In short:
- Note whether the door is locked or unlocked, and keep both halves of the key.
- Don't dig at the fragment with pins, tweezers, glue or a screwdriver: it usually goes deeper and can damage the lock.
- Don't spray lubricant into a lock with a broken key in it, and don't try a spare key on top of the fragment.
- Keys usually snap because the lock was already stiff, the key was worn, or it was turned before going all the way in.
- After extraction, ask whether the lock itself needs attention, or the next key will go the same way.
First: what state is the door in?
A snapped key is irritating, but how urgent it is depends on what the lock was doing when the key broke.
| Situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Door unlocked and open, key snapped while locking up | You're not locked out, but you can't lock up. Secure the home or premises another way, such as a second door or a security gate, until it's fixed |
| Door locked, key snapped while unlocking | You're locked out. Check whether another door or someone else's key gets you in |
| Key snapped part-way through a turn | The lock may be stuck between positions. Leave it exactly as it is |
| Padlock or gate lock | Often outdoors and already stiff. Check whether the gate or shutter is secure in the meantime |
Note which way the key was turning and roughly how far it got. That helps the technician understand the position of the lock before they touch it.
Do's: the safe things to do right now
- Keep both pieces. The part in your hand shows the key type and brand, and whether the fragment in the lock is the tip or most of the blade.
- Leave the fragment alone. The UK's Master Locksmiths Association calls trying to remove a broken key yourself probably the worst thing you can do, because it can push the piece deeper and damage the lock.
- Take photos. One of the keyhole straight on, one of both key pieces side by side, and one showing the whole lock and door edge.
- Make the place secure. If the door is stuck open, lock another door, close a security gate, or keep someone home until it's dealt with.
- Find the other keys. Don't use them in this lock, but have them ready: the technician may want to see a good key for comparison.
Don'ts: what turns a quick job into a new lock
The fragment is usually sitting in the narrow channel where the key goes, held by the parts that read the key. Anything pushed in alongside it tends to wedge it tighter or push it further in.
| Don't | Why |
|---|---|
| Dig with pins, paper clips, tweezers or a small screwdriver | Pushes the piece deeper and can bend or break parts inside the cylinder |
| Use superglue on a stick | Glue that runs into the lock can jam it permanently |
| Insert the spare key or the broken half | Drives the fragment further in and can snap a second key |
| Spray oil or a household lubricant into the keyhole | Can carry the fragment deeper, collects dust, and may be a product the lock maker advises against |
| Force the handle or keep turning what's left | The lock may be stuck between positions; forcing it can damage the lock or the door |
| Hit the lock or the door | Damages the door, frame and lock without freeing anything |
On lubricants in particular, follow the maker of your lock. ASSA ABLOY's care guidance recommends graphite powder for cylinders, lever locks and padlocks and warns against silicone-based products, while Trellidor says not to spray into the keyhole of its security gate cylinders at all. Neither suggests spraying a lock that has a broken key in it.
Why keys snap in the first place
Keys rarely break for no reason. Knowing the cause helps you decide whether the lock needs work once the piece is out.
- A stiff lock. If the key had been getting harder to turn for weeks, the key was taking the strain the lock should have taken.
- Turning before the key is fully in. Only part of the blade is holding, so the load is concentrated in one spot.
- The wrong key. A similar key from the same bunch can go in but not turn properly.
- Pulling the door by the key. Using the key as a handle bends it a little each time.
- Old damage. Keys used to open tins or packaging, or carried in a bunch with heavy items, develop cracks you can't see.
- Thin or worn blades. Cheaper keys and well-worn originals have less metal where it counts.
The Master Locksmiths Association lists most of these, from turning a key that isn't fully inserted to forcing a jammed lock.
Different locks, different jobs
The type of lock affects how the fragment is reached and what may need replacing. When you call, tell us which of these it is.
| Lock | Typical place | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Euro profile cylinder | Front doors, office doors, some gates | The cylinder can often be replaced on its own if it's damaged |
| Lever mortice lock | Older front, back and side doors | Larger, flat-bladed keys; the lock body sits inside the door |
| Security gate lock | Trellis and swing gates | Outdoors, so dust and rust are often part of the story |
| Padlock | Yard gates, shutters, containers | If it's seized as well, replacement may make more sense than extraction |
| Garage door handle lock | Up-and-over and roll-up doors | See garage, side and back door locks |
| Car door or ignition | Vehicles | A car job; tell us the make, model and year |
After the key is out: repair, replace or leave it?
Once the fragment is out, the technician checks whether the lock works properly with a good key. Three outcomes are common:
- The lock is fine. The break was down to a worn or damaged key. Use your other key from now on.
- The lock is stiff or worn. It needs attention, or the next key will snap too. Our lock repair page covers that work.
- The lock is damaged. Replacing the cylinder or lock is the sensible fix; see lock replacement and repair or replace a lock?
We don't do key cutting or make copies of keys. If the lock or cylinder is replaced, the new one comes with its own keys from the manufacturer. If your only key broke and the lock stays, replacing the cylinder gives you a working set.
Calling us out
Broken-key extraction is one of our everyday services; our broken key extraction page explains it. We're open 24/7 and come to you. The R250 call-out fee. The technician assesses the job on site and gives you the price before any work starts. Nothing is done until you agree. Payment is by EFT, cash or card.
When you phone or WhatsApp, send the three photos above and tell us:
- whether the door, gate or padlock is locked or unlocked;
- what kind of lock it is, if you know, and the brand on the key;
- whether the lock was stiff before the key broke;
- how to get to it: estate gate, business-park gatehouse, or a gate code.
If you're locked out of an estate home because of it, locked out of a security-estate home covers the gate and proof of residence. For everything else, visit our mobile locksmith in Boksburg homepage.
Questions
Can I just pull the piece out if some of it is sticking out?
It's tempting, but gripping it with pliers or tweezers often snaps off the bit that's showing, leaving less to work with. If it doesn't come out with a light pull of your fingers, leave it for the technician.
Will I need a new lock?
Not necessarily. Many locks are fine once the fragment is out. If the lock was stiff or was damaged during the break, the technician explains the options and quotes before doing anything more.
Can you make me a copy of the broken key?
No, we don't copy keys. If you need more keys or the lock has to go, a new cylinder or lock comes with its own keys from the manufacturer.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our broken-key extraction service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Boksburg, so we come to your door.
Sources and further reading
- Master Locksmiths Association: Broken key in lock — Removing a broken key yourself can push it deeper and damage the lock; keep both pieces; causes such as turning before full insertion, wrong key, forcing a jammed lock, pulling the door by the key, misuse and thin blades.
- ASSA ABLOY: Product care and maintenance — Graphite powder recommended for cylinders, lever locks and padlocks; silicone-based lubricants become tacky; cleaning fluids must not get into the lock.
- Trellidor: Do's and don'ts of retractable security gates — Do not spray into the keyhole of the cylinder where the key fits.
- ASSA ABLOY South Africa: Union locksets — Lever locksets and euro profile cylinder locksets for external doors.