Broward County, FL
Key Broke Off in the Lock? I Can Get It Out.
A snapped key is one of the most common calls I get. Stop trying to dig it out. I remove the broken piece cleanly, usually without damaging the lock, and in many cases I can cut you a new key on the same visit.
Any Lock, Any Door
If a key can snap off in it, I can usually get it out.
Why Keys Break and What to Do
A key rarely breaks for no reason. Here is what to do in the moment, and how to keep it from happening again.
Do Not Do These Things
Do not put superglue on the broken piece and try to pull it out. Glue runs into the lock and ruins it. Do not keep poking with a paperclip, a pin or tweezers, which usually pushes the fragment deeper. And do not try the other half of the key in the lock. If the door is unlocked, leave it that way until the key is out.
How I Remove It
I use thin extraction tools that slide in beside the key, catch its cuts and pull it straight out. Most extractions take a few minutes and leave the lock working normally. If the piece is wedged deep or the lock is badly worn, I may take the cylinder off the door to get it out from the back.
A New Key From the Broken Pieces
Once both halves are out, I can usually read the cuts and make you a new working key on the spot. If the lock needs to come apart anyway, I can also rekey it so you get fresh keys and the old ones stop working.
Why Keys Snap
There are three usual causes. The key is old and worn thin. The lock is stiff, often from salt air and humidity, so the key gets forced. Or the key is a cheap copy cut on soft metal. If you have been jiggling a key to make it work, the lock is warning you. Read more in my guide to salt-air corroded locks.
When to Replace the Lock Instead
If the lock is badly corroded or worn, or keys keep breaking in it, a new lock is the better fix. I will tell you honestly whether the lock is worth saving. I do not work on car ignitions or make car keys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a broken key out without damaging the lock?
In most cases, yes. I use extraction tools that pull the piece straight out, and the lock keeps working normally. If the lock is badly worn, I explain the options before doing anything.
Can you make a new key from a broken key?
Usually, yes. With both pieces I can read the cuts and cut a new key on the same visit.
Should I use superglue to pull out a broken key?
No. The glue runs into the lock and often ruins it completely. Leave the piece in and call a locksmith.
Why did my key break in the lock?
Usually it is a worn key, a stiff lock that needed lubrication, or a key copy cut on soft metal. If the lock felt stiff before it broke, have it serviced or replaced so it does not happen again.
How much does broken key extraction cost?
It depends on the lock and whether you need a new key or a rekey too. I quote every job before I start, estimates are free, and the price I quote is the price you pay.
Broken Key Extraction Across Palm Beach & Broward
Broken keys removed from homes, offices and mailboxes throughout both counties, 7 days a week from 9 AM to 7 PM. Pick your city below.
Key Snapped Off in the Lock?
Call or text and you will reach Joe directly — free estimate, quoted before any work starts.
Request a Quote or Callback
Out of hours, or don't feel like talking? Leave your details and Joe will get back to you — usually the same day, and always before he shows up.