This guide will teach you how to break a lock without a key in the seven most effective ways—including methods that work on padlocks and door locks
Locks are fragile creatures—vulnerable to so many attacks; it is a wonder we trust them.
At the end of this guide, you will have learned seven simple ways to break a lock, including methods that work on padlocks, door locks, or both. Many of these methods can be accomplished using things around your home or easily accessible at a local hardware store.
If you desire to preserve the lock, consider checking out my guide covering ways to open a lock when you don’t have the key for some techniques to try before this last-ditch effort guide!
Important Note: Only use these techniques on locks that you own unless you have the explicit permission of the owner to defile their property. If you rent a property, you do not own that lock—your landlord does!
Believe it or not, there is an excellent justification for knowing how to break locks.
The first and most important reason is that it teaches you about the fundamental vulnerabilities of locks.
With this knowledge comes a true understanding and power. Knowledge of how locks can be broken and the power to help you make better decisions about the types of locks you use, where you use them, and how much you trust them.
For example, drilling a lock is a common technique that can easily bypass many locks. Without this knowledge, one might assume that the expensive lock on their front door will protect them from all the world’s woes.
However, with this new knowledge and awareness, you’ll know better and likely discover ways to protect yourself better against such attacks.
You might consider replacing the pins in your lock with hardened steel replacements or upgrading to drill-resistant locks.
Regarding security, the more you know how to break it, the better you can prevent others from damaging it.
The second reason to learn how to break a lock is for emergencies. You never know when getting through a locked door can mean the life or death of a stranger, a neighbor, or even a loved one.
The goal of drilling is to destroy or remove a section of the lock that prevents you from opening it by other means.
There are many ways to drill a lock successfully and many different areas you can target with your drill.
For example:
Lock drilling is an art and the best way to know which method to use in which situation is to understand how a lock works and the standard anti-drill countermeasures commonly used, such as drill-resistant pins made of hardened steel.
Lock drilling is a topic too large to cover in this guide; however, some good rules to follow when drilling are:
How to drill out a lock FAST?
A screwdriver driver can open a lock in so many ways.
If you have a heavy-duty flat-head screwdriver, you may be able to rotate the keyway and snap the internal components (the pins).
For most locks, this will require a significant turning force and may require using another tool to give you the leverage to turn the screwdriver.
Additionally, if you have compressed air, you can turn the can upside down and spray it into the lock’s keyhole. This may seem like movie magic, but compressed air can freeze the metal enough to make the metal more brittle and easier to break.
If this method doesn’t work, you might be able to open a lock using a screwdriver in other ways, such as prying the door away from the doorframe and slipping the latch.
Or you might be able to remove the hinges if they are on your side of the door.
For a comprehensive list of other ways to use a screwdriver on a lock, consider checking out my guide on opening a lock with a screwdriver.
How to break a door with two different types of screwdrivers?
If you have a blowtorch sitting around and don’t mind melting your lock into a frothy puddle, you might consider using fire!
I don’t recommend this method as it is dangerous, but it is an excellent last-ditch effort option if nothing else works or there is an emergency.
Additionally, if you use a blowtorch, only use it on loose locks like padlocks or chains, never on home locks or any lock embedded into something that can catch fire.
How To Break A Lock Without A Key – Melt It
There are two common techniques to open a lock with a hammer, which you use depending on the lock you are trying to open.
If you are trying to get through a door lock—such as a deadbolt lock or doorknob)—the approach you’ll want to take is complete and total destruction. Note this method will likely ruin your door and maybe your door frame.
Take the hammer and start bashing the lock at a downward angle until it ultimately comes off the door, or there is enough space for you to actuate the locking mechanism with a screwdriver.
This method aims to knock the locking bar out of place, freeing the shackle from the lock.
To use this method, pull on the shackle and wrap your hammer against the side of the lock. If the lock doesn’t open, try hitting the other side.
Now, this technique doesn’t work on all locks. Many higher-quality padlocks use a different locking bar mechanism to prevent this attack. But as a last-ditch effort, it’s always worth a shot.
Finally, if you don’t have a hammer, you can always take the troglodyte approach and try breaking the lock with a rock. It’s been done before and can likely be done again!
You Can Break A Master Lock Open With A Hammer.
When most people think about destructively bypassing padlocks, the first thing that typically comes to mind is a bicycle thief running around with bolt cutters snapping locks and riding into the sunset.
Cutting the shackles of padlocks is a tried and true method but does come with its own set of obstacles. There are many ways to cut locks, but four common methods include bolt cutters, hacksaws, angle grinders, and cutting torches.
Bake appropriate safety measures, including eyewear, gloves, and common sense! Whatever is on the other side of the lock likely isn’t worth losing a finger.
Using bolt cutters is a little more complicated than you might think. You’ll need to consider the durability of the lock’s shackle and the leverage the cutters give you.
You might not even dent the shackle if the bolt cutter’s handles are too short. A set of 30-inch bolt cutters will get you through most locks.
Cutting a Lock with Bolt Cutters
Angle grinders with the correct grit and material disc can quickly work locks—shackles and lock bodies alike. Ideally, you’ll want to use a 1.2 mm 60-grit disc.
Cut a lock using an angle grinder slowly and perpendicular to the shackle. Consider using a vise or pliers to keep your hands away from the lock and keep it from slipping. The lock will be hot, so give it some time to cool!
A cutting torch or plasma cutter is your huckleberry if you want to take the overkill approach. These fire-slinging hell monsters will cut through most shackles like butter.
Hacksaws work fantastic against cheap padlocks. However, higher-quality hardened-steel shackles will put up quite a fight, and your blade may wear down before you even make a dent.
If you’re up against some harder steel, you can use heat to help soften the metal—such as a propane torch!
To use this method, heat the shackle until it glows red. Give it a minute to cool, and then start hacking away!
A Ramset gun is a nifty tool that uses .22 caliber blanks to actuate pistons that can drive nails into hard surfaces like concrete or steel.
However, it didn’t take long for people to realize that these guns at strategic locations on the lock can easily bust them open!
You can find Ramset guns online or at most Home Depots!
Destroying Padlocks with the Ramset Gun
I think it’s important to state here that the Art of Lock Picking guides are solely designed for informational and sometimes entertainment purposes. We by no means are responsible for your or anyone else actions.
For what I hope are obvious reasons, using firearms to open locks should only be used with extreme caution. If you genuinely can’t think of why shooting a lock is bad, it’s probably best for everyone to skip this method.
Additionally, this method should only be considered for padlocks. Nobody needs bullets flying through a door or into a neighbor’s house.
That said, bullets are a great way to destroy a lock and can even open the world’s strongest locks—check out the video below! I’ve never shot a lock, so I can’t offer any advice beyond the fact that it does work!
Final Thoughts
Whether you have lost your only key or an emergency requires you to get through a locked door, knowing how to break a lock is a handy skill that could one day save a life.
I hope that you found this guide helpful. However, if it didn’t answer all your questions or you feel there is any way that I could make this article more valuable, consider emailing me on my contact form. I always love to hear from my readers!
Thanks for reading, and happy picking!
