Do you need to unlock a door with a hole? Fortunately, these door knobs are easy to unlock with basic tools. Most people can unlock these doors with items already found around a home, and it will take a matter of seconds.
The four best ways to unlock a door with a hole are:
- Use an Emergency Key
- Insert a Small Flathead Screwdriver
- Slide a Credit Card into the Door Jamb
- Insert a Paperclip Into the Hole
With one of these four techniques, you can quickly unlock the door with a hole and access the room. Keep reading further to learn how to unlock the door knob without needing to kick the door open.
What’s the Hole in a Door Knob?
A door knob with a hole is called a privacy door knob and is commonly found on interior doors in a home. The door knob isn’t for high security and is designed to provide privacy for those in a bathroom or bedroom.
On the other side of the doorknob, you will find a simple push or turn button that engages the locking mechanism. The hole is added as an emergency measure to allow someone to open the door with a small pointed item.
4 Ways to Unlock a Door With a Hole
Use an Emergency Key
If you want a foolproof way to open a door with a hole in the knob, the best option is an emergency key. These emergency keys are designed specifically for a privacy door knob and are dedicated to opening these doors fast.
While this emergency key isn’t necessary, we recommend it if you have children or an elderly family member in the home. The key will open the door quickly and allow you to enter a room during an emergency.
Additionally, the keys come in packs of multiple and generally cost around $5 on websites like Amazon. You can place each emergency key in a strategic location that allows you to enter each room in the home as fast as possible.
Insert a Small Flathead Screwdriver
A small flathead screwdriver performs the same as an emergency key. However, you will need a small screwdriver to fit in the doorknob’s hole. We recommend using a screwdriver that’s around 5/64 inches.
These screwdrivers are for working on electronic components but can also be used for your privacy doorknob. If you don’t own a screwdriver this small, an emergency key or another option may be better.
The cost of purchasing a small flathead screwdriver is more than purchasing six emergency keys for your home. Unless you have a usage for a flathead screwdriver this small, you are better off purchasing an emergency key.
Slide a Credit Card into the Door Jamb
Unlocking a door with a hole doesn’t have to focus on the doorknob and can exploit the weak locking mechanism. A popular method of opening a door without a key is by sliding a credit card between the door and the frame.
Sliding a card in the door jamb is to hold down the doorknob’s latch and open the door. If there is enough space in the frame, you can use the credit card to engage the latch and turn the doorknob open.
If you don’t want to risk damaging your bank card, use a gift card or another membership card. The card must not bend easily to ensure enough tension is on the latch of the privacy doorknob to keep it closed.
Insert a Paperclip Into the Hole
One of the most common household items you can use for your doorknob is a paperclip. A paperclip is thin enough to fit in the small opening of the hole and push the button open from the inside.
We recommend using a jumbo-sized paperclip to give you enough length to open the doorknob from the outside. If you use a small paperclip, it may not be strong enough to maintain its shape when pushing against the doorknob.
Once you insert the paperclip in the hole, you should torque the doorknob while turning the paperclip. After enough time, you will release the push button and open the privacy doorknob to open the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
A bobby pin can unlock some pinhole doorknobs, especially those with simple locking mechanisms. However, its effectiveness relies on the complexity of the lock on the door. Using a household item like a bobby pin requires patience and a bit of luck. Proper positioning and gentle maneuvering are vital to avoid damaging the privacy doorknob.
Yes, you can unlock a lever door handle with a hole using a small pointed object like a small screwdriver or a paperclip. When using these items, you can manipulate the locking mechanism through the hole. Precise maneuvering is crucial to avoid causing damage to the locking mechanism.
Conclusion
As you can see, unlocking a door with a hole is rather simple and doesn’t require any complex lockpicking. You can use items found around your home or purchase an emergency key for the easiest access.
If you have questions about unlocking a privacy doorknob, let us know in the comments!