How to remove a key fragment from a larva. The key in the door lock broke: different ways to fix the problem

Sometimes the situation develops so that in the castle front door the key suddenly breaks. Unfortunately, no one is immune from this. After all, a lock, like any other item of frequent use in everyday life, can be subject to wear and tear, clogged with various debris, and not everyone can fully monitor its condition. How to open the door if the key is broken and left inside the lock?

The key breaks in the lock for various reasons. This may be a mis-rotation or an attempt to insert incorrectly. If the key was not inserted very deeply and broke, then with some effort, it is possible to pull it out and open the door. But when the chip is deep, then some knowledge and patience will be needed to free it.

Necessary tools to extract the key and open the door

To pull out the key yourself, tools that every owner probably has will come in handy:

  • jigsaw
  • screwdriver
  • regular hairpin
  • tweezers
  • pliers
  • a hammer
  • grinder and drill.

Options for opening a door lock with a broken key

As in any business, the work of opening the door lock can be done in several ways:

1. In gentle mode– when the functions of the lock remain intact after repair. Here the task of the master is to extract part of the key so that the larva remains intact. The main cause of failure is dirt inside the hole. In such cases, it is enough to simply clean the hole from dust and then the key will easily come out by itself. For this, lubricants are used:

In carrying out the work will good helper even ordinary technical oil. It is important to get and rinse the lock cylinder from the door. As soon as the flushing and lubricating actions are completed, you need to gently loosen the movements to try to turn the broken key inside. If your hands are oily, take pliers.

When the mechanism of the larva jams and bites the key due to stuck pins, you need to use thin objects, such as a pin or hairpin, to first push them through. After that, the pressure on the key stops and it comes out easily. A jigsaw also helps to safely remove the key. Or rather, its cutting part. In working with it, you need to hook it with a thin blade inside the broken key, gently turn it, pull it out and open the door. In this case, the chip clings to the teeth of the jigsaw and exits the mechanism.

If the key is broken in the cylinder lock, then a self-tapping screw will help open the door. In such cases, a hole is drilled in the fragment of the key with a drill, a self-tapping screw is inserted into it, for which the master can then grab hold of the pliers and pull out the core. Vibration can also be used for a disc lock. In this case, the pins are pre-lubricated, which are then shifted into one position with part of the key and knocked out from below with a hammer. Under the vibration received from the impact, the key will easily come out.

2. Damaged- the key broke in the lock and deeply sat down in the core. In this case, the owner, in order to open the door, will really have nothing left to do but, having done some manipulations, damage some functions of the lock. It also happens that after such work, you need to change the entire mechanism, for example:

  • knocking out the cylinder - when the armor plate, screws are removed from the reverse side and the cylinder is easily tapped;
  • the core is hooked - for this they use an awl or any thin object that is inserted into the well, the pins are lifted and the fragment is released;
  • drilling the lock cylinder - drill the core from below, turn it a little and take out the necessary part;
  • removal from the end - will only help if the door is left open. The lock is taken out of the canvas, disassembled and freed from debris.

3. Rough method - used if nothing can be done. The whole lock is knocked out of the door. In this case, it may be necessary to change even door hardware. This method rarely suits the owner of the door and is usually started only if the above manipulations did not lead to anything. Or, get the broken key and open the door needed very urgently. In this case, you can cut off the lock or door hinges with a grinder.

To avoid such embarrassing situations, regularly inspect the lock mechanisms. And as soon as any difficulties are identified when opening or closing the lock, immediately repair or change to a new one.

Many are familiar with the situation when, when trying to open the front door, the key breaks in the keyhole. Pretty bad picture. Most people in such circumstances are lost and terribly upset, especially if they have limited time. Do not panic, because there is always a way out!




Reasons for key failure


There can be several reasons for breaking a product that is stuck in the door, both from the side of the key and the lock.

  • The door has an old lock mechanism. Behind long term operation, it wears out, rust forms inside. This becomes an obstacle to smooth sliding during the opening process.
  • Pollution gets inside the castle.
  • An incorrect, too sharp turn of the key in the keyhole was made.
  • Key not fully inserted.
  • The owner is trying to open the door with a non-native product.
  • Poor quality material from which the key body is made. For example, aluminum is able to bend even in a trouser pocket.
  • The key is stuck in the door lock, and they are trying to get it by force with pliers and other tools.

When such a situation happens, we think little about its cause. We need to open the door.

Types of castles

Depending on the installation method, castles are divided into 3 main types.

A padlock is often used to protect utility rooms: warehouses, basements, cellars. For apartment doors, this design is considered primitive.

Since such a mechanism is most often affected by adverse weather conditions, then the breakdown of the key in it is not uncommon.

To open the lock and extract the broken residue, methods that you need to know about will help.

  1. They create vibrations. They knock on the castle body without disturbing the handles. Under the influence of shocks, the fragment will begin to move and fall out on its own.
  2. Lubricate the mechanism with oil. Wait 30 minutes. The oil will help reduce friction, soften rust, and straighten the spring.
  3. Chemical bath. The structure is placed in a solution of gasoline, kerosene, acetone or vinegar. Sometimes Coca-Cola is used. Leave the castle in the liquid for 24 hours. After the time has elapsed, the fragment will leave the larva without difficulty.
  4. Warm up the well. You can scald it with boiling water or, if the material allows, use the flame directly.

Overhead locks are installed in interior doors. The probability of breaking the key in them is small.



Third view locking mechanism the most common is mortise. It is they who equip the entrance doors, more often - from metal. If the key chip is stuck in such a lock, then it will be possible to pull it out in different ways. It all depends on the complexity of the situation.




Very easy way

If the key broke in the lock cylinder “successfully”, that is, a sufficient part sticks out of the well, it did not have time to turn, then use pliers or tweezers.


First, pour any lubricant into the lock. The most popular option is WD-40. Machine oil, gasoline, liquid silicone, lithol, solid oil are also suitable. If the listed solutions were not at hand (at the neighbors), use the usual sunflower oil. Fill with liquid and wait 20 minutes. During this time, the solution will envelop the walls of the locking mechanism from all sides.


It is worth noting that it is advisable to do this procedure at the beginning of any key release method.

After 20 minutes, try extracting the rest of the key using one of the suggested tools. To do this, grab it, try to pull it out with gentle rotational movements.

One of the most simple methods to release the broken key is to apply superglue. This option is suitable even if the edge of the key sticks out almost flush with the lock. Glue both parts according to the instructions that came with the adhesive. Make sure they are fully connected and turn the key. This method can be used by everyone. There is one condition - it is effective if the edges of the broken parts remain smooth, without burrs.


Common Methods

The options described above are not always appropriate and effective. There are more popular methods that are most often used in this situation.

  1. Use a jigsaw blade. Insert it into the keyhole so that the teeth are turned to the side. Turn the blade with the teeth up and pull out sharply. It will pull the key.
  2. You can use a magnet. Pick up the chip from below with a thin needle and try to pull it out with a magnet. At the same time, keep in mind that not all of them are able to magnetize the key. If you are using a neodymium magnet, then it will handle any metal key.
  3. Take 2 wires, one edge of each of them slightly bend. Get them on top and bottom of the broken part and try to pull it out. Instead of wire, a hairpin will do. To do this, divide it in half. You can take a paperclip. This method is used only if the key is not turned.
  4. Screw a self-tapping screw into the chip. With it, the key will easily come out of the larva. This method is not suitable for all key structures.
  5. Pull up the rest with an awl. When it emerges from the keyhole, grab it with any clip and pull.



Whatever option you use to extract the key fragment, do not forget that you can pull it when it is in its original position. If it is in an intermediate position, then another solution is needed here.

cardinal ways

When the key core cannot be obtained by any of the sparing methods, drastic measures have to be taken.

One of them is the extraction of the larva.

In a cylinder lock, it is located in the cylinder. In the case when it is located in a protruding form, it should be clamped with a gas key and rolled up, and the lock should be opened with a flat screwdriver.

If the cylinder is concentrated in the closed position, it is not visible, then first you need to remove the top lining. Then proceed in the same way as in the first case.

There is a way in which the larva is knocked out with a chisel and a hammer.

Another option is to cut the lock crossbars with a regular hacksaw.

The most barbaric ways are to cut out the entire lock or remove the door from its hinges. Such measures are taken in extreme cases, when all other measures have proved ineffective or when it is urgent to get into the apartment. This usually happens when you stay at home. Small child or from the apartment comes the smell of gas, burning.


Help from outside

If you can not cope with the current problem on your own, invite specialists.

A reliable way to extract a piece of metal from the lock is to disassemble the structure All sorts of pleasant and unpleasant surprises happen in our life. If pleasant events bring joy and satisfaction, then unpleasant ones can lead to confusion, anger, irritation or despair. Probably, with many there were events related to door locks, or rather, with their breakdown. So, to answer the question: “How to pull the key out of the lock if it is broken,” not everyone can.

The key in the lock broke: reasons

Difficult situations can cause panic, which can disrupt the thought process, lead to stress and the inability to find a way out of the situation. To prevent this from happening, you need to prepare in advance for a situation that can happen to anyone. You can get the key, but subject to complete calmness and prudence.

The main reason for the breakdown is that the key can be made of low quality material.

Some careless actions and unsuccessful attempts can lead to the fact that the fragment will not only remain in the castle, but also completely ruin it.

It is almost impossible to open the door with the key stuck in the lock. It is important to know the reason why the key broke, and it would also be good to know the structure of the lock mechanism. The reasons for broken keys can be very different.

Why the key can break:

  • If the key has poor quality, it can easily bend and then break. When buying keys, it is important to pay attention to the material from which they are made, as well as the composition of this material.
  • The lock and key can simply wear out. It means that locking device in the castle washes to fail. The interior of the castle can become dusty and dirty. If the mechanism has not been cleaned in time, the key in the lock will move slowly, and may break.

Sometimes a simple human factor affects the breakage of the key, when the key is inserted halfway into the lock and pressed on it. Of course, when a breakdown has already occurred, you should not immediately find out its causes, you need to start solving the problem. Today, you can find a solution on the Internet, but sometimes situations turn out to be so stressful that you need to act only according to a pre-planned scheme.

The key is stuck in the door lock: what to do

On the Internet you can find many articles on how to easily, quickly and easily pull out a broken key. However, in practice, everything turns out to be much more complicated. When the key sharpens, it jams in the lock - it is not so easy to get it.

If the key is stuck in the lock, then you can try to splash oil (preferably machine oil) into the slot, and then move the key in any way

For example, there is an opinion on the net that the key from the lock is easily pulled out with glue - in fact, this is a myth.

Not only will this method fail to remove a key that is stuck in the door lock, but it may also result in the second part of the key also remaining in the keyhole. When choosing a key extraction method, it is also important to keep in mind the possibility of breaking the lock. Today, locks are expensive, so it is better to choose a neat and safe method key extraction.

Key extraction options:

  1. Dismantle the lock. Careful handling of the lock will not damage it, while removing the key.
  2. Use a self tapping screw. A thin drill or self-tapping screw can carefully remove the key from the well. It is important to accurately hit the drill in the stuck key.
  3. Apply pliers. If the key protrudes from the well, you can grab it with pliers, but in no case should you pull the key very hard.

When trying to get the key, it is important to remember not to harm the secret mechanism of the lock. It is important to understand how deep the key is, and to use methods that will really help solve the problem, and not aggravate it. Extraction methods may be different, but the essence is the same - you should not pull the key with force, as this will only harm the lock mechanism.

How to open the door if the key is broken

On many Internet sites, users ask the question: “What should I do if I can’t get a broken key out of the lock?”. This situation is familiar to many, when it becomes impossible to get into or out of an apartment. There are ways in which the key is removed simply, and it will be possible to open the door within ten minutes.

If you do not panic and approach the issue calmly and competently, then you can cope with this problem.

If the key is left in the front door, the first rule is not to panic, not to start acting rudely and aggressively.

I tell many stories that the key turns before breaking. Many try to push it harder, in the hope that it will help. But such actions often lead to the fact that the key breaks.

Key extraction options:

  1. With the help of an awl. They take two tools, try to hook the key with them and gently swing it from side to side. Before the operation, it is better to lubricate the keyhole with machine oil or an anti-corrosion compound.
  2. A jigsaw file. It will help to saw off a piece of the key so that it is convenient to grab its clove. If this is given, you need to drag it slowly, slightly rocking the chip from side to side.
  3. Using a blowtorch and a brass tube. A brass tube is put on a chip, heated and the key is removed.
  4. Fishing hook. This tool allows you to get the key without damaging the core of the lock. They are trying to hook the chip. This method requires patience.

The success of all key extraction operations is also affected by the type of keyhole. If you can’t get the key yourself, it’s better to seek help from specialists - they have extensive experience in this matter. Removing the key and getting nervous is not the best option.

Options: how to knock the lock out of the door

Sometimes it happens that no methods help to open the lock. Then the most main way, allowing you to quickly open the door - knock the lock out of the door. It will be difficult to do this if you do not know how to act. This method will help those who are in a hurry and cannot wait for a specialist to come to the rescue.

You can get into the dwelling only by using brute physical force.

Usually men knock out doors with their shoulders - this is good way, but only for those who have sufficient power. After three attempts - do not hope that the castle will succumb.

You can break the lock with hard hit foot. But here it should be noted that it is necessary to beat exactly in the place where the keyhole is located. The impact force should be maximum, otherwise the lock may remain in place.

How to break the lock:

  • Use "fold";
  • Master key;
  • Bumping.

Opening the door without a key is very difficult. If you have time, it is better to seek help from a specialist who, using special and professional tools, will open the door so as not to break either the lock or door structure. If the key is stuck in the lock, you must first try to pull out the lock cylinder. If this fails, then the lock in the door of the apartment or house will have to be broken.

If the key is broken in the lock, how to pull it out (video)

Many have found themselves in a situation where the key in the lock broke. A part of the key remained in the well, which did not allow opening the door and getting into the room. When a person has time, he can call a door opener. But if there is no time, you need to act on your own. It's important not to get nervous. cope with stressful situation allow knowledge gained before such a situation occurs. If the key is broken, first of all, you do not need to get it out of the well aggressively. You need to try to grab it, and gently swinging it, pull it out.

Similar content


It can happen to any of us that when closing or opening the front door of an apartment, house or garage, the key in the lock is broken. How to pull out the fragment remaining in the castle and open the door. If you do not panic and approach the issue calmly and competently, then in 80% of cases you can deal with the problem without loss, and in another 10% you will be able to limit yourself to replacing the larva or lock.

The main reasons why the key breaks in the lock

There are many reasons for this, but the main ones are:

  • Wear internal mechanism lock and key.
  • Contamination of the secret mechanism or foreign objects entering the well.
  • Error when opening the lock (key not fully inserted or another one inserted by mistake).
  • An attempt to turn a jammed key with the help of improvised items and tools (pliers, hammer, steel pin, etc.).
  • Poor quality material from which the lock is made.

But whatever the reason, if the key is broken and the chip remains in the lock, it is necessary to decide what to do in this situation.

How to remove a broken key from a keyhole

If the key in the lock is broken, you should not immediately resort to drastic measures - break the door or cut it with a grinder. You need to try to remove the chip and open the door.

In no case should you immediately throw away a piece of the key left in your hands. If it is possible to remove the stuck part, then in two halves, specialists in the workshop will produce a new key in a few minutes, with which it will be possible to open the lock.

Before taking any action to remove the stuck part of the key, it is necessary to drop lubricant into the keyhole several times and wait 15-20 minutes until it spreads over the entire surface of the fragment and the lock mechanism. This will greatly increase your chances of success. For lubrication, WD-40, gun and machine oil (spindle), any gear or automobile oil, as well as brake fluid are suitable.

  • The ideal and easiest option on how to pull out a broken key is to disassemble the lock and get a chip. But this can be done when the door is open (or it is possible to open it from the inside). If you plan to use the lock in the future, then before assembling it must be well cleaned and lubricated.
  • If a piece of the key sticks out of the well, then you can try to grab it with round-nose pliers, small pliers or tweezers. This must be done carefully. Don't use too much force or pull hard. Gently rocking up and down and from side to side, you should try to pull out the stuck part. You can simultaneously lightly tap on any accessible part of the castle. Vibration and shock will help move the chip from its place.
  • If possible, insert two thin awls into the cracks between the fragment and the keyhole from above and below (or from the sides) and, swinging the stuck part, try to remove it.

  • Truly jewelry, but very effective method extracting a fragment of any key - using a self-tapping screw. A thin hole must be drilled at the end of the fragment, being careful not to damage the lock or break the drill. A self-tapping screw of the appropriate diameter must be screwed into the resulting hole. Then, holding on to the head of the self-tapping screw, constantly shaking the stuck piece, gently “pull” it out of the lock.
  • A less effective, but quite effective way is with a jigsaw file. It is necessary to cut off the fastening tip at the file. The file must be inserted under the key so that the slope of the teeth is “on itself”, gently turn the teeth towards the fragment and pull it out. The operation is repeated several times until the stuck chip can be removed.

  • If the key is made in the form of a cylindrical pin with barbs (lever locks), then you can get a chip using a copper or brass tube suitable diameter. Its size is selected according to the part remaining in the hands. The tube must be put on the pin with a very large effort. Having slightly expanded the very tip of the tube, it is necessary to heat it with a blowtorch or over gas burner, then with an effort to put on a chip sticking out of the castle. After waiting for the tube to cool well, pull it out of the lock along with the clamped part of the key.

Opening a door with a broken lock

What to do if the key in the lock is broken and the chip cannot be removed. To open the door, you will have to sacrifice, at best - the larva of the castle, at worst - the castle itself.

To open the lock, you can do the following:

  1. When not quite correct installation lock cylinder mechanism can protrude above the lining. In this case, the end of the cylinder can be clamped with a gas wrench and rolled up. It remains to clear the hole of debris and open the door with a flat screwdriver.
  2. If the cylinder does not protrude, then you can additionally sacrifice the lining by tearing it off with a nail puller or chisel, after which you can use a gas wrench.
  3. In the absence of a gas wrench, you can knock out the cylinder with a hammer, but it is advisable to do this after the internal armor plate has been removed, which is not always possible. It must be borne in mind that after such an opening, the lock will most likely have to be replaced.
  4. Using a drill, you can drill a cylindrical insert just below the key hole. This will destroy the tsugali - the mechanism of the code. Then, pulling out the drill, lightly tap on the end of the cylinder so that the fragments fall down and do not jam the lock. It remains to insert a flat screwdriver instead of the key and open the lock. If the key is double-sided (has curly cutouts on both sides), then it is necessary to drill from both sides.
  5. You can completely drill out the cylinder mechanism. For this, a drill with a diameter of 6-10 mm is used. This usually damages the cam. To unlock the lock, you need to bend the end of a screwdriver or strong wire about 1 cm (it should reach locking mechanism), insert into the hole and move the bolt.

If you can’t cope with the problem on your own, then breaking or cutting the door is still not worth it. It is better to contact the service department, whose employees know what to do in a particular situation.

The cause of a broken key is often the contamination or wear of the lock. You can extend its performance by periodically lubricating the mechanism with spindle or gear oil. If the lock began to jam periodically, then it is better to repair or replace it.

Broken key in the lock

Broken key in the lock- This is a common problem and, unfortunately, not always solved. The key may break on its own, being made of soft metal, or due to prolonged use, or maybe you overdid it a little and applied more force than required. In this article, using the example of the two most common types of locks installed in modern entrance and interior doors, we will tell you how to still try to cope with this situation on your own.

Broken key in cylinder lock (English)



Getting the key out of the cylinder lock is not easy. There are practically no gaps in the larva into which you can insert a screwdriver and pick up the key. Here, special extractors are used for extraction - hooks and serrated thin wires (pictured).

Picking up essential tool and inserting it into the gap between the key fragment and the rotating part of the larva, the key can be pulled out of the lock. Important! The larva must be in its original position! If so, great! If not, try turning the larva with a screwdriver. Otherwise, you can not even try to pull out the key, it will not work. Care must be taken when working with extractors, as they are very thin and can break easily, and there is also a risk of pushing the key even deeper into the lock. For those who do not have extractors at hand, you can try using more affordable analogues:

  • jigsaw blade
  • thin wire
  • sharpened paper clip.

The key broke in the lock.

Lever locks are equipped with massive keys, the so-called safe type. Outwardly, it looks like this: a handle, a long rod comes out of it, at the end of which there are 2 petals on each of them teeth. Outwardly, this key resembles a propeller or a butterfly. The key itself is massive and it takes a lot of effort to break it. If the key is still broken, you need to do the following:

  • take off decorative overlay from the door (so as not to interfere)
  • with pliers or thin-nosed pliers, grab the protruding part of the rod (if its length allows), and pull out the key. If the length of the rod does not allow you to grab it, then you can get the key with two thin screwdrivers.

But! If before the key breaks, you have already managed to make one turn of the lock, then a small beard located on one of the petals of the key will interfere with the extraction. It is designed to ensure that the key is inserted and removed in only one position. In this case, using the same two thin screwdrivers, turn the key in the lock in the opposite direction so that it stands in its original position and then remove the key.

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