I moved into an office and inherited a filing cabinet without any keys.
Easiest way to break into a filing cabinet.
Paperclips may be used to open a locked file cabinet.
To do this call a friend and tilt the front of the cabinet upward while you probe with your hand at the bottom of the filing cabinet you re looking for a hole it s usually on the right.
You may be able to talk the equipment dealer into selling you a single key or letting you borrow his to open your cabinet or take to a locksmith to get a new key made.
If you look at a lock and are able to conjure up multiple easy ways to break into it then it should be a clear sign that the particular lock is not a reliable security option.
The different methods of gaining access to a locked file cabinet each present benefits in certain situations.
Move the file clockwise and then counter clockwise so you can find the correct way to unlock the cabinet.
Fortunately filing cabinet locks are typically low quality and can be bypassed with some simple tools and a finesse.
Another option is to pick the lock using a pair of paper clips.
When you find the correct position the nail file easily slides that way.
Turn the file back and forth to determine which way to unlock it.
You ll feel the filing tool slide into place.
This may take a bit of experimentation.
Losing a key is always frustrating ndash especially when you can 039 t open a file cabinet that holds important financial information such as tax paperwork audits etc.
Many filing cabinets use simple wafer locks though which can often be picked by using a paperclip or even rocking a different key up and down while attempting to turn it.
Depending on your filing cabinet you may be able to tilt it up and manually push up the rod that controls the cabinet s locking mechanism.
Look for a filing cabinet with the same number on the lock cylinder.