That clicking. It’s constant. You’re in a quiet coffee shop, trying to fire off a quick email, and every single letter sounds like a tiny hammer hitting a plastic nail. It is, honestly, one of the most polarizing features in modern tech. Some people love the haptic feedback because it mimics the mechanical feel of a real typewriter, but for the rest of us? It’s just annoying. Maybe you're trying to text during a meeting or just want to scroll through Reddit in bed without waking up your partner. Either way, you need to know how to turn off keyboard sounds before you lose your mind.
The weird thing is that every manufacturer hides these settings in a different basement. Apple puts it under "Sounds," Google hides it inside the specific keyboard app settings, and Windows treats it like a typing "experience." It’s a mess. But silencing your devices shouldn't require a degree in computer science.
Why Do We Even Have Keyboard Clicks?
Back in the early days of the iPhone, Scott Forstall and the original iOS design team leaned heavily into skeuomorphism. This is the design concept where digital interfaces mimic real-world objects. They wanted the glass screen to feel like a physical tool. The "click" was a psychological trick. It told your brain, "Yes, you actually pressed that button." Without it, typing on glass felt hollow.
Fast forward to today, and we’ve mostly moved past needing that auditory crutch. Our brains have adapted to glass keyboards. Now, the sound is mostly a legacy feature that persists because "that's how it's always been."
Silencing Your iPhone and iPad
Apple makes this relatively straightforward, but there is a catch. If you just flip the mute switch on the side of your phone, the clicks go away. Great, right? Not really. You probably don't want your phone on silent 24/7 just to kill the keyboard noise.
To kill the sound permanently while keeping your ringer on, head into your Settings app. Tap on Sounds & Haptics. Scroll way down past the ringtones and vibration patterns. You’ll see a toggle for Keyboard Feedback.
Now, Apple updated this recently. It used to be a simple on/off switch for "Keyboard Clicks." Now, it's a sub-menu. Inside Keyboard Feedback, you’ll find two switches: Sound and Haptic. If you hate the noise but like the little vibration "thump" when you type, leave Haptic on. If you want total silence, kill them both.
One thing people often miss: if you use a third-party keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey on your iPhone, these system settings might not work perfectly. You might have to go into the actual Gboard app to kill the sound there too. It's redundant and annoying.
How to Turn Off Keyboard Sounds on Android
Android is a different beast because "Android" isn't just one thing. A Samsung Galaxy feels different than a Google Pixel or a OnePlus.
If you are on a Pixel or any phone running "Stock" Android, you are likely using Gboard.
- Open any app where you can type.
- Tap the Settings gear icon on the top row of the keyboard.
- Go to Preferences.
- Scroll down to the Keypress section.
- Toggle off Sound on keypress.
If you are a Samsung user, you’re probably using the Samsung Keyboard. Samsung likes to bury things. Go to Settings, then General Management, then Samsung Keyboard settings. From there, look for Swipe, touch, and feedback, and finally Touch feedback. You can finally kill the sound there.
Honestly, the variation in Android menus is why people get frustrated. If you can't find it, just use the search bar at the top of your Settings app and type "Keyboard feedback." It usually jumps you right to the spot.
Windows 11 and the Virtual Keyboard
Most people using Windows are typing on physical keyboards, which are noisy by nature. You can't "turn off" a mechanical Cherry MX Blue switch with software. But if you have a Surface Pro or a touchscreen laptop, the on-screen keyboard is surprisingly loud.
Windows 11 tucked this away in the "Typing" menu.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Time & Language.
- Click Typing.
- Expand the Touch keyboard section.
- Uncheck the box that says Play key sounds as I type.
It’s a tiny checkbox. Easy to miss. But once it's gone, the tablet experience feels much more modern.
The Psychology of Haptics vs. Audio
There is actually some interesting research from firms like Nielsen Norman Group about user interface feedback. Auditory feedback (the click) is considered "high-intrusion." It forces itself into your environment and the environment of everyone around you.
Haptic feedback (the vibration) is "low-intrusion." Only you feel it.
If you're struggling to type accurately once you've learned how to turn off keyboard sounds, try turning up the haptic intensity instead. Most modern smartphones use "linear resonant actuators" (LRAs) that can produce very sharp, crisp vibrations that feel almost like a physical click without making a peep. It’s the "pro" way to handle a silent phone.
What About External Bluetooth Keyboards?
Sometimes, your iPad or tablet might make a clicking sound even when you're using a physical Bluetooth keyboard. This is rare, but it happens because of "accessibility" features.
On iOS, check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards. Make sure things like "Sticky Keys" or "Slow Keys" aren't making extra confirmation noises. On MacOS, this is usually found in System Settings > Sound, where you need to uncheck "Play user interface sound effects."
Steps to Total Silence
If you’ve followed the steps above and you still hear noises, there are three "Ghost in the Machine" spots to check:
✨ Don't miss: How to View Instagram Profile Picture: The Methods That Actually Work in 2026
- Browser-based sounds: Some websites or web-based apps (like certain chat clients) have their own typing sounds built into the code. No system setting will stop those; you have to mute the browser tab or the app's specific settings.
- Screen Lock Sounds: Often grouped near keyboard clicks. If you hate the click, you probably hate the "lock" sound too. It's usually right under the keyboard toggle.
- System Alerts: Sometimes what you think is a keyboard sound is actually a "wrong key" alert. This is common on Mac and Windows when you hit a key that doesn't have a function in that specific window.
Actionable Next Steps
To ensure your device stays quiet across all scenarios, perform a "Silence Audit" right now. Start by opening your main settings and searching for "Feedback" to toggle off system sounds. Next, if you use multiple keyboards (like switching between English and Emoji or a third-party app), check the settings within each specific app, as they often override system defaults. Finally, test your typing in a quiet room to ensure that no "secondary" sounds, like those from screen-reading accessibility tools or specific messaging apps, are still active. If you use a Mac, remember to check the "Sound" menu in System Settings to disable the "Play user interface sound effects" option, which mutes the trash crumpling and file-moving noises as well.