How to Open Hotel Door Without Key Card and How to Avoid?

Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by Vincent Zhu

All hotels will have a key card door lock system to access guests and employees conveniently. This is convenient as a guest because you don’t have to worry about losing your key (but you still might, anyway).

But what if you lost your key card or it didn’t work? Or You’re locked out of your room, but there’s no staff around to help you get back inside.

Fortunately, a few methods can help you open a hotel door without a key card. Here’s a summary table for opening a hotel door without a key card in some easy methods:

Method	Description
Using a Credit Card	Insert a credit card between the door frame and door to go behind the latch bolt. Push firmly on the card until you hear a clicking sound, then pull on the door handle to open.
Using a Screwdriver	Slide the handle of a screwdriver into a seam between the doors and push while turning the handle. This method might damage the door or leave evidence.
Using a Cell Phone	If the hotel supports unlocking with a phone, download the hotel app and use your phone to unlock the door. Some apps like Open Sesame or Lock-pick can turn your device into a virtual lock picker.
Using a Coin	Insert two quarters into the slot where the door latch is located and push while twisting. This method works on many newer doors with automatic locks.
Lock Picking Set	A lock-picking set can be used to open the door within seconds. It requires some skill and practice.
Hinge Removal	Remove the hinge screws with a screwdriver, pull out the door part, and use an Allen wrench to pry until the latch releases.
Using a Paperclip	Bend a paperclip into a “U” shape and insert it into both sides of the lock mechanism. Pull apart until the door unlocks. This method works best on older locks.
Privacy Door Latch Release Tool	A small device that can easily open locked doors. It can be used on most standard doors and is handy for gaining access when locked out.

Most importantly, Before trying any of these methods, you must ensure you have the right to access the room.

Before you do anything else, visit the front desk at your hotel. Tell them you have lost your room key, and they can deactivate it and make a new one for you immediately. This is one reason hotels keep a record of all their guests—it is easy to cancel lost cards.

Also, if you are the hotel staff and you can not use your hotel lock system to help hotel guests make a new hotel room key, and your hotel guests want to go to the hotel room, In case of emergency, here are some ways:

Using a credit card to open the door

Many hotel room doors can be opened with a simple credit or plastic card. Here is how you can do it:

• Find out which hinge on the door holds your lock in place. If there are two hinges, one will keep your lock in place; most of the time, it is on the left hinge side.
• In this scenario, insert your credit card between the door frame and your door to go behind the latch bolt.
• Once you get behind the latch bolt with your card, push firmly on your card till you hear a clicking sound from inside the hotel room; you have successfully opened up your hotel room’s deadbolt lock.
• Now, please take out your credit card and pull on the handle of your hotel room’s door to open it up; congratulations! You have successfully opened your hotel room’s entrance using a credit card as a key card!

For more information about using a credit card to open the door, please check this article: How to Pick A Door Lock With A Credit Card? Video and Step-by-Step Guide 

Using a screwdriver to open the door

Use a screwdriver or similar tool to open the door.

• Slide the handle of your tool into any seam between the two doors (you might want to hold back on using this approach as, most likely, you’ll damage something/leave behind evidence).
• Push toward one side while slowly turning the handle. If that doesn’t work, try pushing toward another side while slowly turning the handle by inserting it into the other seam (if present).
• It would be best to pry one free to get in halfway and then unlock it (this is a temporary solution).

Using A cell phone

If your hotel support unlocks a hotel room with a phone, you can download your hotel app and open the hotel door with your phone.

Use your cell phone. You can use your iPhone to unlock an older model door by encouraging its magnetic strip sensor to read your phone like a keycard. Or, even better, download an app such as Open Sesame or Lock-pick that will allow you to set up your device as a virtual lock picker.

For more information about unlocking a hotel room with a phone, check this article: How to Unlock a Hotel Room with a Phone? Step-by-Step Guidelines

A coin.

Use coins. Insert two quarters into the slot where the door latch is located and then push in a while, twisting slightly; this method works on many newer doors with automatic locks.

For those who don’t have cell phones but have change in their pockets (or purses/backpacks), coins can also be used effectively in unlocking hotel doors without key cards.

Again, use an object such as a brick or book under the door, but it is near its hinges instead of right in front of its lock mechanism (like you would with your cell phone).

Next, find an appropriately sized coin that has enough weight and thickness for what you want to accomplish here; quarters tend to work well for many people because they provide great mass while still being small enough not to cause too much discomfort when carried around in one’s pocket all day long.

Place that quarter between two fingers and press it firmly against said hinge on alternate sides when wiggling back and forth until an opening.

Lock Picking Set

A lock-picking set is the easiest way to open a hotel door without a key card. Most of the time, you can use one of these lock-picking kits to open the door within seconds. If you use a lock pick set for the first time, it might take some time to get used to it.

Before trying any of these methods, ensure your room is locked, and your friends or family members have not entered the room. You should never try to break into someone else’s room, as it could be illegal.

Hinge Removal

You will need a screwdriver, an Allen wrench, and tape to pull this technique off. Start by removing the hinge screws with a screwdriver to separate them from each door frame.

Once removed, pull out that part of the door on which you removed them and place it gently on top of another nearby object. Next, insert an Allen wrench into the hole on top and start prying until you hear a “pop” sound, signifying the latch’s release.

Paperclip

This method works best if your hotel has old locks installed on its doors because modern ones have been designed, keeping this trick in mind.

As long as there isn’t anyone inside waiting with an assault rifle ready, they should take care of most normal situations where you may lose or forget your key card at home (or wherever).

Privacy Door latch release tool

The privacy door latch release tool is a small device that easily opens any locked door. It can be used on most standard doors and easily stored in your pocket or purse when not in use.

The privacy door latch release tool is a great way to gain access to an area that has been locked by someone else. You can also use the privacy door latch release tool if you have lost your keys and need to get back into your home, car, office, or any other building where people may not allow you inside without their permission.

Ｈow to open the hotel door latch？

• Step 1: Tape the paperclip straight. You might want to do this on a table or desk to have both hands.
• Step 2: Bend the paperclip into a “U” shape by folding it at its midpoint so that one end is longer than the other
• Step 3: Unlock the door by inserting your bent paperclip into both sides of the lock mechanism (this should be easy if your room has been unlocked), then pull apart as far as you can once each side has an equal force applied upon it.
• Enjoy your privacy! If there’s anyone else staying with you in your hotel room and they haven’t gotten around to unlocking their door yet, feel free to go ahead and do so now without worrying about being locked out again later on… remember where those tips were; placed beforehand, though!
• Remove any tape from around your keyring before turning them back over for safekeeping until the next time someone needs access but doesn’t have their own set handy yet either–that way, we won’t be left wondering why all our keys look identical. Except for maybe having different colors.”

Why need to know how to open a hotel door without a key card？

Why should I open a hotel room door without a key card?

• For emergencies. Sometimes, you may forget your key card or leave it behind when you check out. In the case of an emergency in your hotel room, it can be helpful to have access from outside if you find yourself locked out.
• You might have unexpected guests, and no one is at the front desk to give them a key card. Suppose you stay at a hotel with a reputation for accidentally locking guests out (due to faulty readers or other issues).
• Against theft and hacking: Another benefit of knowing different ways to open hotel doors without keys is that it can help protect against theft and hacking.

For more information about the hotel key card hack, please read this article: Hotel Key Card Hack: How Does It Work and How to Avoid? 

How do you avoid opening hotel doors without a key card？

1. Keep your key card in a safe place: One of the easiest ways to do this is to avoid losing your key card in the first place. You stick it into your wallet or purse when you leave your room. You can also try tying the keycard to a lanyard or other device to keep it easy.
2. Upgrade your old hotel lock system: To avoid opening hotel doors without a key card, you can upgrade your key card hotel lock system to an RFID hotel door lock system or a mobile app hotel lock system. Then, no key cards are used anymore, just your phones.
3. Don’t let anyone borrow your key card: If someone asks if they can use it, firmly say no and enjoy yourself!
4. Return to reception if you lose your keycard or it stops working: It’s important not to delay doing this way. Someone else could access your hotel in many ways while you’re gone. The longer they have access, the more likely something terrible will happen inside – like theft of property, vandalism by pranksters, etc.

Finawant to keep the hotel room safer, try our TThotel door lock system to help you manage your room door more safely, remotely, and conveniently with your phone.

Conclusion

And that’s how you open a hotel room door without the correct key card. Try these methods if you ever get locked out of your room!

Remember: picking a lock and breaking into someone else’s room is unpleasant. Every hotel has different policies about what guests can do in their rooms. Young to use one of these techniques to break into someone else’s room—or even your own—make sure you know the risk.