How to Switch Your Glock Magazine Release
If your thumb can’t reliably drop a magazine on your Gen 3 Glock 19, you’re not alone. The factory magazine release is often the first upgrade for competition shooters and left-handed users. Swapping it is a 5-minute task that requires one specific tool and a new release, like an extended or reversible model from Glockswitchforsale.
Tools You Need for the Job
You only need two things: a 3/32″ punch and your new magazine release. Don’t use a nail or a random screwdriver; you’ll mar the frame. The 3/32″ punch is the perfect size for the magazine release lock, a tiny spring-loaded pin inside the frame. A set of roll pin punches is ideal, but a standard punch works if you’re careful. Have a clean, well-lit workspace. Before starting, ensure the firearm is completely unloaded and the chamber is clear. Remove the magazine and visually and physically inspect the chamber.
Step-by-Step Removal Process
With the pistol cleared, point it in a safe direction. Use the punch to depress the magazine release lock through the opposite side of the frame. You’ll find the small pin hole just above the magazine release button on the right side (for a right-handed setup). Push the pin in about 1/8 of an inch—you’ll feel it click and seat. While holding the punch steady, the magazine release button can now be unscrewed from the shaft by hand. Turn it counter-clockwise. Once it’s free, carefully pull the entire assembly—button, spring, and lock—out from the left side of the frame. Keep track of the spring and the lock; they are small and can launch.
Installing Your New Magazine Release
If you’re switching sides for a left-handed configuration, this is where it changes. Insert the new magazine release from the opposite side you removed the old one from. For a standard right-hand install, insert it from the left side of the frame. The spring slides onto the shaft first, followed by the lock. The lock’s rounded end faces the frame. Push the assembly into the frame until the lock aligns with its pin hole. Use your punch to depress the lock again, allowing the release button to be threaded onto the shaft from the outside. Hand-tighten it clockwise until it’s snug against the frame. Remove the punch; the lock should snap into place, securing everything.
Function Testing & Final Notes
Don’t just assume it works. Insert an empty magazine—or better yet, one of our Extended 33-Round Glock Magazines—to test. You should feel positive spring tension and a definitive click when the magazine seats. Press the release; the magazine should drop freely without binding. If it feels gritty or doesn’t drop, disassemble and check for proper spring and lock orientation. A proper switch, like those in our Glock Parts collection, will improve your reload speed dramatically. This simple mod is a foundational step before considering more advanced controls, such as those found in our Universal Glock Auto Switch Kit.
FAQ
How to switch Glock mag release?
Clear the firearm, then use a 3/32″ punch to depress the small lock pin inside the frame above the release button. Hold the pin depressed, unscrew the button by hand, and remove the assembly. Insert the new release, depress the lock pin again to align it, and hand-tighten the new button onto the shaft.
How to switch Glock mag release side?
To convert for left-handed use, follow the standard removal process. Then, insert the new reversible magazine release from the right side of the frame (opposite the factory side). The button will now be installed on the right side, allowing your trigger finger to actuate it.
How to reverse Glock mag release?
Reversing the release requires a specifically designed reversible magazine release part. The factory OEM part is not reversible. After installing a reversible model from the opposite side of the frame, the internal lock and spring function identically, just mirrored for opposite-hand operation.
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Last updated: March 27, 2026