How To Unlock A Magnetic Door Lock [5 Simple Methods]

Magnetic locks are one of the safest locks to keep your assets secure. They are super convenient to use and don’t require a lot of maintenance. But a jammed magnetic lock can give you a hard time.

How to unlock a magnetic door lock?

A magnetic door lock can be accessed in several ways. You can unlock it by the passcode, or you can use the HID card reader as well. In case the lock is jammed, you can insert a thin object and pull the handle. During emergencies, you can consider removing the handle of the lock and disabling it.

This is not all about magnetic door locks.

Our article contains more information about them and the unlocking procedures.

Working Mechanism Of A Magnetic Door Lock

Magnetic locks are very different from electric strike locks. The working mechanism of a magnetic lock is pretty simple. You see, there is a metal bar that comes with a magnetic lock. 

Whenever the power is on, the metal bar stays attached to the lock. As both of them remain connected to each other, the door can’t be opened. But when you unlock the magnetic door lock, the power is cut off for a few seconds. 

Thus the metal bar and the lock get detached from each other. At that time, the door can be easily opened. While setting up the lock, you can adjust how long you want to keep it unlocked.

How To Unlock A Magnetic Door Lock: 5 Simple Methods

Now the process of unlocking these locks can be quite different than usual ones. Hence many people get confused about the way to unlock the locks. But don’t worry, it’s actually quite simple. It’s easy as opening a locked sliding glass door.

We have provided 5 different methods you can use to unlock magnetic door locks. 

Method 1: HID Keycard Reader

HID card readers are widely used for unlocking magnetic locks. This method is pretty simple as well. All you need to have is your card. Punch or swipe your card in front of the HID keycard reader. If it recognizes you, the door will be unlocked. 

However, the only disadvantage is that you have to carry the card with you. And if someone with bad intentions gets the card, he can access your property.

Method 2: Numeric Keypad

Numeric keypads are also very popular in magnetic door locks. The good thing about this is several people can use this at the same time. 

While setting up the numeric keypad, you can input the number of users. Each user can have their own password. In this case, you don’t have to worry about carrying any card. 

Be sure not to give an easy passcode if you have anything valuable inside the door. And try not to share your passcode with anyone else unless the person is trustable.

Method 3: Biometric Sensors

Among biometric sensors, most people usually use the fingerprint scanner. Just like the previous two methods, this can be used by multiple people as well. 

They just have to input their fingerprint to the sensor while setting up the fingerprint. After that, anyone with a known fingerprint can open the lock.

Method 4: Traditional Key

When it comes to magnetic locks, using traditional keys is a very unpopular method to unlock them. Magnetic locks are used to get rid of the hassle of carrying a key all the time. If you still want to use a traditional key, it is entirely up to you. However, losing the key can give all sorts of trouble if you don’t have any backup. But as you have other options as well, there is nothing much to worry about.

Method 4: Exit Switch

All the above methods were for outside accessibility. Now let’s talk about a method to unlock the door from inside. 

Every magnetic lock has an exit switch installed in the inside part. Anyone from inside can unlock the door. No verification or key is needed for that. You have to simply press the exit button and then just pull the handle. The door will be opened.

Method 5: Fail-Safe Unlock

To understand this method, you have to know the types of magnetic door locks first. Fail-safe and fail-secure: these are the two types of magnetic locks. They are categorized depending on their mechanism in case of a power failure. 

Fail-safe locks unlock the door when there is a power outage. These locks are used where people need to escape during a power outage. In case of fail-secure locks, it remains locked during a power cut. These locks are used when the things inside need to be kept safe.

In households and businesses, usually, fail-safe locks are used. So when there is a power loss, and you’re stuck inside, don’t worry. The magnetic lock will automatically unlock itself.

The methods may not be the same, but the same amount of perseverance will be needed if you ever have to open a Schlage lock.

How To Unlock a Magnetic Door In Case The Door Is Jammed

There can be situations where the door is jammed, and you can’t open the door. In that scenario, you can try a thin object and draw the tab with it. You can also pull the handle until the door opens. 

If you are outside, you can try squeezing a thing to open it. In extreme cases, you can remove the handle and disable the lock. If this doesn’t work, you have no choice but to break the door with your shoulder.

Installing A Magnetic Door Lock

Magnetic locks give your house a great amount of safety. In case you broke your magnetic lock with your shoulder, you’ll have to install a new one. Don’t worry you’ll find quality magnetic locks from our suggestions below:

Product 1
Product 2

You just need to have minimum expertise with the tools to install a magnetic lock. You don’t need a lot of tools for this task. Here is the list of the things you’ll need for installing a magnetic door lock-

• A drill driver and appropriate size drill bit
• Screwdriver
• A ruler and a pencil
• Screws that come with the lock

Step 1: Attach the Metal Bar to the Door Frame

The main 2 components of the lock are the metal bar and the lock itself.. Keep in mind that you have to attach the metal bar to the door. Likewise, the lock needs to be attached to the door frame. It is best to keep the door closed when you’re attaching the components with the door. 

That way, you can get the exact idea of where you should connect the pieces. Otherwise, you might end up connecting them in the wrong place and have to redo the whole process. 

Also, remember not to get confused between black and red wires while you’re at it.

First, mark the spot for installing your magnetic lock. Drill the holes where the screws will enter. Now place the metal bar on the door. 

If you think the area is perfect, attach the bar with proper screws. Tighten the screws, and the first half of your job is done.

Step 2: Install the Lock

Now take the lock and place it on your door frame. Mark the points where it aligns with the already attached metal bar. You can do this while keeping the power on to get a better idea. Then just drill the holes and attach the lock to the frame with appropriate screws. 

Remember to drill an extra hole for the power cable of the lock. The lock can be installed by these simple steps. You see, this requires almost the same type of skills as fixing water-damaged wall studs.

So this was all about opening a magnetic door lock.

FAQs

Question: Is a magnetic door lock breakable?

Answer: Yes, you can break open a magnetic lock. A typical magnetic lock can withstand around 1200 lbs force. So you have to make sure the force is more than the withstand limit to break it.

Question: Can you unlock a magnetic lock without a key?

Answer: There are a number of ways you can open a magnetic lock without a key. The most common way is to take a thin knife, needle, or plastic card and pull the tab. 

Question: What is an MBS or Magnetic Bond Sensor?

Answer: MBS or Magnetic Bond Sensors make sure that your property is secured. They detect an armature plate and tell access control and alarm systems to detect if the door is locked correctly.

Ending Notes

This was all you needed to know about how to unlock magnetic door lock. Hope we could clear out all your confusion. Just make sure to follow the instructions well.

Until next time, take care!