There are many reasons you may want to change light switches. Older switches sometimes contain mercury. Some fixtures simply do not go with modern décor. Other times a switch may simply break. Whatever the reason, with some proper precautions, it can be a very easy job to install a brand new light switch.

Be careful, though! This is an electrical job and you will be working with electrical wires. You should have the circuit breakers turned off for the room you will be working in. If you are uncertain on how to do this, or uncomfortable with electrical wiring, then do not proceed.

You may want to use a circuit tester. This is a device you can touch to a wire to see if there is electricity flowing through it. The only necessary things you really need are a screwdriver and a new light switch. If you are considering wireless light switches or push button light switches than these procedures will be different.
Once again, make sure that you have turned off the circuit breakers in the room(s) you will be working in. Do not proceed unless this is done and you have double checked there is no current.

First, remove the light switch cover that houses the switch. This is usually done by just taking out the visible screws and pulling the flat face plate away. This should reveal the switch mechanism itself within the wall.

There may be two more screws to take out on the top and bottom of the switch. This connects the light switch to a hollow box behind it. Once you have it loose, gently pull the light switch out of the wall. Wires will be connected to it, do not damage or pull on the wires.

There should be two black wires (or at least two wires that have black tape around them or have the word ‘black’ written on them, or something similar) that connect to the back or sides of the light switch. Remove these from the switch, usually by loosening some more screws in the unit.  Make note of where the wires were attached relative to the position of the light switch unit.

Now, it is time to reverse the process we just went through, but with the new switch.

Take the two black wires (this means they are ‘live’ or ‘hot’ wires when the power is on) and attach them to the new light switch you have. Tighten the screws to hold them in place.

Push the new light switch into the wall and hold it in place while you screw it into the box just as you found the old switch. Make sure it is nice and secure. You may see some loose wires, usually white and sometimes green. Just ignore these, they are neutral and grounding wires.

Finally, you just re-attach the light switch cover plate to the light switch. Once it is firmly in place, you can turn the circuit breakers back on and test the light switch. It is that simple.

Enjoy your new light switch!