Keyboards can generally last quite a long time as long as you aren’t prone to spilling liquids on them. Some of them can even thwart that depending on the model and its resistance to such. You can go for many years on the same keyboard if you treat it right. However, there is one thing that is quite hard to avoid sometimes, and that’s wear placed on the letters printed on the keys.
Some keyboards, the letters are part of the physical design of the keys themselves, either etched in or a semi-transparent layer for light to shine through (backlit). These are great and can last what feels like forever. Some, however, the letters are simply printed onto the keys, and these are what like to rub off over time after thousands and thousands of presses. For example, we use a number of Logitech kits here at the offices like the MK710, and nearly all of these suffer from this (especially the MK710).
So how do you fix this? No one wants to replace a perfectly working keyboard just because a few letters are missing from their keys. You can try using Sharpie markers, but they will rub off even quicker. The answer is a small Dymo label printer.
You can go with your typical handheld manual printer where you type in your text and hit print, or you can get your hands on a USB version that you can design your label via software on your PC (for extra control over your text/design). You will want to match the label color to the keyboard as closely as you can. So if you have black keys, go for a label tape that is white text on black label. Here is an example that works for the USB printer we just linked to.
Print a single letter for the key you need to bring back to life. Use a pair of scissors to cut the label down to fit on the face of the key and apply it. We do it here all the time because if the letter can be rubbed off, it won’t take long with how many key presses these keyboards see.
This solution will last a whole lot longer than drawing on your keys with a Sharpie (regardless of what type you choose–metallic, ink, paint, etc). Over time, if the sticker starts to wear or peel, you can just print another one and move on. No more spending money on a new keyboard for the smallest of reasons.
This is also a fun way to label user-customizable keys. So happy labeling and I hope this helps you save some money in the future.
Update (08/2019): Another solution will involve buying into something–but it is far less than a new keyboard. You can actually find replacement stickers for keyboards that are ready to go and covers just about every key on the keyboard. You can find one of the options right here, and it will only cost you around $5-$6 for the sheet (white on black). You can easily search around for alternative color options. So if you don’t have a label maker in your reservoir of toys, this could be the next best option. It might even last longer than your typical thermal printer anyway, and you can find alternative options like English/Korean and many other combinations (as well as glow in the dark options).
6 Comments
Use Sharpie markers. Let dry well. Then coat with a clear nail varnish, like Topcoat nail varnish.
Just got the stickers in and started using them. Everything makes so much better sense now. Much better than blindly typing with so many blank keys.
they make keyboard covers in clear and other colors. These have the makings on them so you just overlay the flexible covers over the keys.
I realize I’m about two years late to this discussion, but maybe my thoughts will still prove useful to someone, perhaps even the author if she still monitors this. The solution you give — using a label maker — is a functional one, and I’ve followed your advice. But it still frosts me that this is even required. Anomomomuss, in this thread, notes that he has an old IBM keyboard used for 10 years and the letters remain as always. I beat that: I had an old Smith Corona typewriter from the 1940s, and ITS printed letters on the keys never wore out even a bit. But it took less than 5 months for about 11 of the keys on my Logitech MK710 to entirely wear off. Logitech is not the only offender, either. Keyboard makers need to fix this. They need to find a PERMANENT means of printing or etching letters and numerals on their $70 keyboards!
We completely agree. Every brand has a responsibility of backing their products and taking the initiative to make improvements where they are clearly needed. Nobody gets an exception to that.
I bought a set of oversized glow in the dark stick on replacement letters for my laptop. at least half have fallen off. I have an old IBM keyboard I used for 10 years and the letters are all still there same as they’ve always been.