If a child is inside
Talk to them through the door and keep them calm and away from the bath, the stove or anything they could climb. Ask them to try turning the knob or pushing the button again; sometimes that is all it takes. If there is any danger, call 911.
The emergency release on privacy locks
Bathroom and bedroom locks with a push button or a turn button on the inside are privacy locks. They are meant to give privacy, not security, and almost all of them can be opened from the outside:
- A small hole in the outside knob or lever. Push a straight, thin tool such as an unbent paper clip or a small hex key straight in until you feel the button inside release. Some need a push, some need a push and a turn.
- A slot in the outside knob. Turn it with a small flat screwdriver or the edge of a coin, the way you would turn the button inside.
- An emergency key. Some lock sets come with a small flat metal key for this; it is often on top of the door frame or in a kitchen drawer.
Use gentle pressure. If you feel no release after a few tries, stop before something bends inside.
When it is a locksmith job
If the outside has no hole or slot, the lock is a keyed one, or the release does nothing because something inside has broken, a locksmith can open the door without damaging it in most cases. Text a photo of the outside of the lock with your ZIP. If the whole house is locked rather than one room, see house lockouts, and for a lock that needs replacing afterwards, lock installation and repair.
If young children live in the house, it is worth checking now that every privacy lock has a working release, and keeping the tool for it somewhere you can find in a hurry.
Questions people ask
How do I open a bathroom door locked from the inside?
Look for a small hole or a slot on the outside knob. Push a thin straight tool into the hole, or turn the slot with a small screwdriver, to release the button inside.
What if the outside of the lock has no hole?
Then it is probably a keyed lock, or the release is hidden. Call a locksmith rather than prying the door, which damages the frame.
Will you damage the door?
In most cases, no. Interior doors are usually opened without damage to the door or the lock.
Can I stop this happening again?
Yes. Check every privacy lock has a working release, keep the release tool handy, or replace the lock on a toddler’s bathroom with a passage knob that does not lock.