How To Pick A Lock Using A Paperclip: 9 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Robert Vallelunga

Last Updated: September 22, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Making Your Tools
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  • Picking Your Lock
    • |
  • Video
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  • Expert Q&A
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  • Tips
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  • Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Robert Vallelunga. Robert Vallelunga is a Locksmith and the Owner of ACME Locksmith in the Phoenix Metro Area. Robert has over 15 years of experience in the industry and specializes in working with automotive ignitions, locks, keys, and master key systems. Robert and the team at ACME are the #1 Rated Phoenix Locksmith Service and the Winner of the Better Business Bureau Ethics Award. Robert has his Residential & Commercial Contractor’s License and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,277,312 times.

Have you ever lost a key and been in a desperate need to get in? As long as you can find yourself a couple of paperclips, you can MacGyver your way in. It may not be pretty, but it usually gets the job done. See step 1 to get started.

Things You Should Know

  • Use a pair of pliers to turn one regular paperclip into a tool for lock picking. Bend the clip into an "L" shape, leaving a fold across the clip's shorter side.
  • Slip the clip's short, bent side into the bottom of the lock. Turn the clip in the same direction that the lock turns.
  • Insert the clip into the upper "rake" and depress the lock's pins. Jiggle the clip until the lock unlocks.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Making Your Tools

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  1. Step 1 Collect your materials. 1 Collect your materials. Most of what you need to pick a lock with a paperclip is easily accessible. You only need three different things. The paperclips, one to act as a lock pick, one to act as a tension wrench, and a pair of pliers to shape the paperclips.[1]
    • Two big paperclips, one to act as a tension wrench, one to act as the pick. There is no upper size limit, but you want to make sure that the width is not slim enough that it will fit into the lock and that the height is tall enough so that you can insert it into the lock while still holding onto enough length to turn them.
    • Grab a pair of pliers to shape the two paperclips. It's easier to use pliers than your hands.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 2 Unfold the first paperclip into the lock pick. To do this, unfold the large edge of your paperclip twice until a straight portion juts out. You will be inserting the straight part into the lock to use as a pick.<rref>https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/pick-lock-paper-clip/</ref>
    • Some locksmiths also put a tiny upward bend into the tip of the pick.[2] This is to depress the pins inside the lock but is not strictly necessary.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 3 Make your tension wrench. Take out both bends in the jumbo paperclip until the paperclip is two straight wires with a curve at the end. Press the curved end down with a wrench. Make a 90° bend in the curved end that's about 1 centimeter (0.4 in) long.[3]
    • Alternately, you could unfold an edge of your paperclip until a straight portion sticks out at a 90° angle. This is a basic tension wrench that is workable but not ideal.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Picking Your Lock

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 1 Insert tension wrench into the bottom of the keyhole. The bottom of the keyhole is called the shear line. You want to apply pressure with the tension wrench here, in a rotational manner (which way the lock turns).
    • It can take some practice to get the right amount of pressure. Too hard and you'll twist your paperclip out of shape. Too lightly and you won't put enough pressure on it to pick the lock.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 2 Turn the wrench in the direction that the lock turns. This can be a bit hard to do if you're not sure which way it turns, but it's important to turn the wrench in the right way. There are a couple of ways to test the lock and see which way the key would turn.[4]
    • If you know which way the lock turns to open, turn the tension wrench in that direction. If you don't know what direction the lock opens, guess to one side; on the first shot, you'll have a 50/50 chance of opening the lock.
    • If you have a sensitive touch, you can also feel which way the lock opens by turning with the tension wrench. Turn clockwise first, then counter-clockwise. You'll feel slightly less pressure when the wrench turns the right direction.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 3 Insert pick into the upper part of keyhole and “rake.” Raking is when you insert your pick to the back of the keyhole and remove it quickly while jiggling the pick upward. Do this a couple of times to potentially set a few pins.[5]
    • Keep pressure on tension wrench as you're doing this. If you don't the lock picking won't work properly.
    • Quickly doesn't mean yanking it out, but you want to move quickly enough that the motion is smooth. Again this is something that you have to get a feel for which is why few people can pick a lock on their first try.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 4 Locate the pins inside the lock. Keeping pressure on the tension wrench, try to locate the pins inside the keyhole using your pick. Most American locks will have at least five pins that you'll need to set to open the lock.[6]
    • You'll feel the pins against your lock pick when you insert it. This will tell you where you need to depress them.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 5 Depress the pins. Be sure to apply rotational pressure to your tension wrench as you depress the pins. You should feel a slight give when you set the pins to their unlocked position, or even a slight clicking sound.[7]
    • Experienced lock pickers can do this in what looks like one swift motion, but inexperienced pickers will need to use more deliberate motions to set each pin.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Pick a Lock Using a Paperclip 6 Jiggle picks until each pin unlocks. Applying more and more pressure with the tension wrench, jiggle the pick until each pin unlocks. When you hear a snap or click, be sure to rotate the tension wrench to unlock the lock.
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Expert Q&A

Search Add New Question
  • Question Can you use a paperclip to pick a bike lock? Trevor Maclise Trevor Maclise Locksmith Trevor Maclise is a Locksmith and the Owner of Infinity Key Locksmith in San Diego, California. Trevor has over five years of experience in the industry. He specializes in working with residential doors, including door and frame replacements, door hardware installation, multi-point locks, and mortise locks. Trevor Maclise Trevor Maclise Locksmith Expert Answer Yes, you can use this method to pick padlocks that are used for locking things like bikes, lockers, or storage units. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6
  • Question How do I cut off a padlock if I can't pick it? Shawn Fago Shawn Fago Master Locksmith Shawn Fago is a Master Locksmith and the Founder of Noble Locksmith, a nationwide locksmith company based in San Diego, California. With over seven years of experience, he provides commercial, residential, and automotive locksmith services to customers. Shawn attended California State University, Fullerton. Shawn Fago Shawn Fago Master Locksmith Expert Answer You would use something with a cutting wheel, like an angle grinder with a cut-off blade on it or a Dremel with a metal cutting blade. If you don't have those tools, you can drill the shear line on the cylinder and then turn the cylinder to unlock it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
  • Question Why is a tension wrench necessary? Community Answer Community Answer You need to apply pressure to the lock so the pins don't fall back into place, and so you can turn the lock completely to finish the job. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 98 Helpful 421
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Video

Reader Videos

Tips

  • Using a hairpin instead of a paperclip helps because its flattened form adds additional pressure. Thanks Helpful 32 Not Helpful 6
  • A lot of times you can only pick the locks of inside doors, depending on the age of the lock. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 25

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • Be careful not to break your lock or the paperclip. Replacing locks can be really expensive, so it's usually better to call a professional locksmith rather than breaking a lock or getting a paperclip stuck in it.
  • Try pulling the door toward you while wiggling the paperclip inside the lock. If the door has loose hinges or screws this may help.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Picking locks can carry criminal charges if you were to do so illegally. Thanks Helpful 314 Not Helpful 137
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/pick-lock-paper-clip/
  2. ↑ Robert Vallelunga. Locksmith. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ https://pickeroflocks.com/how-to-pick-a-lock-with-a-paperclip/
  4. ↑ https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/a1883/how-to-pick-a-lock/
  5. ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/how-to/pick-lock-paper-clip/
  6. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a25318691/how-open-locked-door/
  7. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a25318691/how-open-locked-door/

About This Article

Robert Vallelunga Co-authored by: Robert Vallelunga Locksmith This article was co-authored by Robert Vallelunga. Robert Vallelunga is a Locksmith and the Owner of ACME Locksmith in the Phoenix Metro Area. Robert has over 15 years of experience in the industry and specializes in working with automotive ignitions, locks, keys, and master key systems. Robert and the team at ACME are the #1 Rated Phoenix Locksmith Service and the Winner of the Better Business Bureau Ethics Award. Robert has his Residential & Commercial Contractor’s License and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. This article has been viewed 2,277,312 times. 100 votes - 82% Co-authors: 65 Updated: September 22, 2025 Views: 2,277,312 Categories: Lock Picking Article SummaryX

To pick a lock using a paperclip, start by unfolding one paperclip so it's straight with a hook at the end and a second paperclip so it's bent at a 90-degree angle. Then, insert the bent end of the second paperclip into the lock and turn it in the direction the lock turns. Next, insert the first paperclip into the lock and jiggle it up and down quickly. Keep jiggling the first paperclip up and down and applying pressure to the second paperclip until the lock opens. To learn how to locate the pins inside of the lock with your paperclip, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Joanna Claggish

    Joanna Claggish

    Dec 21, 2022

    "My bike had a lock around it, so one day I went to ride my bike, I put the key in, but it didn't work. I tried..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Robert Vallelunga Co-authored by: Robert Vallelunga Locksmith Co-authors: 65 Updated: September 22, 2025 Views: 2,277,312 82% of readers found this article helpful. 100 votes - 82% Click a star to add your vote Joanna Claggish

Joanna Claggish

Dec 21, 2022

"My bike had a lock around it, so one day I went to ride my bike, I put the key in, but it didn't work. I tried..." more Lucy

Lucy

Oct 25, 2021

"I have not tried this yet, but this helps me know how to do it. I want to learn how to do it (for legal, fun..." more Isaac Thornberry

Isaac Thornberry

Mar 13, 2017

"I got a strongbox for Christmas (sort of my parents giving me a hint to move out) and, smart me, locked the key in..." more John Davis

John Davis

Nov 3, 2020

"I had a jewellery box that wasn't opening. I tried to open it for days, it was a really pretty one and I..." more Jessica Dupler

Jessica Dupler

Apr 17, 2018

"A friend lost her key, so I just was trying to help help her out. Thank you guy for this article, because today I..." more Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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