How to Get Into a Safe With No Key or Combination

Published October 31, 2026

By Mike German

Prices updated October 2026. A locked safe feels like an emergency because it usually is one, since the passport, the rent money or a firearm that needs to be stored properly is sitting behind a door you cannot open. Start with the cheap fixes, then pick the path that matches how soon you need the door open.

• Try a new battery firstElectronic locks keep the code in memory, so a dead battery does not erase it.
• Stop pressing buttonsToo many wrong codes trigger a lockout. Cannon lists 5 minutes, and Liberty says to wait half an hour.
• Factory keys take daysSentrySafe quotes 7 to 10 business days, or next day delivery for $44.95 a pair by phone.
• Never force the handleMany safe handles are built to break away under force, which turns a lockout into a repair.
• Proof of ownership comes firstAny real safe company or locksmith will ask you to show the safe is yours.

Five Things to Try Before You Call Anyone

Most safe lockouts we see are not broken locks at all, but dead batteries, a code that was changed and forgotten, or a key that went missing with the old car keys. Work through the free checks in this order before paying anyone.

Put in a brand new battery, even if the old one seems fine. Liberty Safe says electronic locks hold the code in memory that survives a dead or removed battery, for up to 10 years. Cannon Safe says the same, and adds that its battery box sits on the outside of the door so you can always reach it. A tired battery may light the keypad but still fail to move the bolt.

Next, wait out the lockout, because every wrong code counts against you. Cannon lists a 5 minute lockout on its keypad safes and warns that pressing buttons during it restarts the timer. Liberty tells owners to leave the keypad alone for at least half an hour.

Then think carefully about previous codes, because Liberty says many owners change the code, forget they did it, and keep trying the old one. Try your last two codes, slowly, with a pause between them.

On a dial safe, a stiff dial can be old grease, not a lost combination. Liberty suggests a hair dryer to warm the dial, never a heat gun or flame. Finally, search for the spare, because many safes ship with two keys, and the second one is often still in the box, the junk drawer or the garage.

Ordering a Replacement Key or Combination From the Maker

If the cheap fixes fail and the safe can wait, the factory is the cheapest route for many home safes. SentrySafe, which is now part of Master Lock, runs its US replacements through one website. Its support page asks you to find the model and serial number on the safe before you start.

Time is the catch with this route, because SentrySafe says processing can take 7 to 10 business days before the key or combination is sent, and every request carries a fee that is not refunded. If you call before 11am Central time on a weekday, expedited keys ship the same day for next day delivery at $44.95 per set of two keys, plus tax, by credit card only.

That works well for a lost key with a known model. It does not help when the serial plate is missing, the safe came with the house, or the paperwork you need is locked inside. It also does nothing tonight if you need what is in the safe tonight.

Check the warranty before you expect a free fix, because Cannon Safe says its warranty does not cover lost or forgotten combinations, wrong opening steps or weak batteries. Similar exclusions are common across the industry, so plan on paying for a lockout either way.

What a Safe Locksmith Does on the Visit

A safe locksmith is the right call when the safe cannot wait, the maker cannot help, or nobody knows the model. Our technician comes to you in Las Vegas, Henderson or North Las Vegas, so a heavy or bolted down safe never has to move.

We try to open it without damage first. On a lost key, most safe key locks can be picked or decoded on site, and a new key can usually be cut during the same visit. On a forgotten dial combination, the lock is opened by manipulation, then reset to a new combination you choose and test with the technician.

On a dead keypad, the technician checks the power supply first, and where the lock design allows it, the failed keypad is bypassed and a new electronic lock goes on. Drilling is the last option, and when it is needed the hole is repaired so the safe locks and protects again.

You hear the price before any work starts. Safe work is priced by the safe type, the lock and the opening method, so a dead keypad on a small home safe is a short job, while a high security business safe can take much longer. Our safe locksmith page covers each safe type we open.

Gun Safes in Nevada Need Extra Care

A locked gun safe is more than an inconvenience in Nevada, because under NRS 202.300, a person who lets a child get a firearm can face a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the facts. The same law says it is a defense when the firearm was stored in a securely locked container.

That changes how you should get back in, since prying the door or stripping the handle can leave you with a safe that no longer locks at all. A fix that ends with a working lock and a fresh code keeps the safe doing its legal job.

It also explains why proof of ownership is not optional. We ask for a receipt, identification at the address or similar paperwork before any gun safe is opened. Read more on our gun safe service page.

Keep It From Happening Again

Once the safe is open, spend ten minutes making sure this never happens again. Write the new combination down and store it away from the safe, with someone you trust or in a bank box.

Change keypad batteries on a schedule. Cannon suggests about twice a year, with alkaline batteries that carry an expiration date five years out. Liberty says every 6 to 12 months.

Register the safe with its maker and photograph the serial plate and key number now. That turns a future lost key into a simple order instead of a lockout call. Keep the spare key somewhere other than your key ring, since Liberty notes that losing the whole ring is how many owners lose the safe key too.

If the safe came with the house, or the last owner left it locked, have it opened and reset so you are the only person who can get in. Our electronic safe service page explains keypad replacement if you want a new lock while you are at it.

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Loose Ends

How do you open a combination safe if you forgot the combination?

Try your old codes slowly, and on a keypad put in a fresh battery first. If that fails, the maker can send the combination for many models with the serial number, or a safe locksmith can open the lock and set a new one.

Are safe keys universal?

No. Each safe key is cut for its own lock. SentrySafe replaces keys by model and serial number, and a locksmith can often decode the lock and cut a new key on site.

Does a dead battery erase my safe code?

No. Liberty Safe and Cannon Safe both say the code stays in the lock memory when the battery dies or is removed.

How long does a replacement safe key take?

SentrySafe says up to 7 to 10 business days to process a standard request. Expedited keys ship next day for $44.95 a pair when you call before 11am Central on a weekday.

How much does it cost to unlock a safe?

It depends on the safe type, the lock and the opening method. We give you the price before any work starts, and a dead keypad on a small home safe is usually a short visit.

Locked out right now? See our safe locksmith service, safe repair and picking a new safe and what a locksmith costs in Las Vegas, or call (725) 280‑5051 any hour and we will give you the price before we start.

Original Documents

• SentrySafe, Lost Key or Combo
• SentrySafe and Master Lock, Lost Safe Key or Combination, Process and Costs
• Liberty Safe, Locked Out of Your Gun Safe (March 3, 2023)
• Cannon Safe, Frequently Asked Questions
• Nevada Legislature, NRS Chapter 202, NRS 202.300