What To Do If Your Key Breaks Off In The Lock

It’s A Snap!

You are standing there, unlocking your front door, the lock feels a bit stiff, you twist the key a little bit, a nasty snapping sound emerges and you extract half a key from your lock leaving the rest behind — to your dismay!!

Why did this happen?

Over time both locks and keys suffer wear and tear. They can become worn and in the case of the lock can become less lubricated due to dust and dirt particles, rendering them stiffer in their function. Keys too wear thinner with use and therefore make less contact with the internal workings of the lock.

What can you see?

If you can see the key protruding from the lock, you may be able to ‘grab hold of it’ and pull it out. This would be the best case scenario. You should keep hold of the broken key parts in case you need it to be decoded by a locksmith in order to cut a new one — especially if a spare key is not readily available.

What do you do now?

• If you can partly see the key in the lock you may be able to extract it using two thin pieces of metal carefully inserted into the lock, lining up each side of the broken key and gently easing it out. Be careful not to push the broken key further into the lock.
• You may also be able to use a thin piece of metal with serrations so you can ‘hook’ the key out of the lock. Again, be careful not to push the broken key further in.
• If the cylinder is able to be removed, you could possibly ‘tip and tap’ the cylinder until the key falls out. You need to keep the lock still when tapping so that gravity can pull the broken key loose. This rarely works though and may result in needing to repair the lock core. A lock lubricant should also be applied before attempting this method.
• There is a super glue trick, but this needs to be undertaken with great caution as this can also cause serious damage to the lock. A very small amount of glue is applied to something like a match or a small piece of wire. Remove excess glue before inserting it into the lock and hope the broken key piece sticks to it after drying. Do NOT try this method if you cannot see metal from the broken key — and be aware this method often fails.

What should you do when none of this works?

The best thing you can do is call a locksmith. This will work every time! In fact, you should do this first — especially if you can’t see any of the broken key protruding from the lock. A locksmith will professionally extract the key using a broken key extractor tool, designed specifically for this job and with minimal risk of damaging the lock. Once removed, the locksmith can cut new keys and ensure the lock is functioning correctly. They can also lubricate and repair the lock if needed.

When should you do this?

As soon as the key breaks, you should seek professional help. You may be locked out or unable to lock the door — both are security risks. Leaving a broken key inside the lock can also cause it to be pushed in further, resulting in significant and expensive damage to the lock.

Need Professional Help?

As professional locksmiths, we do not recommend using any of the above methods unless enough of the key is protruding to be easily pulled out. If you have a broken key stuck in a lock, please give us a call at Blacks Mobile Locksmith, Beenleigh, for help and advice.