How to Open and Close a Combination Lock

Here is a tutorial about how to open a combination lock. It is for people who are looking to know how, for example rising 6th graders. If their middle school has lockers (which it probably will), then they will need to know how to open them and lock them back again. Hope this helps you!

Thanks to the editors at Instructables for featuring this!

1. Combination Lock

To prepare a combination lock for unlocking, you first should turn it to the right a few times. This is done to ensure that nobody has gotten halfway through unlocking it, and then decided to quit. Once you do this, you are ready for the next step.

Once you know your code, turn the dial to the right until the little arrow up top is pointing to your first number. In this case, the code for my lock is 3-4-6. So I turned the dial to the 3.

Once you have turned the dial to the first number, you probably want to go to the second number. To do that, you turn the dial to the left. BUT- Make sure that when you are turning to the left, you PASS the second number once, then keep turning to the left and point the arrow at the second number of your code.

After you turn left to find your second number, all you have to do is turn right again to get to your third number. You don't have to pass it.

But wait! What if my lock has more than 3 numbers/letters? That's okay! Just repeat steps 4 and 5 (usually) until you unlock it.

Ta-da! Your lock should look something like this. If it doesn't, then try again or reference another tutorial for help. To close your lock again, just insert the shackle back into the hole, then pull on it to make sure it is all the way locked. Hope you found this helpful!