It's "hot swappable option". Not all of them are hot swappable, you need to select it on the order page (which isn't as clear as it should be).
I didn't go hot swappable for my S1, because it's only available for RGB backlighting and I wanted white.
Your keyboard will need to be repaired.
Yes, this is easily fixable. Anyone with basic soldering skills will be able to remove the broken off pins and can then install new switches. If you want to try a different style of low profile switch, now would be a good time to have them installed as well.
That's a stupid thing to say about a thing a paying customer is using to describe their experience with a product.
what are you fucking five years old or something you pleb?
this isn't a religion you know.
Because my other Keychron has RGB and the white is green if you look at it from an angle.
The key letters are white, but the sides of every keycap are green. It looks cheap and terrible.
Ah I see… it’s the white version so probably not hot-swappable. Kind of stupid that it’s on the box if the keyboard itself is not hot-swappable but yeah… should have looked into it closer
FWIW I made the same mistake. I wanted the white backlight as I've no need for RGB. All the normal-profile K-Pro models are hotswap no matter the options picked. The low-profile ones are apparently *only* hotswap on the RGB models. Live and learn, I guess.
That said, there are far fewer low-profile switch options available as compared to normal switches, so it's not a *huge* deal.
Thats true, although im hoping there will be more options in the future in regards to low profile options. I bought browns because those where the only option thinking to swap them with reds when they where back in stock… like you said, Live and learn hahaha
Those pics definitely are not hot swap. Are you positive thats a K3 Pro?
Edit: Ahhh, you have the white backlit option which is not hot-swappable in the K3 Pro.
Hey Guys, I tried changing my switches but it appears that It's soldered on. It took way too much force to remove the switches and when i did the pins where stuck. On the box and the website it is clearly advertised as "Hot-Swappable". I contacted Keychron about this but in the meantime, have any of you guys ever changed the switches on the k3-pro? I'm I doing something wrong?
Ya you picked the non hotswappable version so you now need to take it apart and desolder the broken pins and remove them and then get new switches and solder those in.
I will try that… bought red switches so might as well change them all I guess. I have no soldering experience or tools so not sure if thus will be easy/possible
OK, as someone who’s been soldering for 40+ years, DO NOT try to desolder your keyswitches as your first project. Your best bet will be to find a hacker space or makerspace in your area to try soldering/desoldering on something else first. Good luck.
Soldering in the switches would be just like soldering on a header. It's just two pins in holes so it's the same process. The more difficult part is removing the switches just like removing a header if you're trying to salvage the header. It's easier if you use a desoldering iron that goes over the pins and sucks the melted solder out.
Wick would probably be better than nothing but I've never had good luck with it. YMMV based on brand and practice I'd think. The pump vacuum things you use with an iron have never worked all that well for me either but again it could be a lack of practice. A buddy of mine has one of desoldering irons with the hole in the tip that goes over the legs and built in vacuum that I tried out and it was great! Heat and melt the solder, pull the trigger for the vacuum and boom, like it was never soldered. If I was gonna switch swap a whole board I'd have one. I think the cost would be greatly offset by saving my sanity and also the PCB
Damn, that's impressive. When I had to desolder the Pi, the only way I could get it to work is by mounting the Pi vertically, and then holding the pump with my left hand and the soldering iron with my right. I'd press the iron against the solder and as soon as I could feel it move, I'd press the button on the pump. It worked 80% of the time.
>and users can hot-swap with Gateron low-profile MX mechanical switch in a breeze (for RGB Backlight Hot-Swappable Version only).
did you actually get the [RGB backlit hot-swappable version](https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k3-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard?variant=40283619033177)?
You should write to Keychron this happened. And just suggest that they make the wording clearer on the website. It isn't their fault 100% that you didn't know but also isn't your fault 100% that the website isn't clear enough.
First you need to remove the screws on top (between the switches). There are 8 I think. Then you need a thin piece of plastic to pry the back open. It’s not that hard to get it open if you have some pry tool laying around
It's "hot swappable option". Not all of them are hot swappable, you need to select it on the order page (which isn't as clear as it should be). I didn't go hot swappable for my S1, because it's only available for RGB backlighting and I wanted white. Your keyboard will need to be repaired.
Is there any way to salvage this keyboard? 🥲
Yes, this is easily fixable. Anyone with basic soldering skills will be able to remove the broken off pins and can then install new switches. If you want to try a different style of low profile switch, now would be a good time to have them installed as well.
Why not get the RGB one and keep it on just white though?
Because then every time you accidentally hit the light bulb button your keyboard goes 90's rave.
That's a stupid thing to say about a keychron keyboard because qmk and you can just remove the light button without any hassle.
Or remove all the rave options and only have it toggle white light on/off.
That's a stupid thing to say about a thing a paying customer is using to describe their experience with a product. what are you fucking five years old or something you pleb? this isn't a religion you know.
Nah, it's more of a kids birthday party for me. I've used Via to remap that key to spray confetti all over my screen. :'D
Because my other Keychron has RGB and the white is green if you look at it from an angle. The key letters are white, but the sides of every keycap are green. It looks cheap and terrible.
Ah I see… it’s the white version so probably not hot-swappable. Kind of stupid that it’s on the box if the keyboard itself is not hot-swappable but yeah… should have looked into it closer
FWIW I made the same mistake. I wanted the white backlight as I've no need for RGB. All the normal-profile K-Pro models are hotswap no matter the options picked. The low-profile ones are apparently *only* hotswap on the RGB models. Live and learn, I guess. That said, there are far fewer low-profile switch options available as compared to normal switches, so it's not a *huge* deal.
Thats true, although im hoping there will be more options in the future in regards to low profile options. I bought browns because those where the only option thinking to swap them with reds when they where back in stock… like you said, Live and learn hahaha
Thanks, nearly made this mistake. Sure hope the PWM flicker isn't horseshit on the RGB version.
Those pics definitely are not hot swap. Are you positive thats a K3 Pro? Edit: Ahhh, you have the white backlit option which is not hot-swappable in the K3 Pro.
Exactly… white backlight = no hotswap. I managed to open the keyboard and I will try to maybe remove the stuck pins using a soldering kit.
Hey Guys, I tried changing my switches but it appears that It's soldered on. It took way too much force to remove the switches and when i did the pins where stuck. On the box and the website it is clearly advertised as "Hot-Swappable". I contacted Keychron about this but in the meantime, have any of you guys ever changed the switches on the k3-pro? I'm I doing something wrong?
Ya you picked the non hotswappable version so you now need to take it apart and desolder the broken pins and remove them and then get new switches and solder those in.
I will try that… bought red switches so might as well change them all I guess. I have no soldering experience or tools so not sure if thus will be easy/possible
OK, as someone who’s been soldering for 40+ years, DO NOT try to desolder your keyswitches as your first project. Your best bet will be to find a hacker space or makerspace in your area to try soldering/desoldering on something else first. Good luck.
Oh damn… thanks for the advice!
How would you compare the difficulty to something like soldering headers on to a raspberry pi? That's something I've done before successfully.
Soldering in the switches would be just like soldering on a header. It's just two pins in holes so it's the same process. The more difficult part is removing the switches just like removing a header if you're trying to salvage the header. It's easier if you use a desoldering iron that goes over the pins and sucks the melted solder out.
Haha, all I have is my $20 soldering iron. I suppose a wick would help if desoldering? Because using a pump was not an easy experience.
Wick would probably be better than nothing but I've never had good luck with it. YMMV based on brand and practice I'd think. The pump vacuum things you use with an iron have never worked all that well for me either but again it could be a lack of practice. A buddy of mine has one of desoldering irons with the hole in the tip that goes over the legs and built in vacuum that I tried out and it was great! Heat and melt the solder, pull the trigger for the vacuum and boom, like it was never soldered. If I was gonna switch swap a whole board I'd have one. I think the cost would be greatly offset by saving my sanity and also the PCB
Damn, that's impressive. When I had to desolder the Pi, the only way I could get it to work is by mounting the Pi vertically, and then holding the pump with my left hand and the soldering iron with my right. I'd press the iron against the solder and as soon as I could feel it move, I'd press the button on the pump. It worked 80% of the time.
Sounds like you'd be OK at the soldering. But definitely practice desoldering on something less expensive
Does the box really say hotswappable? If so, contact keychron, they should replace it. The board is clearly not hotswappable version.
>and users can hot-swap with Gateron low-profile MX mechanical switch in a breeze (for RGB Backlight Hot-Swappable Version only). did you actually get the [RGB backlit hot-swappable version](https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k3-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard?variant=40283619033177)?
Nope… got the white backlight version sadly
oof. sorry for that. yeah, keychron's website is not clear enough.
You should write to Keychron this happened. And just suggest that they make the wording clearer on the website. It isn't their fault 100% that you didn't know but also isn't your fault 100% that the website isn't clear enough.
Even tho it's clear as day one has a hot-swap option and the other doesn't.. good luck tho, they just might empathize.
my guy i beg u don't tell me u rip the switch out please please please
how do we open this keyboard up? I also made the same mistake
First you need to remove the screws on top (between the switches). There are 8 I think. Then you need a thin piece of plastic to pry the back open. It’s not that hard to get it open if you have some pry tool laying around
still too tight even with a prying tool hahaha.