Chosen Solution

im trying to swap out just the mute switch with a different color switch and there is something stopping me from taking it off dont want to force it

You have the phone fully disassembled I assume? The mute switch is the same ribbon as the volume and power buttons, have you removed the board?

https://youtu.be/lcrzk0NBS_I He takes it apart at the very beginning on the video. I hope this helps!!