How to Remove a Locked Door Knob

If you have locked yourself out of a room, and the doorknob screws are on the same side of the door as you, removing a locked door knob is no different than removing an unlocked doorknob. Broken knobs that happen to be locked are also easily removable. If you have locked yourself out and the doorknob screws are on the opposite side of the door as you, however, you will need to remove the door instead.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver (Phillips or flat, depending on which type of screws hold the doorknob on)

1. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws in the doorknob completely.

2. Pull off the face plate and the half of the doorknob that is on the same side of the door where you have been working.

3. Remove the other half of the doorknob. You may have to jiggle the knobs on both sides as you pull them apart.

4. Remove the latching mechanism inside the small hole left by the doorknob. It is not attached to anything with fasteners; simply pull or push it out.

Tips & Warnings

• If the door is an exterior one, the screws will be on the inside part of the door. Interior doorknobs can have the screws on either side of the door. The screws are typically just to the right and left of the doorknob. Sometimes, they are slightly under the knob itself.

References

• More information