Locked Out of Your House? Here's What to Do, Step by Step

If you’re locked out of your house, stay calm and work through it in order. First, check every other door and any ground-floor window you can reach safely. Next, think about who might have a spare key. If neither works, call a licensed locksmith and have your ID ready. Most home lockouts end with no damage to the door.

If a child, a vulnerable adult or a pet is inside, or something like a stove or bath is running, call 911 first. Firefighters and police can get in quickly when someone’s safety is at risk. Everything below is for the more common case: you’re outside, everyone is safe, and you just need to get back in.

Step 1: Check Other Doors and Windows, Safely

Walk the outside of the house before you do anything else. People often lock the front door out of habit and forget about the others.

Check these in order:

• Back door and side doors. Kitchen and patio doors are often left on the knob lock only, or not locked at all.
• Sliding glass doors. Some old sliders don’t latch fully. Lift-and-slide tricks can bend the track, so only try a gentle pull.
• Garage. Look for an unlocked side door, a keypad on the overhead door, or a garage remote in your car. Then check if the door from the garage into the house is unlocked.
• Ground-floor windows. A window that’s unlocked and easy to reach is fair game. Open it slowly and climb in only if you can do it without strain.

What not to do:

• Don’t climb to a second story. Ladders, roofs and porch railings cause real injuries.
• Don’t break glass. Replacing a window or door glass usually costs more than a locksmith visit, and broken glass is easy to cut yourself on.
• Don’t pry the door or frame. A screwdriver or crowbar can split the jamb, bend the strike plate and ruin the lock. That turns a lockout into a repair job.
• Don’t try the credit card trick on a deadbolt. It can sometimes push back a spring latch, but it does nothing to a deadbolt and can chew up the card and the door trim.

If you get in through another door or window, good. Make a note of how easy it was. If you could get in that way, so could someone else. Our guide on how to secure a front door covers simple fixes.

Step 2: Think Through Who Might Have a Spare

Many people forget they handed out a spare key months or years ago. Run through this list:

• People you live with, including a partner, roommate or adult child who could drive home or meet you.
• Family members nearby, especially parents or siblings.
• A trusted neighbor. Many people give one key to the house next door for pet care or deliveries.
• Your landlord or property manager, if you rent. Most keep a key to each unit. Some charge a fee for after-hours lockouts, and some have rules about whether you may call your own locksmith, so check your lease or call the office.
• A dog walker, house cleaner or babysitter who has needed access before.
• A hidden key you or a past owner placed outside, in a lockbox, under a planter or in the garage.

If you have a smart lock or keypad, check the app or try the backup code before calling anyone. Phone batteries die, so if yours is low, use it for one call to someone who can help.

Step 3: Call a Licensed Locksmith

If no spare is coming soon, a locksmith is usually the fastest option. A trained locksmith can open most residential locks without drilling, using picks or bypass tools. Drilling is a last resort, normally for high-security locks or a lock that’s already broken.

How to pick the right one

Lockouts are when people get taken advantage of, because they’re stressed and in a hurry. Before you hire anyone, a few quick checks help:

• Ask for a license number. In North Carolina, locksmiths must be licensed. Ours is NC Locksmith License #2721.
• Ask what affects the price before they come out. A real company will explain what goes into the cost, like the type of lock and the time of day. Be wary of a very low phone quote that grows once the tech arrives.
• Get the business name. Ask the person on the phone for the actual company name, not just “locksmith services.”
• Look for a marked vehicle and ID when the technician shows up.

Our article on how to avoid locksmith scams goes into more detail. For a sense of what drives the bill, see our locksmith pricing page.

What to tell the locksmith when you call

Give the dispatcher enough to send the right person with the right tools:

• Your address and the nearest cross street
• What kind of lock is on the door (knob only, knob plus deadbolt, keypad, smart lock)
• Whether the key is lost or just locked inside
• If the lock is damaged or the key broke off inside it

In the Charlotte area, our technicians usually reach customers in 20 to 35 minutes, depending on traffic and distance. We handle emergency lockouts 24/7, in English or Spanish.

Step 4: Have Your ID Ready

A responsible locksmith won’t open a home without some proof that you belong there. This protects you. It means a stranger can’t call a locksmith to your house and get let in.

Have one or more of these ready:

• A photo ID with your address, such as a driver’s license or state ID
• A lease, utility bill or mail with your name and the address, if your ID shows an old address
• Your landlord or property manager on the phone, if you rent and the ID doesn’t match

What if your ID is inside? That’s common. The technician can often open the door and then check your ID right away, inside, before leaving. Tell the dispatcher on the call so they know what to expect. If a locksmith opens your door without asking a single question about who you are, that’s a warning sign about how they treat other people’s homes too.

While You Wait

A few small things make the wait easier:

• Find shade or shelter. Charlotte summers are hot and humid, and winter nights can drop below freezing. Wait in your car, at a neighbor’s or in a nearby store if you need to.
• Stay where the tech can find you. Turn on a porch light if you can reach it, or stand near the driveway.
• Keep your phone line open so the technician can call when they’re close.

After You’re Back Inside

Once you’re in, think about why the lockout happened and whether you need to do anything else.

• If your keys were lost or stolen, someone may have a key to your home. Rekeying changes the lock’s inside parts so old keys no longer work, and you keep your existing hardware. Not sure which way to go? Read rekey or change your locks.
• If you lock yourself out often, a keypad deadbolt removes the need to carry a key at all. See our keypad lock installation service.
• Set up a spare plan. Give a key to someone you trust who lives close, or use a lockbox with a code instead of a key under the mat.
• If the lock felt stiff or the key stuck before the lockout, have it looked at. Worn locks are more likely to fail at a bad time.

A lockout is stressful, but it’s usually a short problem. Check your other entry points without taking risks, track down a spare if there is one, and call a licensed locksmith with your ID ready if there isn’t.