You feel it the moment it happens. That sudden resistance. That tiny snap. And then the realization hits you—half your key is still in your hand, but the other half is stuck inside the lock. You try to stay calm, maybe even test the broken piece, hoping it might still turn. But it won’t. It’s stuck. And now you’re either locked out or locked in, depending on which side you’re standing.
It doesn’t always happen during a crisis. Sometimes it’s just a regular Tuesday morning. You’re heading out the door or getting home from work. And suddenly, your plans change. Because no matter how minor it might seem, a broken key in the lock stops everything.
And here’s the frustrating part—it’s often not your fault. Keys wear out. Locks stiffen. Cold weather can make metal more brittle. It happens more often than you might think.
Resist the Urge to Dig It Out
The first thing most people do is grab whatever they can find – tweezers, paperclips, maybe the end of a pen – and start trying to fish the broken piece out. We understand the instinct. It feels like it should be simple. But unless the key is just barely inside the cylinder, chances are you’ll only push it deeper.
And if the lock is old or already misaligned, you might end up damaging the internal pins too. That’s when a simple fix turns into a full replacement.
Don’t Force the Lock to Turn
Another common reaction is to try turning the lock using the remaining piece of the key. It’s still shaped like the original, after all. But without the full blade to support the mechanism, the torque isn’t right – and forcing it can snap internal parts or jam the lock even further.
We’ve seen cases where forcing the cylinder cracked the housing. What could’ve been a quick extraction became a costly repair. It’s not worth the gamble.
Why Keys Break in the First Place
Most people don’t realize how often keys bend slightly over time. Especially older ones, or those made from softer metals. If your key has ever felt “loose” or needed a jiggle to work, it was probably already under stress.
And if the lock hasn’t been maintained – dirt, rust, or lack of lubrication – it puts even more resistance on the key every time you turn it. Eventually, the metal gives out.
Extraction Doesn’t Have to Mean Replacement
One of the good things about this type of issue is that, in many cases, the lock can still be saved. Our Broken Key Extraction process is designed to remove the fragment carefully, without damaging the rest of the mechanism. Once the piece is out, we can test the cylinder and let you know if it needs repair—or if it’s still perfectly usable with a new key.
And if it does need replacing, we’ll show you the options clearly – no pressure, no upsell. Just honest work.
It Can Happen Anywhere – Not Just at Home
We’ve responded to calls from apartment buildings, office spaces, storefronts, and even cars. Car ignition locks are especially vulnerable, since they get frequent use and a broken key can leave you stranded.
We once helped a client who had broken their house key after a long winter shift. It was nearly midnight, freezing cold, and they were standing on their front steps with no way to get in. Within the hour, we had the key extracted, the door unlocked, and a fresh key cut on the spot.
Keep a Spare – and Check Its Condition
This won’t help after the fact, but it’s something worth thinking about: always have a backup key, and don’t wait until the current one is badly worn to use it. If the teeth are smoothing out or it feels thin in the middle, consider getting a copy made while it’s still in good shape.
And no—duplicating a worn-down key doesn’t solve the issue. It just carries the problem into the next copy. Always duplicate from a good original.
Your Next Move Matters
If you’ve just had a key break inside the lock, breathe. Step back. Don’t rush to poke around with random tools. Instead, give our locksmith Toronto team a call. We’ll send someone over, often within the hour, to get you back on track.
And while we’re there, we can inspect the lock, the key, and the surrounding area to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Sometimes all it takes is a little maintenance—a slight adjustment, a bit of cleaning, a new copy of the key.
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