What do I do if my key has broken inside the lock?

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First of all, do not force anything: do not try to pull it out with tweezers or push another key in on top. Keep the piece left in your hand and get in touch with us.

When a key snaps, the piece inside is usually left loose in the cylinder. With extraction tools it nearly always comes out without damage and the cylinder can still be used. If the door was left locked, it is opened once the piece is out.

Keys snap because they are worn, because the cylinder is stiff or because they were forced when turning. If the cylinder was the cause, it is worth checking or changing it so it does not happen again.

See also what to do with a key broken in the lock and our broken key extraction service.

The service that solves it

Broken key extraction

We remove keys snapped inside the lock at any hour, trying not to touch the cylinder and checking why the key broke.

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Other questions on this topic

Can a security door be opened without damaging it?

Nearly always, yes. The door leaf and the frame are not touched; at most the cylinder is broken and replaced there and then with a new one. Read the full answer

Why is it best not to try removing a broken key yourself?

Because you usually push the piece further in or jam the cylinder with glue, and then extraction is no longer enough: the cylinder has to be changed. Read the full answer

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