How to Pick a Lock in Fallout 3

Last Updated: September 28, 2023

In Fallout 3, to enter secret areas, you will need to be able to pick locks. This article will help you understand how to pick a lock in case the in-game help wasn't helpful enough.

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To start out, you probably want to find a very easy lock, as this will make it easy to learn how to lockpick.
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Next, you need approach the lock and press the correct button (square on Playstation or "x" on Xbox) to attempt to pick the lock.

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3
Pick the lock. You only have bobby pins and a screwdriver to pick the lock with. You need to move the bobby pin around (by using the left analog stick). Once you have found a spot that you think will unlock the door, use the right analog stick to attempt picking the lock.
- The screwdriver will turn the lock until it either opens or doesn't move any more. If it stops moving, you need to move around the bobby pin until the lock keeps moving. Once the lock has turned 90 degrees, it will open.
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If you hold it too long without the lock moving, the bobby pin will break and you will have to use another. Eventually, you will run out of bobby pins, so you will need to search the Wasteland and find some more.
5

Assign skill points to Lockpick when levelling up to make things easier. Not only will this give you access to more difficult locks (which usually lead to better loot), it will make already accessible locks easier to open (for instance, an Easy Lock would be significantly more difficult for someone with 25 Lockpick skill than if they had 100).

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Tips

Picking a lock can be hard, so keep trying until you get it.

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If you feel confident that the pin is in the right place, turn the screwdriver as fast as you can in the correct direction. Whether you attempt to pick the lock fast or slow doesn't matter. After three unsuccessful twists of the screwdriver in either direction, the pin will break. After two fails, back out and keep trying until you succeed.

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Each level of lockpicking gets harder and requires more of the lockpicking skill to be able to attempt the lock pick. You will need a lockpicking skill of 25 for easy, 50 for average, 75 for hard, and 100 for very hard.

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Warnings

Be careful how you use your bobby pins. If you run out, the only way to get past the lock is to attempt to force it. Be careful. If you do this, you can risk breaking the lock and the door will be unable to be lock picked again.

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If the room name comes up red, it means you are not allowed to enter it. You will lose karma for attempting to pick the lock, and if you are caught, it might turn NPCs hostile.

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Be careful turning the screwdriver. If you hold it too long, you will break the bobby pin, and you will have to start again. Fortunately the place where the bobby pin needs to be put does not change.

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How to Pick a Lock in Fallout 3

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