# How do I unlock this doorknob mechanism? Need answer fast. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293 "2015-06-11T21:51:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/1 "2015-06-11T21:51:36Z")
A door in my house was locked from the inside. It is one of those doorknobs where you would normally get a wire hanger and stick it in a little hole in the knob, and that would allow you to unlock it. We have no wire hangers except those that are IN the locked room. Nothing else I could find to substitute, either. So I did something stupid. I remember when this happened as a kid, my dad just unscrewed the doorknob from the door and everything kind of just came loose and he opened the door. At least that’s what I thought. I tried unscrewing the knob from the door. The mechanism was exposed to me. I poked and prodded a little, and the OTHER side’s knob fell off the door. And now all I’m left with is the part of the lock that’s actually, you know, keeping the door locked. It looks like a cylindrical sheath around a plastic (I think) mechanism of some kind. I can’t figure out any way to poke or move anything (nothing moves) that will unlock this thing. Is there something I can do here? BTW did I mention there’s a toddler on the other side of the door? Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/2 "2015-06-11T21:59:44Z")
The knob on your side is still attached or no? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/3 "2015-06-11T22:09:34Z")
Usually there is a horizontal shaft connected to the latch that goes into the door frame. This usually has a square hole or a half-circle hole in it that a shaft from the knob fits into. so push something like a flat screwdriver into the hole so it catches the corners, then rotate that – it should turn & retract the latch, allowing the door to open. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/4 "2015-06-11T22:20:58Z")
I’ve got a friend coming over who does carpentry etc so he’s dealt with things like this before ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/5 "2015-06-11T22:21:15Z")
Photos would help. If the knob came off on your side, you should be able to put a screwdriver in the square (or half-moon) hole in the latch and twist to retract the latch. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/6 "2015-06-11T22:33:38Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Photos would help. > If the knob came off on your side, you should be able to put a screwdriver in the square (or half-moon) hole in the latch and twist to retract the latch. Yep. I’ve done this many times myself. You might have to play around a bit to get it right, but it’s not difficult at all. Quick, do this before your carpenter friend comes over and prove what a Magiver you are!! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/7 "2015-06-11T23:18:28Z")
A swift thrusting kick to the door right where the lock is should be plenty to break the door jamb. It WILL cause damage, but the toddler will be free. Or maybe try going in a window to that room? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/8 "2015-06-11T23:48:44Z")
Depending on which way the door opens, and on how secure the lock design is, have you tried the olde credit carde tryck? You may have to resort to nuclear weapons. You _do_ keep a supply just for emergencies just like this, no? (Pro-tip: Don’t keep your nukes in the same room as your coat-hangers.) What about that mechanism where you stick the coat hanger in to unlock the door? If the locking mechanism is more exposed without the doorknob, you might be able to unlock it more easily. Or, run next door to your neighbor and borrow a coat-hanger. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/9 "2015-06-12T01:37:34Z")
Thanks everyone. Before our friend got here, I was finally able to get the toddler to place his side of the doorknob against the mechanism at an angle that allowed me to grab it and slide it back into place, and then was able to get him to unlock it from his side. Problem solved. I handed my friend a six-pack for his trouble. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/10 "2015-06-12T16:57:06Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > A door in my house was locked from the inside. It is one of those doorknobs where you would normally get a wire hanger and stick it in a little hole in the knob, and that would allow you to unlock it. We have no wire hangers except those that are IN the locked room. Nothing else I could find to substitute, either. > > So I did something stupid. > > I remember when this happened as a kid, my dad just unscrewed the doorknob from the door and everything kind of just came loose and he opened the door. At least that’s what I thought. > > I tried unscrewing the knob from the door. The mechanism was exposed to me. I poked and prodded a little, and the OTHER side’s knob fell off the door. And now all I’m left with is the part of the lock that’s actually, you know, keeping the door locked. It looks like a cylindrical sheath around a plastic (I think) mechanism of some kind. I can’t figure out any way to poke or move anything (nothing moves) that will unlock this thing. > > Is there something I can do here? > > BTW did I mention there’s a toddler on the other side of the door? Yeah. > [@Frylock](#): > > Thanks everyone. > > Before our friend got here, I was finally able to get the toddler to place his side of the doorknob against the mechanism at an angle that allowed me to grab it and slide it back into place, and then was able to get him to unlock it from his side. Problem solved. > > I handed my friend a six-pack for his trouble. 😉 Glad your wee one got out of the jam (with your help. Or you got out of your jam with your toddler’s help.) BTW, oddly appropriate post/username combo. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/11 "2015-06-12T17:30:00Z")
Now, go get a wire coat hanger and keep it somewhere that can’t be locked! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/12 "2015-06-12T18:10:57Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I handed my friend a six-pack for his trouble. 😉 WTF? The toddler did all the work. I hope s/he a swig or two at least. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/13 "2015-06-12T18:38:51Z")
I use a small flat head screw driver for this. Keep a few scattered around the house. My son, autistic, gets mad from time and time, and locks every door in the house. Trust me. Could be worse. I’ve gotten pretty good at unlocking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/14 "2015-06-12T19:41:24Z")
When I bought my townhouse, I noticed all the doors that had that little hole for unlocking had a key-type piece of metal above the door, hidden on the top trim. They’ve come in handy a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/15 "2015-06-13T05:31:52Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > I use a small flat head screw driver for this. Keep a few scattered around the house. My son, autistic, gets mad from time and time, and locks every door in the house. Trust me. Could be worse. I’ve gotten pretty good at unlocking. 🙂 Jewelers screwdrivers (like you get with eyeglass-fixing kits) work well for this. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/16 "2015-06-13T05:36:32Z")
General advice for everyone: Learn how those mechanisms work before you need it, and what kind of tool you will need. Lots of internal doors that can lock have that little hole on the outside knob for emergency unlocking. But they don’t all work the same way. In some doors, there is a tiny button behind that hole. To unlock the door, you poke it. For this, a coat-hanger wire will do. In some other doors, there is a slotted button there, that you need to turn. For this kind, you need a jewelers screwdriver ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-unlock-this-doorknob-mechanism-need-answer-fast/722293/17 "2015-06-13T14:31:26Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > When I bought my townhouse, I noticed all the doors that had that little hole for unlocking had a key-type piece of metal above the door, hidden on the top trim. They’ve come in handy a few times. This - I had started taking off the doorknob once in somebody else’s house at a party with this exact same problem and a friend tried the top of the door molding. Voila.