immediately: their clickiness. However, not all gaming keyboards are clicky. What makes most gaming keyboards clicky depends on their type, build, and use of components. We will provide a detailed analysis of all these factors so that you can decide whether a clicky keyboard is for you.

Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: Clicky Switch

A gaming keyboard is a keyboard that delivers speed and maintains its performance over time. Over time, gaming keyboards have evolved. Their latest form is a mechanical gaming keyboard. These keyboards are reliable and durable and can perform accurately in competitive conditions.

Mechanical gaming keyboards come with mechanical switches that activate the user's pressing of the key by the user. However, there can be many reasons the gaming keyboard makes a clicky sound. Here are some of their details:

Type of Mechanical Switch

Mechanical keyboards have a distinct feature: their mechanical switch. Manufacturers use different types of switches to produce varying feel in their products. The mechanical switch sits under the keycap and activates when a user presses down on the key. The pressing motion causes the switch to connect and register a key. There are three types of mechanical switches: linear, Tactile, and Clicky.

● Linear: These are meant to provide fast response time with no tactility and clicky sound.

● Tactile: When pressing down on a tactile switch, it gives physical feedback that feels like passing over a bump. Some gamers and typists prefer tactile feedback and accuracy.

● Clicky: A gaming keyboard should be clicky. Blue mechanical switches are the most popular. They cause an audible click, which makes them satisfactory to use. The click is clean, clear, accurate, and doesn't sound abnormal.

Suppose your mechanical keyboard is clicky out of the box. Make sure to check the packaging for the mechanical switch type. If it's blue-type, then your clicky sound is typical. Gaming keyboards are clicky as they provide the audible feedback that reaffirms their keypress. In competitive gaming, accuracy is vital for survival, and clicky keyboards are the best option.

Bottoming Out of Keycap

If you have ruled out that your mechanical keyboard does not have blue switches, the second factor could be the bottoming out of the keycap when a user presses down. The top portion can hit the housing or gaming keyboard base and cause a clicking sound. There are some solutions to reduce or eliminate noise:

● O-Rings: Use O-Rings that add a layer of rubber to avoid plastic-to-plastic contact.

● Padding: Landing pads also add a layer between plastics to avoid clicky sounds.

● Silencing Clips: These are like caps that sit over the mechanical switch. They are thicker and made of material that dampens the sound.

Loose Mechanical Switch Shaft

Substandard mechanical switches may lose their integrity with time. The shaft may fail, causing a rattling or clicky sound while typing. One way to check if you have the same issues is by placing a finger on a keyboard keycap. Now, slide the finger on the keycap without applying pressure. You may have a loose shaft if you notice your keycap moving around in this motion. Replace your mechanical switch with a new one to resolve the issue.

Lack of Lubrication

The switches underneath the keycap of a mechanical keyboard need regular lubrication. It improves their response time and reduces the user's pressure to apply for activation. Lack of lubrication can also contribute to the clickiness between the shaft and switch body. Some mechanical keyboards come pre-lubed, while others may require lubrication as time passes. Make sure that the clicky gaming keyboard you have is adequately lubricated.

Substandard Built

A keyboard with quality manufacturing techniques and design produces a clicky sound. If your keyboard does not make a clean click or has a weird clicky sound, it's probably due to internal components rattling. Manufacturers of high-quality gaming keyboards use noise-dampening pads and multi-layer approaches to reduce the noise from the body. They also use heavy plastics and metal for a firmer body and to lower unwanted clicky sounds.

Regular Gaming Keyboard: Membrane, Keycaps and Built

Regular gaming keyboards can be clicky. While the membrane inside a regular keyboard is by nature silent, it can start to produce a clicky sound as it ages or loses its integrity due to environmental conditions and use. Let's see what can make a regular gaming keyboard, so click!

Broken Membrane

The membrane is the part underneath the keycap that moves as we press the key. It is made of rubber to produce the key's rebounding. However, this membrane layer can get damaged in some cases, causing the keyboard to start making a clicky sound. The keycap body can come directly into contact with the plastic layer, producing a clicky sound. If your membrane gaming keyboards begin to make this sound, claim a guarantee or replace your old keyboard.

Lack of Cleanliness

In some cases, plastic parts or unwanted objects may enter between keycaps. These parts can contact the keycap, causing a clicky sound. If the clicky sound is from some keyboard portions, it can be due to a lack of cleanliness behind the gaming keyboard keycaps.

Loose Keycap

A loose keycap can also cause a rattling sound or clicky sound. Try pressing down on the key firmly till it bottoms out. It will cause the keycap to reseat if it has dislodged from its location. If that does not resolve the issue, try replacing your keycap.

Poor Built Quality

Some underbuilt membrane keyboards can cause rattling sounds. Loose parts within the keyboard body can also be the cause of clickiness. Try using a gaming keyboard from a reputable brand with a good online presence on e-commerce websites or general searches.

Final Verdict: Why Are Gaming Keyboards So Clicky

Whether you own a mechanical or regular keyboard, they can be clicky. The chances of having a mechanical keyboard with blue switches are high, which can be the primary reason gaming keyboards sound clicky. The rapid growth and market expansion of mechanical gaming keyboards have increased the sales of blue clicky switches. The clicky sound can also come from malfunctions and poor build quality.

As long as the clicky sound from the gaming keyboard is clean, it's a mechanical keyboard with a blue switch. Its sole purpose is to produce a clean click! We hope we have covered all the ng keyboards that can be clicky.

If you want a high-quality, clicky gaming mechanical keyboard, check out MEETION's latest gaming keyboard with Blue Switch. These well-built keyboards feature hot-swappable switches, a multi-layer approach, pre-lubed blue switches, tri-mode connectivity, and mesmerizing RGB.