Imagine you are stuck outside your locked door without a key. It is possible to forget your keys inside or lose your key outside. Even the thought of this horrible incident can be tough to go through!
Before you go out buying lock picking tools or call a locksmith to get your door open, you should at least try these best seven picks on how to unlock a door without a key. As most people can face this in their lives, everyone should learn about locking mechanisms.
So, read this post top to bottom, and you probably will be able to face this situation yourself without spending a ton of money or going to desperate measures.
Best Ways To Open A Door Lock
There are many ways to hack a door lock, but not every method will work in your situation. You will have to keep a few key areas in mind and ask yourself a few questions to assess your case correctly.
These include questions about your location, what tools you have your hands on, etc. Then, choose a method from below to open your locked door. However, do not get stressed if you fail at your first try at lock picking.
Almost all household methods will require a few repetitions to open a jammed lock, so the task isn’t that easy. Do not try to brute force your way, and keep calm first. If it was so easy to open a locked door, why would we use locks on our front door!
Why You Should Learn This?
Everyone makes mistakes! We are only human, right? So, there is no telling when you will find yourself on the wrong side of a locked door. You can forget your keys inside or even lose them keys. So, learning how to open a door without a key may help a lot.
However, this is only a desperate measure, and you should not use lock picking for destructive entry. Although most doors might be adamant about opening with improvised tools, you can use these methods as a last resort.
Using A Credit Card
Using a Credit card is a prevalent technique to unlock a door without a key. Although this might not work on a new entry, you should try this first as it is one of the more accessible methods.
Keep in mind that laminated cards work best for this method. You want a card that is flexible enough and one that you won’t mind damaging. Because sometimes, your card can get damaged.
First, put the credit card on the side of the door. Slide the card between the frame and the locking side of the door. Try to keep the card just above the lock and door frame. Angle the card downward and place it behind the bolt of the lock.
Then, slowly and smoothly pull the card towards you while turning the door handle and swiping downward. Usually, with old doors, the card will slide in between the interior of the latch bolt and the frame. Keep pulling the card towards you until the door unlocks.
This method will only work if you keep the card between the lock and the hole. Also, this will not work if the deadbolt has been set or with doors that have a reinforced strike plate. Only the doors with an angled latch bolt can be opened with a credit card.
How To Know If This Method Can Be Used Or Not?
This method can be very effective if the lock opens when you turn a handle or a knob. If the latch can be pressed in and bounces back or is a spring lock, it can be opened with a credit card.
This method can be beneficial against spring locks, interior door locks, etc.
Will This Method Damage The Card?
Yes. Opening a door with a credit card will probably damage the card. So, using a canceled credit card or a used gift card is recommended.
Key Takeaways
- This method uses a flexible credit card or debit card. But any other thin tool that fits can be used
- The above lock picking techniques will not work on deadbolts or high-security locks.
- This method will not work with doors having a solid strike plate. Because this will stop access to the diagonal latch
Lock Picking With Bobby Pins
Lock picking is probably the most known method of all these. Because burglars or locksmiths usually use this method to unlock a door. However, this method requires enough practice and repetition to work.
There’s a saying that you need to know about the lock to pick the lock. This means that you need to understand the parts of locks and how they work for each other because you’re essentially trying to imitate a key with bobby pins or paper clips!
Although all locks can be picked, the task isn’t easy. Most locks in households or businesses are pin tumbler locks. Also, this is one of the easier lock designs to pick! So, let’s get you familiar with this method based on a pin tumbler lock.
The main parts of this type are key pins, housing, driver pins, plug, and spring. When the right key is put inside, the plug can rotate inside the housing. The key pins inside respond to specific grooves of a key. So, that’s the main thing to imitate.
However, this method needs some basic picking tools. But, in this situation, you need to improvise the tools. The most used items for this are probably a bobby pin or a paper clip. These items can be twisted to imitate a key, and they are rigid enough.
On the other hand, the tension wrench, hook, and rake is the most used professional lock picking tool. Also, we are trying to imitate the key by elevating key pins and pressing driver pins upwards of the gap.
Once done correctly, this creates a gap that can be used to rotate the plug and pry the locking mechanics open.
The Difficulty Of Picking
Remember that you’re trying to make spare keys in a tiny hole with bobby pins! It is hard to open your apartment door without a key. Seems pretty easy when burglars do it, doesn’t it?
However, the difficulty depends on the lock’s security and the standard of your picks. With a stable locked door and excellent lock picks, you can have your way around the security—otherwise, good luck opening even bathroom doors without a key.
Key Takeaways
- You need to recognize the lock you’re picking first to pick locked doors.
- Pin tumbler locks are usually used in residences, and they also are the most vulnerable to lock picking
- You can make improvised picking tools with common items that can be easily bent out of shape, like bobby pins.
- The key and driver pins need to be apart at the gap line to allow the plug rotation.
Using A Grinding Tool
This method is useful mainly for master locks. Because master locks work differently than other locks, it is very hard to hack a master lock without causing damage to the lock. Using a grinding tool to make the shackles fall off is the best method for this type of lock.
Although this will destroy the lock, use this only on your property and do not use this knowledge for any other intent.
First, you need to check the direction of the lock. You can do that by checking the keyhole. Look for the side with signs of scratching from the key. As that will be the side, the pins will fall off, and you’ll need to grind till you see the pins and they fall off.
You can use anything that can grind metal, like a grinder.
After the pins fall off, find an object that will fit the keylock and rotate it like a key. The lock will open easily.
When To Use This Method
If you have master locks on your interior doors or a box and can’t find the key, you can use a grinding tool to break the lock. However, this only works with master locks. For other types of locks, you can even try dismantling their lock.
However, most modern locks have extra layers of protection. For example, there can be different mounting mechanisms or the mounting screws under the shank or the rose.
Will This Damage The Locked Door?
As master locks aren’t directly connected to the doors, this won’t damage the door. But the lock itself will be unusable and damaged.
Key Takeaways
- Grinding a lock is a destructive method.
- Firstly, check inside the keyhole and find the side to grind. Then, grind at the side where the shackles will fall off.
- The padlock will open if the pins fall off and something rotates the lock like a key.
Lock Bumping
This method uses a bump key to exploit the pins of a pin tumbler lock. This method is closely related to lock picking. However, instead of using two bobby pins, you will use a bump key.
A Bump key is specially designed with grooves and cuts at their maximum depth to be able to work on multiple locks. First, you need to insert the key inside and apply pressure with a flathead screwdriver or a hammer.
The pressure exerted on the key causes the pins to elevate the driver pins above the shear line. This will open the door for you.
Are Bump Keys And Skeleton Keys The Same?
No. Skeleton keys are similar to master keys. They open locks by just turning in the keyway. These are mainly used with warded locks. On the other hand, bump keys need to be handled inside the keyway. These are used with pin tumbler locks mainly.
Where Can You Buy A Bump Key?
These are available online on websites like the Facebook marketplace, amazon, etc. However, please contact your local law enforcement first before buying anything. Also, as these are so easily found nowadays, make sure your doors have anti-bump features!
Key Takeaways
- You need a bump key to do this method
- Your key needs to be the same size as your keyway for this to work.
- A perfectly balanced pressure must be applied for this method to work. So, this takes some practice and repetition to work.
Calling A Locksmith
This might seem unappealing to you. But the methods described later won’t be as easy as using a bobby pin. So, to answer your question on how to unlock your front door without a key, calling a locksmith is an answer you must hear.
Although a locksmith might charge you for their work, they won’t damage your door, and they are professional at what they do.
So, consider calling a locksmith before proceeding with the methods below.
Can Locksmiths Make New Keys?
Yes. They can make a new key from a broken key or analyze the keyway and make a key. But locksmiths are experts at what they do. So, to make sure your door opens, call a locksmith.
Key Takeaways
- A locksmith has all the skills to open a locked door for you.
- They, too, will use some of the methods described here. However, as they are experts and have the appropriate tools, it will be a much easier job for them.
Drilling
Drilling will end with a broken lock and probably a newly drilled hole in your home! So, this shouldn’t be what you do. However, if you seriously want to drill, try this only after exhausting all the other methods.
For drilling, you need a drill that is battery-powered or electric. Try to drill at the shear line that all the pins are holding the latch together separately.
Can You Drill Open Any Lock?
Some top-security locks have anti-drill technology, ensuring that most burglars and nearly all homeowners can’t drill the lock. So, you should rather keep a spare key with your family member!
Key Takeaways
- Drilling the lock is very destructive work, and you should only do this if you have no other choice.
- You need a drill that is battery-powered or electric to do this. You may also need lubricants, a screwdriver, and drill bits.
Break The Door
If you don’t have any other choice and need to go inside the locked door, just try to break the door instead. Sometimes doors are more accessible to break than locks! Ramming or kicking down doors puts much force on the hinges and the lock that keeps your place secure.
Also, later you will need to call a locksmith anyway and fix your lock. That’s why breaking the door itself is not a recommended task.
Is It Easy To Kick Down A Door Frame?
Usually, doors will open with a single kick. However, be careful because you might injure yourself if you kick a hole in the door. Make sure your legs are covered.
Key Takeaways
- Ramming the door will likely lead to a broken or damaged door.
- This method might end up injuring you. So, follow at your own risk. But this is not recommended at all.
Final Words
Unlocking a door without a key is a very tough job to do. That’s why we use doors and locks, don’t we? So, if you ever find yourself in such a situation, first try some credit cards or maybe a bobby pin to open your door.
However, if that doesn’t work, think carefully before damaging your door or lock. Also, these methods are only shared here for emergency purposes. Do not attempt any of these tactics unless you need them or fraudulent purposes.