How to Unlock a Door

Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle

Last Updated: July 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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Whether you're looking to open that mysterious closet or simply had the unfortunate luck of getting stuck in a strange bathroom, here's your escape route. Stay calm and read on.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Opening a Locked Door without the Key

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1
Use a credit card on a spring lock. Though it won't work for deadbolts, it will work for spring locks (the kind that's slanted and a part of a handle). Grab one that's cheap and you don't care about -- if it breaks, no harm, no foul. A bendy, laminated card works best.^{[1]
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- Force it between the lock and the frame, flush against the frame. Bend it back, forcing the lock back into the door, opening it.
- If there's no room between the lock and the frame, you can force it between the door and the frame above the lock, then swipe quickly downward while angling the card toward the frame. This is where a thicker, sturdier card may come in handy.
This method works on doors with "privacy handles," locked by pushing a button in the door handle. If you're locked on the other side, look for a tiny hole on the doorknob. Push an eyeglasses screwdriver, a paper clip hammered flat, or a very small butter knife into this hole. Push it straight through as far as you can, and turn or twist it until it catches a groove and the lock clicks open.^{[2]
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3
Pick the lock. This can be complicated, so you may wish to read the full instructions. To get started, insert the short end of an Allen wrench into the lower edge of the keyhole. Apply a tiny bit of pressure to turn the lock slightly in the direction the key would turn. Keep this pressure as steady as possible, and use an unbent paperclip with a small crook at the end to pick the lock:
- Scrubbing method: push the paperclip in gently at the lower end of the keyhole, then lift it back and upward. Repeat in a circular motion while increase the pressure on the Allen wrench slightly each time, until you feel the lock shift. When this happens, keep the pressure steady as you repeat the motion, until the door unlocks.
- Pin by pin method: If you can't succeed with the scrubbing method, keep the pressure on the Allen wrench slight and steady while you gradually push the paperclip in. When the paperclip makes contact with a pin, try to catch it on the bend and lift it upward until it clicks into place. Repeat with additional pins until the lock turns.
4
Remove the hinges. Using a standard-sized flat head screwdriver, wedge it between the bottom knuckle and the pin. Tap the handle of the screwdriver in a downward direction with a hammer. Remove the head and pin when they're loose enough.^{[3]
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- Repeat this with all hinges. If the pin won't come out easily, you may have more success forcing it out with a Phillips head screwdriver.
There's a reason this is the last step -- it should be your last resort. In most cases, you'd probably rather call a locksmith or a non-emergency number for the local fire station. If you need to leave urgently, bash downward repeatedly until the doorknob or lock breaks away from the door.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Opening a Jammed Lock

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1
Push or pull the door as you turn the key. With many older doors, you need to pressure the door as you fiddle with the key, as the warped door is bending the lock at an awkward angle. Try applying pressure in each direction: up, down, toward you, and away from you. Use as much force as you can without losing your balance once the door opens.
- If you are using a friend's key, call and ask him about it. He is likely to know the door's idiosyncrasies.
There's no universal standard for which way a key turns to unlock a door. Even if you know which way is "unlock," turning the key further toward the "locked" direction sometimes causes the lock to unjam. If you can get the key to turn a short distance past the full locked position, rotate it back the other way in a quick, smooth motion and you may overcome the jam.
3
Lubricate the lock. Unless you plan on replacing the lock, choose a grease-free lubricant such as graphite powder, since oil will jam the lock even more once it dries out. A single, short spray or squeeze directly into the keyhole should be enough; too much lubricant can be counterproductive.^{[4]
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Research source} You can even spray some WD40.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 January 2021.}
- If you're trapped in a room, use any oil you have available, or rub the key with a graphite pencil tip.
The problem could be a bent key, or a key with severely damaged teeth. Bending the key back into a flat position will sometimes serve as a temporary fix, if you have a clamp handy. Replace the keys at a hardware store as soon as you can.
If you hear a click when the key turns, the door is probably unlocked but jammed, and a few thumps might open it. If the lock is jammed, hitting the lock several times might help after lubrication to help shift the sticky tumblers.
You may have to set aside the key and use the lockpicking methods described in the section below. If that doesn't work, you may need to call and hire a locksmith.

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What can I use to lubricate and open a lock?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

You can spray some WD40 or lithium grease to lubricate and loosen the lock. Then you can use something to wiggle it open.

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Question

How do I lock the door?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Your door should have a handle with a thumb latch lock, and most doors have a deadbolt.

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Question

How do you unlock a door with a bobby pin?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Open up the bobby pin so it bends at a 90° angle, and shave off the rubber tip on the straight end with a knife or razor. Insert that end into the keyhole, then bend the pin so it’s flush against the outside of the lock. Make a hook at the end of a second pin to create a tension lever. You’ll need to hold the tension lever in place at the bottom of the keyhole to prevent the pins in the lock from falling back into place while you lift them with the first pin. Turn the lever counterclockwise to open the door.

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Tips

If you hear or feel the lock open, but the door won't open, there could be a deadbolt or handle lock on the other side of the door.

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If you can pick your front door lock, burglars can too. Use the deadbolt if present, or replace your locks with more secure examples.

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Warnings

Your behavior will look suspicious. Be prepared for questioning, and of course get permission from the owner before you start trying to pick your friend's lock.

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Never, under any circumstances, unlock a door with intentions of breaking into a building or a room that you don't have permission to enter, especially residential buildings or rooms. If, in those areas, the situation demands a physical confrontation (e.g. defense of others or citizen's arrest) or physical resistance when you try to intervene, then you must call 911 instead.

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