How to Pick a Lock?

Have you ever found yourself locked out of your apartment in the middle of the night without your keys? Or maybe you lost the key to a padlock on your shed? Before you spend money on a locksmith, you might want to try picking the lock yourself. The most common type of home and office lock is the pin tumbler cylinder lock, which can be opened with lock picks (a hook and a tension wrench) that you can make from everyday items. While the process isn’t complicated and gets easier with practice, picking a lock requires a lot of patience. To pick a lock, you need to insert a thick metal rod or needle into the keyhole and turn it until you hear a click or feel the mechanism move. This article will explain how to do it.

Steps

1. Understand how your lock works. A pin tumbler cylinder lock consists of a cylinder that rotates inside its housing. When the lock is closed, the cylinder is held in place by several pins, each divided into two parts. The upper part of each pin passes through both the cylinder and the housing, preventing the cylinder from turning. When the correct key is inserted, the pins are pushed up into the exact position where the upper parts no longer block the cylinder, allowing it to turn and the lock to open. Note the five pins, each made of two parts. The yellow pins pass through the cylinder and the silver housing around it. Springs hold the pins in place. When the correct key is inserted, the grooves and notches on the key push the pins into the right position, so the yellow pins are completely out of the cylinder, allowing it to turn and open the lock.
2. Buy a set of lock picks (hook and tension wrench). Each pick serves a specific purpose. The tension wrench is used to apply rotational pressure to the cylinder. Professional-grade picks and tension wrenches can be bought as a set, but many lockpicking hobbyists make their own quality picks. See the “What You’ll Need” section below for information on making your own picks and tension wrenches.
3. Insert the tension wrench into the bottom of the keyhole.
4. Determine which way the cylinder turns to open. If you use the lock often, you probably know which way it turns. If not, try turning the tension wrench clockwise first, then counterclockwise. The cylinder will initially turn just a few millimeters until it stops. Try to feel how firmly the cylinder stops. If it stops sharply and firmly, you’re turning it the wrong way. If it feels like there’s some play, you’re turning it the right way. Some locks, especially padlocks, can be opened in either direction.
5. Gently turn the tension wrench in the correct direction and hold it. The amount of torque needed can vary between locks, and you may need to adjust the pressure for different pins. Start with light pressure.
6. Insert the hook pick into the top of the keyhole and feel for the pins. With the pick in the keyhole, you should be able to feel and press individual pins with the tip of the hook. Try pushing each pin up to the top. Identify which pin is hardest to lift. If all the pins move easily, increase the tension on the wrench. If one pin won’t move at all, reduce the tension until it does. Alternatively, you can “rake” the pins before starting the process described above (see Tips below).
7. Push the stubborn pin until it sets. Press the stubborn pin with enough force to overcome the spring. Remember, each pin has two parts. The pick pushes the lower part, which in turn pushes the upper part. Your goal is to push the upper half completely out of the cylinder. When you release the pin, the lower part should drop back down, while the upper part, thanks to the tension and a slight ledge between the holes in the housing and cylinder, should stay in place. You should hear a faint click when the upper pin drops onto the cylinder surface. You can also check the lower pin—it should move freely if the spring is no longer resisting, meaning you’ve likely set the upper pin correctly.
8. While holding the tension wrench, repeat the last two steps for the remaining pins. Maintaining tension is crucial, or the set pins will fall back into the cylinder and you’ll have to start over. You’ll need to adjust the tension for each pin (increase or decrease pressure as needed).
9. Turn the cylinder fully with the tension wrench and open the lock. Once all the upper pins are set, you’ll be able to turn the cylinder and open the lock—assuming you’ve been applying tension in the correct direction. If you were turning the wrong way, you’ll need to reset all the pins and start over.

Tips

• If you’re feeling lazy, you can simply order a ready-made lock pick set online.
• Sometimes locks are installed upside down (especially in Europe). In these locks, the pins are at the bottom of the cylinder, not the top. The picking process is the same, except you’ll need to push the pins down instead of up. If the key is inserted with the notches facing down, the pins are at the bottom. Once you insert the pick, you’ll quickly figure out whether the pins are at the top or bottom.
• For simple locks, like a cash drawer, you might not even need a hook pick. Just insert something flat and metal all the way in and move it up and down while turning. If you’re lucky, the lock will open in a few seconds.
• Polished picks are easier to insert and maneuver inside the keyhole.
• The “raking” technique is a simplified method of picking. Insert a rake pick (or a paperclip bent in several places) all the way into the keyhole without applying tension. Then quickly pull the pick out while applying pressure toward the pins and gently turning the cylinder. In theory, you can open a lock by raking the pins once or twice, but usually this will only set a few pins, and you’ll need to set the rest manually.
• Lockpicking enthusiasts generally don’t recommend using paperclips, safety pins, or hairpins, as these makeshift tools are harder to use than proper picks. However, with enough patience and practice, you can learn to open locks with them.
• Lockpicking has become a popular hobby among puzzle lovers. If you want to try it, practice on simple, cheap locks, or even locks with all but one pin removed. Look for old locks online or at antique shops.
• Different locks have different numbers of pins. Padlocks usually have 3–4, while door locks often have 5–8 pins.
• You can’t see inside the lock, so use your hearing and sense of touch to figure out what’s happening. Be patient and methodical, listen for faint clicks, and pay attention to the resistance you feel. This information will help you visualize the lock’s internal mechanism.
• Pins usually set in order from first to last or vice versa; you’ll need to experiment to find the right sequence. While most locks open from the last to the first pin, sometimes you’ll need to try the opposite order.

Warnings

• If you pick a lock correctly, it won’t be damaged, but using too much tension or pressure can damage the mechanism.
• If a pin won’t move when you press it with the pick, you might be applying too much tension, causing the holes in the cylinder and housing to misalign. Try easing up on the tension. Be aware that this may cause set pins to drop back into the cylinder. If that happens, you’ll need to start over and possibly change the order in which you set the pins.
• There are many different laws regarding lockpicking, possession of lock picks, and the use of improvised tools. In Russia, lock picks (devices that allow you to open a lock without physically breaking it) are considered technical means for covert information gathering, and their manufacture, purchase, and sale require a license. Unauthorized possession, manufacture, or sale is a criminal offense punishable by up to four years in prison. And of course, only pick your own locks!

What You’ll Need

• Tension wrench: Many items can serve as a tension wrench. They should be sturdy and not break when turning the cylinder, and thin enough to fit slightly into the keyhole. The end shouldn’t be too thin or fall all the way into the keyhole. It should also be small enough to leave room for the pick to maneuver. You can use a small hex key with a tapered end or a flat screwdriver.
• Hook pick: You can use a safety pin or paperclip. To make a pick from a paperclip, straighten it and bend one end at a 90-degree angle. You can also make a small loop at one end. Needle-nose pliers make this easier. Choose strong metal items for picks, or they’ll bend under pressure. Picks made from hacksaw blades work best. Hairpins are also a good material—cut off the rounded ends, make a right angle, and then bend one end at 90 degrees.