Few things are more frustrating than turning your key and feeling it snap. A broken key in the lock can happen to anyone — on your front door in Gary, your car in a Merrillville parking lot, or the deadbolt at your shop in Crown Point. The good news: it’s almost always fixable without replacing the whole lock. Here’s what to do next, and a few things you should avoid.
Why Keys Break Off in Locks
Keys are made of relatively soft metal, and they wear down a little every time you use them. Over the years, the grooves get shallow and tiny stress cracks form near the shoulder of the key. Add a sticky or misaligned lock — common in Northwest Indiana, where humid summers swell door frames and harsh winters shift them back — and one firm twist is all it takes.
A key that has been bent, copied from a worn original, or used to force a stiff lock is especially likely to give out.
What Not to Do With a Broken Key in the Lock
The biggest mistake is grabbing super glue. The idea — glue the broken half back on and pull — almost never works, and glue that seeps into the cylinder can ruin the lock entirely. That turns a simple extraction into a full lock replacement.
Also avoid poking at the fragment with a screwdriver, bobby pin, or toothpick. Most household tools push the broken piece deeper into the cylinder, making it harder to reach. And don’t keep turning the lock with the other half of the key; you can jam the plug in a position where nothing comes out easily.
If You Want to Try Removing It Yourself
If a good portion of the key is sticking out, you have a fair shot. First, make sure the cylinder is in the neutral position, the same position it sits in when you insert a key. Spray a little lubricant into the keyway, grip the exposed metal firmly with needle-nose pliers, and pull straight out — no twisting.
If the break is flush with the lock face or recessed inside, stop there. Proper extraction at that point takes purpose-made tools that slide alongside the fragment and hook its teeth.
When to Call a Locksmith
Call a professional if the fragment is deep in the keyway, the lock won’t turn back to neutral, or you’re locked out of your home or car. A locksmith can extract the broken piece without damaging the cylinder, cut you a fresh key on the spot, and check whether the lock itself caused the break — because if the lock is failing, the next key will snap too.
It’s also worth having a spare key cut from a healthy original once you’re back inside. Copies made from worn keys inherit all the same weak spots.
Dealing with a broken key in the lock right now? Jacob’s Lock and Key is a licensed mobile locksmith serving Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Crown Point, and all of Northwest Indiana, 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. Call Jacob at (219) 342-5595 and get back inside without wrecking your lock.
Last updated: 07/11/2026