Last updated on August 19th, 2023 at 06:51 am
How to open a deadbolt lock with a screwdriver in? Is it possible to do?
Yes, it’s really possible. You can use just a simple flathead screwdriver as a turning tool and a lock pick( use a bobby pin or paper clip).
- Just put the screwdriver in the bottom of the keyhole, and turn it clockwise.
- Then set the rake tool up on the hole.
- Turn it all the way, and slide it like you’re brushing your teeth.
- When you will hear a clicking sound, see the door is opened.
Very easy and quick process, right? In this article, see the overall process of opening a deadbolt lock with a screwdriver with more methods and tips.
So why late? Keep reading to learn and apply!
Note: Though it’s not a perfect and legal way to use a screwdriver, it will work as a miracle in your emergency moment.
Details guide on How to open a deadbolt lock with a screwdriver
To open your deadbolt lock in an emergency case, screwdriver helps you a lot! Here we’ll describe how you can use it to open your deadbolt lock.
What you’ll need to open a deadbolt lock?
Before starting, collect some tools that you need depending on the method.
Note you need several extra tools besides the screwdriver, as it alone can’t open the door. So let’s see some of them:
Screwdriver( as a turning tool)
To open a deadbolt lock, you need a simple flathead screwdriver. It will work as a turning tool when unlocking the door.
If you want to open a privacy lock, you can collect a little Phillips head screwdriver or a thin and small flathead screwdriver.
This lock’s hole is tiny, so choose a small screwdriver that fits with the Lock.
Rake tool(pick tool)
Then collects a rake tool that works as a lock pick. This tool is used to manipulate the lock’s pin.
If the tool isn’t handy, use a bobby pin or paperclip instead of this tool. In that case, you can bend the tip of this pin to make it like a rake tool. Ensure this pin is hard enough.
Hammer
If you want to remove the hinges from the door, you may need a hammer or such hard object.
You can choose the club or claw hammer for this method. Yet a club hammer will be the best to choose.
How to Pick a Regular Deadbolt Lock with a Screwdriver?
In this section, you will learn how to pick a locked deadbolt lock using a simple screwdriver.
Follow the below steps:
Step 1: Insert the screwdriver and turn it
First, insert the flathead shinny screwdriver into the bottom part of the keyhole of your door lock.
Then turn it clockwise: Apply a little force on the screwdriver to fit it in position.
Step 2: Place the rake tool
Now place the rake tool or your fitted bobby pin or paper clip above the screwdriver and push it to the back of this keyhole.
In that case, confirm the tools can reach all the inside pins of the lock.
Step 3: Scrub the inside pin with the tool
Now use the rake tool to scrub the inside pins. To do this, move this rake back and forth like you’re brushing your teeth.
Step 4: Push the pins and adjust the tools
Press all the inside pins and adjust the tools as it. While it is adjusted, you may hear clicking sounds. It indicates that all inside pins are set, and your door is unlocked.
Thus, you can easily open your door with the miracle of a tiny screwdriver.
How to Unlock Privacy Locks With a Screwdriver
If you want to open your privacy locks, you need a small flathead screwdriver that fits with the tiny hole of your lock.
Actually, a privacy lock is featured with a small hole on the outside doorknob.
However, the trick is that you can also unlock your privacy lock with a simple screwdriver.
Let’s see how it is possible!
Step 1:
Locate the small hole in the door knob. Then place a small and thin flathead screwdriver that fits inside the hole.
Step 2:
Now, it turns to push the screwdriver. So, press it forward, and you will hear a clicking sound if it is the push-lock button.
But if you have a turn-style lock, this step won’t work. In that case, you should turn this screwdriver to unlock the door.
So keep turning the screwdriver until you feel its place in the slot. Then the lock will successfully unlock if you perform these steps perfectly and can insert the screwdriver into the Slot.
Remove the doorknob to open a locked deadbolt
Another way is to take out the doorknob. You can do it to open your locked deadbolt. So what can you do?
Step 1
Locate the mounting screws on the doorknob. Is it visible?
If yes, you can only unscrew these.
If not, and if there is a cover plate, remove it to get the mounting screws.
Step 2:
Once you have to find the mounting screws, try to unscrew them.
To do this, check if the screws’ heads are slotted. If it is, use a flathead screwdriver to open the door lock.
But if it is in cross-shape, use a Phillips head screwdriver to unscrew the lock.
Now remove the latch and open your door easily. Read the post If the door latch won’t retract
Finally, you need to install the latch bolt again.
Remove the hinges from the door
Check if the door hinges are on your side. If yes, it will be a great option to unlock your door.
You can use a screwdriver to take off the door hinges.
Let’s see the process below:
Step 1:
Take a flathead screwdriver at the proper sizes. Insert the screwdriver tip into the bottom of the hinges.
Step 2:
Now press the Pin upward. You can use a hammer to tap on the screwdriver smoothly to take it off.
First, you can remove the bottom pin, then the top one, and the middle pin finally.
Once the screws are removed, you can easily unlock your door.
Destructive entry
If the above attempt fails, what can you do? You can allow destructive entry in an emergency if you don’t care about your door, Lock, or doorframe.
If your door is wood and hollow, you can use a screwdriver to prompt a hole to open the door.
Even you can use the screwdriver as a prybar to unlock the door.
What happens if all the attempts fail? Don’t hesitate to kick the door down!
How to open a locked door with a screwdriver?
If you get locked out from your home what to do to open this locked door?
In that case, if you have the physical key, insert it into the keyhole and turn it clockwise. The door will be unlocked.
If it is your keypad deadbolt lock, enter the correct user code and you will get access to the home.
But what happens if you don’t have the key or it’s not a keypad deadbolt lock?
Take a flathead screwdriver, place it into the bottom of the keyway, and rotate it clockwise. Place a rake tool and turn it all the way. Your locked door will be unlocked!
We hope you will read the details of the method in the above section.
Quick tips for How to Open a Deadbolt Lock With a Screwdriver
If you follow the tips while attempting to open the door, the result will be great:
- Ensure the deadbolt lock is locked then try to unlock it.
- Take a small screwdriver that fits into the lock keyhole.
- Place the screwdriver and turn it counterclockwise. Do it until you listen a clicking sound.
- Pull the door knob to extract the bolt.
- Finally, remove the screwdriver carefully.
- Don’t push over pressure to unlock the door.
- If the above steps don’t work, call a professional.
How to open a deadbolt lock without a key?
There are several ways you can try to open a deadbolt lock without a key. Such as, you try the lock bumping, lock drilling, or lock picking process to open your door lock if you haven’t the key.
Pick the lock
The lock-picking process is the popular choice as it is an easy and the most common process to unlock a door without a key.
In this process, there is no chance of damaging the loc anymore. In this method, you need a lock-picking tool.
Anyway, raking is the basic and common lock-picking method. To execute this method:
- Take a tension wrench and insert its short end into the bottom of the keyhole. Now apply a small pressure to the plug.
- Then Place the rake tool into the keyhole and press it all the way to the back of your lock. Now smoothly lift the tool upward to raise the pins.
- Within 10 seconds, your door will open.
Bump the lock:
Lock bumping is another popular way to open a door lock without a key. In this method, you need a bump key, bump hammer, and tension wrenches.
To do it successfully,
- Insert the key into the keyhole.
- Take a bump hammer to strike it forcefully.
- This allows you to unlock the deadbolt lock or any door lock without damaging it.
Drill the lock:
You can try this drilling procedure though it is damaging the door lock. But if you haven’t the bump key, or pick tool, you can try to drill this lock.
Follow our above sections we’ve covered the drilling process there.
How to open a deadbolt lock with a credit card?
Can I open a deadbolt lock with a credit card? The simple answer is No. If it is your deadbolt lock, you can’t open it with a credit card.
The idea of using a credit card to open a door is a common trope in movies and TV shows. In reality, modern deadbolt locks are designed to be resistant to such methods.
Yet, if your door lock has a simple knob with a spring latch, you can open it with a credit card.
To unlock this type of your door, wiggle a credit card into the gap between your door and the door jamb.
Cause of having such a slight gap, you can place a card between the gaps and push the card against the lock’s spring bolt. It allows you to open the door lock without a key.
How to pick a deadbolt lock for beginners?
If the door lock is new to you and you don’t know the way to unlock your deadbolt lock, you can read thoroughly our above section.
In this section, we have explained the process of lock bumping, drilling, and more way you can try to unlock your door.
Even you can use a bobby pin, knife, or credit card to open your door lock .to learn the process, follow our above section.
Final thought
So, don’t panic if you lose or misplace your keys and get locked out from the outside.
We hope our article has provided you with the best methods that you can try to open your locked deadbolt with just a screwdriver.
Though, it is difficult, but not impossible to unlock a door with a screwdriver without damaging the lock. Yet, several extra tools are required to do it.
However, before calling a locksmith and an emergency situation, you can easily remove your panic to unlock the door. To Do this, you can follow any method from the above guide.
But if you aren’t comfortable doing it alone and have no emergency, call a locksmith to open your door perfectly.