Buzz
The door just creaked, and suddenly you remember you left your keys inside. It's a bad situation, isn't it? Depending on the time of day, there are different solutions, but calling a locksmith will cost you a lot. However, you're not helpless when locked out. You can get into your house by prying open a window to climb through, using a plastic card to manipulate the spring lock, or removing the door handle – none of these options will cause any damage.
Steps
Entering through the window
Breaking into the house through an open window. The first-floor window is the easiest and safest to climb through, but it's also the one that's most likely to be locked. The second-floor window might be left open, but you have to be careful – you certainly don't want to fall, right?
- If there's no ladder available, you’ll need to get creative to reach the second-floor window. Is there an emergency exit you can climb up? Is there a fence? Any nearby trees? Whatever you climb, make sure it’s stable.
- A window with hinges can be easily pried open with a finger or a thin object if it’s not locked.
Borrow a screwdriver from your neighbor. Don't feel embarrassed or shy. Most people have 'locked themselves out' at some point, so they will understand your situation.
- A flathead screwdriver works best, but if they offer you a bake screwdriver, you can try using it as well.
- This technique is effective for removing or prying open part of a window. Even a small gap can allow you to wedge something inside to unlock it.
Remove the window trim. The trim is a strip of plastic or metal that surrounds the window frame. Insert the screwdriver into a corner of the trim groove and pry it off bit by bit. Work your way across to the opposite corner. Once you’ve pried off the full length, you can pull the window trim out.
- Check the window corners to see if the vertical trim (top and bottom) overlaps the horizontal trim (left and right). Remove the upper trim first.
- When removing the trim, you may cause it to bend. Some types of trim can be quite expensive, so be cautious before you start prying.
- Depending on your situation, you may be able to leave the trim in place but still manage to pry the window open. Some windows don't have trim at all.
Pry open the windowpane from the bottom edge. Insert the tip of the screwdriver between the glass pane and the frame. Apply gentle pressure as you insert the screwdriver to pry the glass loose. The windowpane should come out quite easily.
Remove the windowpane. Use your other hand to support the glass pane to prevent it from falling when it comes loose. Slide the glass out of the window frame and set it aside. Now you can enter through the open space.
- If the window has a small opening, reach inside to find the key, lock, or handle.
- If the glass breaks, be very careful. Broken glass can be sharper than you think.
- If you cut your hand on the glass, be sure to treat the wound and see a doctor.
Open the door with a plastic card
Check the lock. The plastic card technique only works with spring-latch locks. These locks typically have a handle that turns when you want to open the door. Rotate the handle to ensure the lock is in the locked position. If it doesn't turn, the lock is engaged.
- There is a deadbolt above or below the handle. If the handle moves but the door doesn't open, this means the deadbolt is locked, and you'll need a different method.
- This technique doesn't work on modern locks designed to resist plastic card manipulation.
Choose an unimportant card to unlock the door. When using a plastic card to unlock the door, the card may get damaged. Therefore, avoid using important cards like credit cards. A library card or a point card will be easier to replace.
- Laminated plastic cards are the most effective. These cards are flexible and can easily slide into the gap between the door and the frame.
Insert the card into the gap between the door and the frame. Use your non-dominant hand to gently press the door to create a gap between the door and the frame, which will make it easier to insert the card. Slide the card into the gap just above the handle, angling it downward.
- If there is mold on the frame, the gap will be very narrow, making the unlocking process more difficult. In such cases, you may want to consider using a different method to avoid causing costly damage.
Use the card to locate the lock mechanism. Now that the card is inserted into the gap, push it further between the handle and the frame until it gets blocked. This is the lock mechanism you need to disengage.
- Use the bottom edge of the card to feel around. You'll sense the angled part of the latch pointing toward you.
- If the angled part isn't pointing toward you, use a longer card to slide behind the latch and open it from the back.
Use the card to pry the latch out of the door. Press the card against the door frame to apply pressure on the latch. You might not be able to completely release the latch, but when you feel it move, push the door open.
- You may have to experiment for a while. Try different positions until you find the one that moves the latch the most.
- Although this isn't necessary for some types of latches, it can help open the door if you turn the handle slightly with your other hand at the same time.
Unlocking the door by removing the handle or door itself
You will need a few tools. You can unlock the door by removing the handle, and even a sturdy lock won't stop you if the door is taken off its hinges. To remove the handle, you'll need a screwdriver or paperclip; for the hinges, you will require a nail and a hammer or a stone.
- You might be able to borrow these tools from a neighbor or find them in a storage closet. If you can open your car, you may also find emergency tools inside.
- Depending on the door type, you will need the appropriate screwdriver. Doors with handles and hinges usually use bake screws.
- Even if you don't have a screwdriver, you can still unscrew bolts using a thin, sturdy tool like a knife or a bent needle.
Remove the handle by unscrewing the screws connecting it to the door. If you're lucky, you will find screws that connect the handle to the door. These screws can easily be removed with a screwdriver to detach the handle. Pull the handle off the door and push the latch out with your finger.
- Depending on the type of lock in the door, you may be able to unlock it immediately after removing the handle, or you might need to remove a secondary cover plate.
- Some handles are fixed with just one screw that attaches them to the rotating spindle (both the inside and outside handles are attached to this spindle). To remove this type of handle, simply unscrew the screw connecting it to the door.
Use a paperclip to remove handles without exposed screws. Some handles have a pinhole at the front instead of visible screws securing them to the door. Insert a thin metal object, such as a straightened paperclip, into the hole and simultaneously twist the handle to pry the door open.
- In some cases, the screws or bolts that connect the handle to the door can only be accessed from the inside of the house.
Remove the door from the hinges if possible. Hinges are usually the weakest part of a door, and you can address this issue using a nail. Place the nail (or a similar object) at the bottom of the hinge pin hole. Then, use a tool (like a hammer or stone) to tap the nail and push the hinge pin out. Do the same for the remaining hinges.
- Even if the hinge pin has been partially pushed out, it may still be stuck. To make removal easier, use a screwdriver to pry under the pin’s rim to push it out further.
- For well-designed doors, the hinge pin is often concealed, making it impossible to remove the door from the hinges.
Lift the glass door out of the sliding track to enter the house. Unlike regular hinged doors, sliding glass doors are not directly attached to the house's structure. Most of them rest within a sliding track and are secured in place, meaning all you need to do is lift the door out of the track to gain entry.
- You can lift the sliding door out of the track by using one or two flathead screwdrivers to pry it up, but a crowbar works best.
- Be cautious when prying the door out of the track. If it falls, it could be severely damaged.
- For added security, consider using a locking bar to prevent unauthorized access to the sliding door.
How to open a garage door
Find an aluminum coat hanger. You might have a spare coat hanger in your car or outdoor shed; if not, you could knock on a neighbor’s door to borrow one. You can use any metal wire, as long as it's stiff and can be bent.
- Even a thin wire, like electrical wire, can be used by doubling it over to increase its rigidity.
Bend the coat hanger into a long rod with a hook at the end. The longer the rod, the better. If it's not long enough, you can wrap the end without a hook around another object, such as a tree branch, to extend its length.
- If possible, double the wire from the coat hanger to make it stiffer. This is only feasible if you have another hanger or some extra wire lying around.
Insert the rod through the gap above the garage door. This may not be possible with all garages. However, if your garage has a gap above the door, you can slide the hooked end through that gap.
- It’s easier to slide the rod through a side gap, but you will need to aim it at the center of the door to unlock it.
- Be careful when doing this if there's a soft plastic trim around the door. Sliding the rod between the trim and the door frame could damage the trim, and replacing it can be costly.
Hook the latch and pull firmly to open it. The manual latch is typically located just below the arm attached to the garage door. Use a hooked tool to reach in and pull the latch down until you can push the door open.
- Many garage doors have a cord attached to the opening mechanism, allowing you to pull it from the inside. Use this cord to guide your search for the mechanism.
- If you can't see inside the garage, feel along the metal track leading to the door opener's motor. When you locate a protruding ridge on the track near the motor, you've found the opening mechanism.
Seek assistance
Reach out to friends, family, or someone else holding a key. If you've given a spare key to a friend, family member, or neighbor, now is the time to ask for it back. If you're without your phone, you can visit a neighbor's house to call the keyholder.
Ask the landlord for help. This is usually a last resort. Asking the landlord to come open the door may come with a fee, but that's only if they answer the phone. If the landlord doesn't pick up or you can't find their number, this option won't work either.
Call a locksmith. Locksmiths are trained to open locks and have the proper tools to do so without causing damage. The cost of calling a locksmith can vary depending on your location, ranging from $15 to $75 in the US, or based on the type of lock involved.
Advice
- A smaller person might be able to slip through a wide window grate and unlock the door from inside. However, this isn't possible if the grate is narrow. You don't want to risk damaging the door by attempting to squeeze through, or getting someone stuck.
- Keep a spare key in a secure spot outside or give one to a trusted neighbor.
- A screwdriver could be a lifesaver if you're locked out. Consider hiding one in a discreet spot for emergencies (such as when you need to break into your own house).
Warning
- Be sure to repair any damage to the house, door, or lock after you've managed to open it, especially if you're renting. Some repairs, like fixing broken woodwork, can be quite costly. If you're uncertain, you should call a locksmith for assistance.
- In theory, you could be arrested for breaking into your own house, but this is unlikely if you can prove you're a legal resident.
- Security companies strongly advise against breaking into your own property. If your home is highly secure, no one should be able to break in.
Things You’ll Need
Entering the House Through the Window
- Stairs
- Screwdriver
Opening the Door by Removing the Handle or Taking the Door Off Its Hinges
- Screwdriver
- Nail (or similar object)
- Paperclip (or similar item, optional)
