Stay calm
A key breaking inside a lock is stressful, but rushing usually makes things worse. The first thing to do is pause for a moment before touching anything.
What not to do
- Don't try to pull the broken piece out with tweezers, pliers or wire if you have no experience — it's easy to push it further into the cylinder
- Don't use oil, WD-40 or other household lubricants: they can mix with the fragments and make extraction harder
- Don't force the door or hit the lock
What you can do
- If a family member or neighbour has a spare key, they can help while the locksmith is on the way
- Check whether the broken piece sticks out slightly — sometimes it can be removed by hand, without forcing it
- Call a trusted locksmith: they can usually remove the fragment without damaging the cylinder, and replace it if not
What we do
We try to remove the fragment without damaging the lock whenever possible. If the cylinder has been damaged, we replace it on the same visit, without needing to replace the whole lock.