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Locks are found throughout the wasteland on doors, safes, and boxes. The player character can pick a lock using bobby pins. Some can also be unlocked with keys.

Difficulty[]

Difficulty Required Lockpick XP reward
Very Easy 0 20
Easy 25 30
Average 50 40
Hard 75 50
Very Hard 100 60

Locks come in five difficulties: Very Easy, Easy, Average, Hard, and Very Hard, corresponding to the minimum Lockpick skill required to attempt picking the lock. The difficulty level of the lock determines how accurately the bobby pin must be placed to successfully pick the lock. Difficulty and the Lockpick skill also determine the probability of success for an attempt to force a lock open.

Picking a lock[]

To pick a lock, the player character must have a Lockpick skill high enough for the difficulty of the lock and possess one or more bobby pins. Bobby pins are weightless items, often found in first aid kits and locked containers.

If the conditions are met, a mini-game is activated. A bobby pin and screwdriver (a free, weightless item that does not appear in the inventory) are inserted into the keyhole of the lock. The lockpicker turns the pin in an attempt to find the correct position, which is checked by then turning the screwdriver as if it were a key. The further the screwdriver turns the lock, the closer the pin is to the correct position. Once the screwdriver can turn the lock a full 90 degrees, the lock opens.

If the lockpicker fails to determine the correct pin position for the lock too many times, the bobby pin will break, requiring them to use another to continue the attempt. A Very Easy lock has a wide area for success and needs little to no pin adjustment, in turn making the likelihood of breaking a pin low. A Very Hard lock has a narrow area, requiring precise placement, and thus the repeated checks to find the correct position will wear out a pin quickly.

The number of times it takes for a bobby pin to break varies, as placing too much force on the screwdriver will cause it to break faster than a light touch. The integrity of the pin can be roughly tracked by how violently it shakes on a failed attempt. When it is about to break, it will bounce out of the center position.

The mini-game can be exited and restarted which will prevent the pin from breaking, but this will also reset the correct position for the pin.

Forcing a Lock[]

It is possible to skip the mini-game by attempting to force a lock open, and this does not require a bobby pin. The probability of success for this action depends on the Lockpick skill and the difficulty of the lock. Failing to force the lock open will break it, and no other attempt at opening it can be made without the Infiltrator perk (which grants a second attempt) or the appropriate key.

Locations[]

Closest map marker Locked Item Directions Difficulty
Bitter Springs recreation area Safe In the office. 3 !Average
Black Mountain Gate Behind the broadcast building after reaching the top. 4 !Hard
Black Mountain Trunk One of the large, light-blue trunks in the large makeshift shelter near where Neil awaits the Courier after their initial encounter. 3 !Average
Bloodborne cave Gate Go straight upon entering the cave, be careful as there is a trap wire right behind the gate. 5 !Very Hard
Bloodborne cave Trunk The very hard gate has to be picked first, and then there is a trunk. 3 !Average
Bradley's shack First aid box Behind his bed. 1 !Very Easy
Brewer's beer bootlegging Door Goes to the cellar. 3 !Average
Brewer's beer bootlegging Gun cabinet In the basement. Can also be unlocked with the key found in the next room on the table with the chemistry set. 4 !Hard
Brewer's beer bootlegging Explosives crate In the southeastern corner of the cellar. 3 !Average
Camp Forlorn Hope Door Across from the Quartermaster's tent; the storage shed door. 5 !Very Hard
Camp Forlorn Hope Locker In the Medical Center. 4 !Hard
Camp McCarran Grenade box In a large tent north of the central entrance to Camp McCarran terminal building. 3 !Average
Camp McCarran terminal building MP confiscated goods trunk Found on the second floor, across from the interrogation room. Can also be unlocked with the NCR MP confiscated goods trunk key. 5 !Very Hard
Camp Searchlight In the Searchlight NCR storage room where Logan is found. Can also be accessed via the nearby Average locked NCR storage database terminal. 3 !Average
Cannibal Johnson's cave Trunk Next to Cannibal Johnson's bed. 3 !Average
Charleston Cave Ammunition box In the center of the large room directly south of the entrance. 2 !Easy
Crimson Caravan Company Ammunition box In the guard barracks. 2 !Easy
Crimson Caravan Company Desk In the Crimson Caravan main office, the desk that Alice McLafferty sits behind. 1 !Very Easy
Crimson Caravan Company Safe In the Crimson Caravan main office, between the lockers and the desk that Alice McLafferty sits behind. 3 !Average
El Rey Motel Mine box At the western end of the bridge near the motel, near a sandbag fortification. 2 !Easy
Emergency service railyard Metal box At the southwest corner of the building, under the wooden platform. 2 !Easy
Freeside Door Atomic Wrangler Casino, in the entry room north corner, labeled authorized personnel only, opens into cashiers cage. Both Francine Garret and James Garret carry a bank key. 5 !Very Hard
Freeside Door Atomic Wrangler Casino, ahead around the corner behind the bar, near the bathroom. Both Francine Garret and James Garret carry a key, but it will become unlocked as one of the Garrets heads upstairs to their room. 5 !Very Hard
Freeside Door Atomic Wrangler Casino third floor. Both Francine Garret and James Garret carry an upstairs key. 3 !Average
Freeside Safe Atomic Wrangler Casino, third floor through locked door, room directly across hall, under the bed. 5 !Very Hard
Gomorrah Door Various doors throughout the building. 5 !Very Hard
Goodsprings Door Northeast exterior door of Prospector Saloon. 1 !Very Easy
Goodsprings Door Southwest exterior door of Prospector Saloon. 1 !Very Easy
Goodsprings Safe Inside a bedroom of Goodsprings home directly SE from Doc Mitchell's house. 3 !Average
Goodsprings Safe Inside Goodsprings schoolhouse. It can also be unlocked via the nearby Average terminal. 2 !Easy
Goodsprings Safe Floor safe inside Goodsprings gas station. It is located behind the counter, partially concealed by the bed. 2 !Easy
Goodsprings Safe Floor safe in the south room of Prospector Saloon. It can also be unlocked via the nearby Easy terminal. 4 !Hard
Gun Runners (Fallout: New Vegas) Gate To the left of the kiosk. 3 !Average
Gun Runners (Fallout: New Vegas) Locker On the right in the room with the Gun Runner terminal. 3 !Average
HELIOS One Door At the southeastern corner of HELIOS One Power Plant. 1 !Very Easy
HELIOS One Safe At the solar collection tower down the stairs from the entrance. 3 !Average
HELIOS One Safe At the solar collection tower, downstairs in a southern room. 3 !Average
Hidden supply cave Door The exterior door of the cave. 3 !Average
Hidden Valley Door In the bunker that is next to the intercom. 5 !Very Hard
Jacobstown Door The exterior door of the Jacobstown Bungalow that is closest to the front doors of the Jacobstown lodge. 3 !Average
Jean Sky Diving Locker Inside the building. It can also be unlocked with the key on the nearby table. 3 !Average
Lucky 38 Safe At the cocktail lounge. 3 !Average
Lucky 38 Briefcase At the cocktail lounge. 4 !Hard
NCR Correctional Facility First aid box On the first floor of the Administration building. 2 !Easy
NCR Correctional Facility Door On the second floor of the Administration building, directly ahead of the top of the stairs. 3 !Average
NCR Correctional Facility Safe On the second floor of the Administration building, there is a wall safe directly behind Eddie. 3 !Average
NCR Correctional Facility Armor case In Cell Block A, in the last cell on the right. 3 !Average
NCR Correctional Facility Mine box In Cell Block A, in the last cell on the right. 2 !Easy
NCR Correctional Facility Footlocker In Cell Block B, in the first cell on the right. 1 !Very Easy
NCR Correctional Facility Door In Cell Block B, the first cell door to the left. 2 !Easy
Nipton Door The cage door in the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 3 !Average
Nipton Refrigerator In the kitchen in the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 2 !Easy
Nipton Cabinet The kitchen cabinet in the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 3 !Average
Nipton Desk In the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 1 !Very Easy
Nipton Cabinet In the bedroom in the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 2 !Easy
Nipton Safe In the bathroom in the booby-trapped house #4 east of the Nipton General Store. 1 !Very Easy
Nipton General Store Door Behind the counter. 2 !Easy
Nipton Town Hall Door In Steyn's office. 1 !Very Easy
Nipton Town Hall Door In Steyn's office, the door to the room behind the mayor's office. 3 !Average
Nipton Road Pit Stop Grenade box In the destroyed house to the North of the road. 2 !Easy
Novac Safe Inside the Dino Dee-lite front desk, behind the counter there is a floor safe. 2 !Easy
Novac Door Inside the Dino Bite gift shop, behind the counter. 1 !Very Easy
Novac Gun case Inside Ranger Andy's bungalow, atop a shelf on the wall. 3 !Average
Novac First aid box Inside McBride house in the bathroom. 2 !Easy
Novac Gun case Inside McBride's house, atop a shelf on the wall. 3 !Average
Novac First aid box Inside the Novac house just north of McBride house, in the bathroom. 1 !Very Easy
Novac Footlocker Inside the Novac house just north of McBride house, in the bedroom. 3 !Average
Novac Footlocker Inside the Novac house just south of No-bark's shack, under the bed in the bedroom. 2 !Easy
Primm Door Inside the Bison Steve Hotel, behind the counter to the right of the front entrance. 4 !Hard
Primm Safe Inside the Bison Steve Hotel, in the room where the Bison Steve maintenance key can be found. 3 !Average
Primm Safe Inside the Bison Steve Hotel, there is a floor safe behind the counter in the gift shop. Contains Lucky 4 !Hard
Primm Door Inside the Bison Steve Hotel, the maintenance door in the SE corner of the room where the elevator can be found. Can also be unlocked with the Bison Steve maintenance key. 2 !Easy
Primm Door On the second floor of the Bison Steve Hotel, immediately to the left of the elevator. 1 !Very Easy
Primm Door On the second floor of the Bison Steve Hotel, near the SW corner. 1 !Very Easy
Primm Gun cabinet On the third floor of the Bison Steve Hotel, in the large destroyed room. Can also be unlocked with the Worn key (Bison Steve hotel) 3 !Average
Primm Door The door leading to the cashier's cage in the Vicki and Vance Casino. 1 !Very Easy
Primm Safe The sixth safe from the left on the top row of safes in Vicki and Vance Casino's cashier's cage. 2 !Easy
Primm Safe The first safe from the left in the middle row of safes in Vicki and Vance Casino's cashier's cage. 4 !Hard
Primm Safe The fifth safe from the left on the bottom row of safes in Vicki and Vance Casino's cashier's cage. 2 !Easy
Ranger Station Bravo Ammunition box Inside the truck trailer at the southwestern corner of the station, there are four total ammunition boxes. 3 !Average
Ranger Station Delta Gun case Inside the communications tent. 3 !Average
Ranger Station Echo Ammunition box Inside the communications hut. 2 !Easy
Ranger Station Foxtrot First aid box Inside the tent. 1 !Very Easy
Ranger Station Foxtrot Mine box Inside the tent. 1 !Very Easy
REPCONN headquarters Door On the main floor, to the right of the lobby as soon as the building is entered. Can also be unlocked with the nearby Average terminal. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Door On the main floor, to the right of two Protectron bays. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Door On the main floor, near the shipping sign. 5 !Very Hard
REPCONN headquarters Door On the main floor, behind the counter in the gift shop. 4 !Hard
REPCONN headquarters Safe In the room behind the gift shop. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Door On the main floor past three exhibit rooms is a double broken door. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Door A door to the second floor, located by climbing the ramp created by the broken floor in the room with the Q-35 matter modulator. 4 !Hard
REPCONN headquarters Door On the second floor, across the hall from the Hard locked door containing the Q-35 matter modulator, there are two separate doors. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Door On the second floor, across the hall from the Hard locked door containing the Q-35 matter modulator, there are two separate doors. 3 !Average
REPCONN headquarters Safe In the northwestern corner of the top floor. Can also be unlocked via the nearby terminal. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Grenade box On the road leading to the site, to the southeast, in the sandbag-fortified area where the road curves slightly. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Door In the lobby, directly behind the semi-circular desk. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Door Up the stairs beyond the locked lobby door, the first door on the left. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Safe Up the stairs beyond the locked lobby door, inside the locked room on the left. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Door Up the stairs beyond the locked lobby door, inside the locked room on the left. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site Door Up the west stairs beyond the broken double doors, the first door on the left. 1 !Very Easy
REPCONN test site Safe On the third floor, in a carpeted room, behind the semi-circular desk. 3 !Average
REPCONN test site On the third floor, the room across the hall from the carpeted room. 1 !Very Easy
REPCONN test site Door The door to the REPCONN basement. Can also be unlocked with the key given by Jason Bright. 2 !Easy
REPCONN test site In REPCONN basement, the southern room. Harland is inside. 2 !Easy
Residential District Dead Money Gate South of the entrance to the Villa and directly to the east of a staircase. 3 !Average
Residential District Dead Money Ammunition box Inside the Cloud in the courtyard with two trees. A RadAway is nearby for visual reference. 3 !Average
Ruby Hill Mine Box In the area filled with water. You can get there either by swimming or walking. 3 !Average
Ruby Hill Mine Box In the area filled with water. You can get there either by swimming or walking. 4 !Hard
Silver Rush Door At the southwest corner of the large main room. 4 !Hard
Silver Rush Safe In the room leading to the stairs. Can also be unlocked with the terminal on the nearby table. 4 !Hard
Silver Rush Door Up the stairs, straight down the first hall on the left. 4 !Hard
Silver Rush Door Up the stairs, straight down at the end of the first hall. 4 !Hard
Sloan Locker Inside the Worker barracks, on the right in the back of the room. 2 !Easy
Sniper's nest Gun case On the floor. 5 !Very Hard
Sunset Sarsaparilla headquarters Door Go up a flight of stairs and down another to the ground floor. The door that is already open and broken can be picked for the XP. 5 !Very Hard
The Prospector's Den Armor case In the second room on the right. 3 !Average
The Prospector's Den Gun case In the second room on the right. 2 !Easy
Ultra-Luxe Door The cashier's door in the lobby. 3 !Average
Vault 21 Door The door to Sarah's room. It's located northeast of the entrance. 3 !Average
Vault 21 Dresser Inside Sarah's room next to the bed. 4 !Hard
Villa Dead Money Metal box In the area directly east of the fountain where the hologram of Father Elijah is encountered, on the second-floor walkway. It can be reached via the stairs from the nearby gift shop. 3 !Average
Villa Dead Money Cash register In the shop directly south from the Salida del Sol entrance. One of Dean's Secret Stashes can be found here as well. 4 !Hard
Villa Dead Money Door The door to the Villa police station. 1 !Very Easy
Villa Dead Money Gun cabinet North of the door to the Villa police station is a courtyard with two tree planters. Enter the blue door on the west wall, up the stairs. 3 !Average 1
Villa Dead Money Metal box Near the door to the Villa police station. 3 !Average
Wins hideout Safe Inside the Wins hideout is The Wins' safe. Can also be unlocked via dialog check (Speech 55) with Pauline Wins. 5 !Very Hard

1 Average lock at player levels 1-25, Hard lock at levels 26-50

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