Don't reach for the superglue. A few careful steps can save the lock — and a few wrong ones will cost you it.
A key snapping off in the lock is more common than you'd think — usually a worn key, a stiff mechanism, or a cold morning and a rushed turn. The lock is often fine; it's the broken key that's the problem. What you do in the next few minutes decides whether this is a quick fix or a new lock.
First, don't make it worse
- Don't push the broken piece further in — you want to pull it out, not bury it.
- Don't force the other half of the key to keep turning — that can jam the mechanism.
- Don't use superglue to "reattach" the key. It's the classic mistake and it glues the whole lock solid.
- Don't oil it with cooking oil or WD-style sprays as a fix — at most a tiny bit of proper graphite lubricant.
What you can safely try
If a few millimetres of key is poking out, fine-nosed tweezers or pliers may grip it — pull straight out, gently, while the lock is in the same position it broke in. If the break is flush or inside the cylinder, stop there; DIY extractor attempts usually push it deeper or scratch the mechanism.
When to call us
If the piece is flush, broken deep inside, or the lock now won't turn at all, that's a callout. We extract the broken key with proper tools — usually without damaging the lock — and cut you a replacement on the spot. If the cylinder was already worn or sticking, it's a good moment to swap it so it doesn't happen again.
See emergency locksmith, or for a worn lock, key cutting and new keys.
Emergency locksmith
Need a hand with this?
Two Keys is a father-and-son locksmith team in Egham — UKLA Trusted & Vetted, DBS-checked, fully insured. Straight prices, agreed before we set off.
We cover Egham · Staines-upon-Thames · Richmond · Kingston upon Thames and the wider Surrey, west London and east Berkshire area — see full coverage.