Buzz
If you've forgotten your keys and need to get inside, you can use a credit card to unlock the door. Keep in mind that this technique works only with doors that have simple locks, such as spring-based or tapered latches. To unlock the door, insert a credit card into the gap between the door and the frame. If this doesn't work, you may need to try a different method.
Steps
Use Basic Technique
Slide a credit card into the vertical gap between the door and the frame. Insert the card between the handle and the door frame, then slide it down along the side of the handle. Push the card in as far as it can go, perpendicular to the door.
Tip: To better see the position of the door frame, use your other hand to push the door as far as it can go inward.
Tilt the card towards the door handle. Push the card towards the handle until it almost touches the handle. At this point, you can push the card further into the gap between the door and the frame.
Bend the card in the opposite direction. Bending the card in the opposite direction will cause it to slide beneath the angled latch, forcing the latch back into the door. Quickly open the door and unlock it from the inside.
Lean into the door and wiggle the card back and forth to unlock. If the door won’t open, try leaning into the door while bending the card back and forth a few times. This motion applies more pressure on the latch and may open the lock.
Try a different solution
Check for unlocked windows. Walk around your house and check the ground-floor windows. If you find any windows that are unlocked, you can remove the screen and open the window. Afterward, you can climb through the window to get inside.
- Climbing through a window can be risky. Only use this method if you are confident in your climbing abilities.
Tip: If your house has a back door or side door, you should check those as well. You or someone else might have forgotten to lock them.
Call your roommate. If you live with friends or a partner, give them a call to see if they are nearby. If so, ask them to stop by and let you in. Although this option requires waiting outside for a few minutes, it avoids the risk of damage and expensive repair costs.
- Additionally, you might want to consider visiting a nearby café to relax while you wait.
Call your landlord. This is a good option if the landlord lives on the property. Call to ask if they are home and request that they let you in. Even if they don't live there, they may work nearby and be able to help you out.
Hiring a locksmith is the last resort. If you don’t have a roommate and your landlord can’t assist you, it may be time to call a locksmith. Hire them to come to your home and replace the lock. This option is effective but costly, so it should be your last resort if no other solutions are available.
Note: Keep in mind that the homeowner may ask you to pay for a lock replacement and/or any damage to the door.
Advice
- To avoid finding yourself in this situation again, consider making a few extra copies of your key and keeping one on hand and/or hiding one near your home.
- Some doors are very easy to unlock, and you can simply insert the card into the gap at the height of the handle without needing to tilt or bend the card.
Warning
- Be prepared to show proof that you have the right to open the door, or you may end up in a room where a credit card won’t unlock the lock!
