The Reality of Getting Locked Out
Losing a key is a universal frustration. Whether it is a forgotten combination to a gym locker or a missing key for a backyard shed, being locked out stops your day in its tracks.
Before you pay a premium for an emergency locksmith, there are proven ways to regain access to your property. These techniques range from clever household workarounds to sheer brute force.
Note: These methods are strictly for lawful use. You should only attempt to bypass locks on property you legally own.
Clever Household Bypasses
You do not always need heavy machinery to defeat a lock. Often, items sitting in your desk drawer can get the job done.
1. The Soda Can Shim
An empty aluminum can is thin and highly flexible. Cut a small piece of aluminum into a capital “M” shape to create a DIY shim.
Wrap the shim around the shackle of a padlock and slide it down into the body. Push firmly to depress the internal locking latch, and the lock will pop open.
2. The Paperclip Pick
This classic technique requires two sturdy metal paperclips. Bend the first one into an “L” shape to use as a tension wrench.
Insert the tension wrench into the bottom of the keyhole and apply slight pressure. Use a straightened second paperclip with a tiny hook at the end to push up the internal pins until the cylinder turns.
3. Bobby Pins
Bobby pins are slightly stronger than paperclips, making them excellent makeshift lockpicks. Strip the rubber tips off both pins.
Bend one pin at a 90-degree angle to maintain tension on the lock. Use the second pin to rake back and forth across the pins inside the lock cylinder.
4. The Credit Card Swipe
This famous method only works on doors with an angled spring latch. Do not use your actual credit card, as this process will likely destroy it.
Slide a flexible, sturdy piece of plastic between the door and the door frame. Push the plastic down and against the angled slope of the latch to force it back into the door.
5. The Screwdriver Trick
Interior doors, like bathrooms and bedrooms, often use simple privacy locks rather than high-security deadbolts. These knobs usually feature a small hole in the center.
Insert a small flathead screwdriver into the hole and push forward. You will hit a small button or slot; simply twist or press to unlock the handle.
Mechanical Leverage and Force
When delicate picking fails, mechanical advantage takes over. These methods use leverage and vibration to defeat the locking mechanism.
6. The Double Wrench Snap
This is a highly effective way to break open standard padlocks. You will need two open-ended wrenches.
Wedge the open ends of both wrenches into the “U” shape of the padlock shackle. Squeeze the handles together like a pair of pliers to create immense pressure, which will snap the lock body in half.
7. The Hammer Strike
Vibration can trick cheap locks into opening. Create upward tension on the lock by pulling firmly on the shackle.
While pulling, use a hammer to strike the side of the padlock body repeatedly. The sharp impacts can bounce the internal pins above the shear line, releasing the catch.
8. The Zip Tie Hack
Small luggage locks have incredibly weak internal springs. You can easily bypass them using a standard plastic zip tie.
Slide the thin, flexible tail of the zip tie down into the notch where the shackle meets the lock body. Wiggle it to depress the latch and pull the lock open.
9. The Bump Key
Bump keys are specially crafted keys designed to force pins into the unlocked position. You must purchase one that matches the specific brand of your lock.
Insert the bump key one notch short of being fully inserted. Apply turning pressure, then strike the back of the key sharply with a rubber mallet to bump the lock open.
Heavy-Duty Destruction
When a lock is rusted shut or incredibly well-made, bypass techniques are useless. If you need immediate access to your property, it is time to destroy the lock.
10. Bolt Cutters
Bolt cutters are the ultimate brute-force solution for standard steel padlocks. Choose a pair with long handles to maximize your leverage.
Place the jaws directly over one side of the shackle. Squeeze the handles together firmly to slice right through the metal.
11. The Hacksaw
If you do not own bolt cutters, a standard hacksaw will get the job done on unhardened locks. This method requires time and physical effort.
Secure the lock so it does not move, and saw back and forth across the shackle. Once you cut completely through one side, twist the shackle to remove the lock.
12. The Angle Grinder
High-security locks made of boron alloy or hardened steel will shatter the jaws of normal bolt cutters. An angle grinder is the only practical solution.
Equip the grinder with a metal-cutting disc and wear heavy-duty safety goggles. The spinning disc will slice through even the toughest hardened shackle in seconds.
13. The Propane Torch
Many cheap combination locks rely on internal plastic dials and components. Applying extreme heat will completely destroy the mechanism.
Aim a handheld propane torch at the metal body of the lock. As the internal plastic melts and fails, the lock will pull apart with a pair of pliers.
