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Broken Key Extraction in London

Keys snap because they are worn, because the lock is stiff, or because it is minus two degrees and someone put their weight behind it. Whatever caused it, the half in your hand is not the problem — the half in the cylinder is.

We extract broken keys across London day and night. In most cases the lock is undamaged, the fragment comes out with extraction tools, and we cut you a fresh key from the remaining half on site.

Do not try to dig it out

Superglue, tweezers, hairgrips and screwdrivers are how a five-minute extraction turns into a lock replacement. Anything pushed into the keyway can drive the fragment deeper, mangle the pins, or leave adhesive inside the cylinder. Leave it alone and call.

Why the key snapped in the first place

A key almost never breaks in a healthy lock. If yours snapped, the lock was probably stiff, dry or misaligned and had been getting worse for weeks. We check the mechanism after extraction and tell you whether it needs servicing — otherwise you will be calling us again about the spare.

Worn keys are the other cause

Copies of copies get progressively less accurate, and a key that has been in a pocket for a decade has thinner shoulders than the day it was cut. If your key is visibly thin or bent, get it recut from the original rather than waiting for it to give way.

FAQs

Broken Key Extraction — your questions

Can you extract a broken key from a lock?

Yes — it is a routine job for us and one of the most common calls we take. In most cases the fragment comes out with proper extraction tools and the lock is unharmed.

Will I need a new lock after a key snaps?

Usually not. If the cylinder is undamaged, the extraction plus a newly cut key is all you need. If the lock was already failing, or the fragment has damaged the pins, we will show you why replacement is needed before doing it.

Can you cut a new key if I only have half of it?

In most cases yes, we can cut from the remaining half or by decoding the lock, so you leave with a working key the same visit.

Locked out? We are already on the road.

Call now and speak to an engineer. We aim to be with you within 30 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Coverage

Broken Key Extraction across London

We deliver this service in every area we cover. Choose your area for local response times and postcodes.

South London 3 areas covered

East London 2 areas covered

Related

Other services

Emergency Locksmith

Locked out, snapped key, jammed door — a vetted engineer on the road within minutes, 24 hours a day.

Emergency Locksmith →

Lock Replacement

New locks supplied and fitted the same visit — BS3621 mortices, anti-snap cylinders and insurance-approved hardware.

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Lock Repairs

Sticking, stiff or spinning locks fixed rather than binned — repair first where the mechanism is worth saving.

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uPVC Door Repairs

Multipoint gearboxes, hooks, handles and alignment on uPVC and composite doors — repaired, not ripped out.

uPVC Door Repairs →

Emergency Door Opening

Non-destructive entry to homes, flats and offices — picked, bypassed or decoded rather than drilled.

Emergency Door Opening →

Burglary Repairs

Break-in aftercare: doors, frames and locks made secure the same day, with paperwork for your insurer.

Burglary Repairs →
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