Picking Locks in Starfield: How to Open Locks and Safes

Picking locks in digipics and remain without reward.

In this guide we will tell you in detail how lockpicking works, where to get master keys and how to easily open any lock or safe.

How the mechanics of lock puzzles work

Lockpick puzzles are not pre-generated: they are procedurally generated when the mini-game starts. If a particular set of rings and keys leaves you stumped, you can simply back off and try again. In this case, you will lose the digipik that you used on the first attempt, but for particularly complex locks this is a good solution.

What you need to hack locks and safes in Starfield

To open any lock you will need digipicks - master keys stored in the player's inventory. These are consumable items that disappear after use, so we recommend that you always keep a good supply of digipics with you.

For complex safes, you will have to spend more than one master key, and it is also worth taking into failed attempts - otherwise you will not be able to break into the vault and pick up the rewards, or complete the quest.

Where to get master keys

There are several different ways to get digipics:

• Inspecting the bodies of fallen opponents - dead NPCs also have an inventory where you can find useful items, including master keys;
• Theft - like other valuables, they can simply be stolen from other characters if you have the Theft skill.
• Gathering - When exploring the open world, check all possible corners, such as tables, shelves and cabinets.
• Cheat codes — there is a special console command that adds the specified number of digipics to the inventory.
• Shop purchase — from some sellers you can purchase the necessary items for only 35 credits.

Read in a separate guide where to find and buy digipics in Starfield. They also described in detail how to enter a cheat code for free master keys.

How to pick locks in Starfield

In the game, picking locks is known as "hacking". There are several different objects that can be opened: armored doors, safes, storage containers and computer terminals. To try you will need one digipik. If you don't have any master keys in your inventory, you won't be able to open the lock. When you make a mistake - you can’t handle the device or retreat, you lose one digipik.

 

Each castle has a certain difficulty level, which requires an appropriate level of skill:

• Novice - no hacking skill required.
• Advanced - Security rank 1 [Security].
• Expert - Security rank 2.
• Master - Security rank 3.

The higher the difficulty level, the easier it is to fail an attempt. When opening high-security locks, you need to carefully consider the moves and how they will affect subsequent rings.

When you start interacting with something that can be hacked, an interface will appear with 2-5 large rings in the center of the screen. They have small gaps, complex mechanisms have more rings and grooves in them. The number of master keys in the inventory is displayed on the right.

Under the digipics is a set "keys", which can approach the castle. Some keys can be inserted into several different rings by rotating them; others will only work in a certain position. The main task is to select and insert the correct options at each stage of hacking.

Quick save before picking locks

When you exit the mini-game, the digipik will be used up and disappear from your inventory. Therefore we recommend save game [Quicksave] before attempting to break in, so as not to waste master keys.

Choose the correct key shape

You must select the desired option from the forms provided on the right. The correct key should fit into the grooves of the lock, depicted as a large circle with gaps.

Insert the key into the right place

Once you have selected the key, turn it so that it fits perfectly into the gaps. Once it is aligned with the gaps, press "A" buttonto insert the master key all the way.

Use cancel to restart the puzzle

In the same puzzle, the key can be placed in different slots. If you place it in the wrong slots, other digipiks will not fit into the remaining slots. To restart the mini-game, use the button "Undo".

Repeat the process until the lock is taken

Depending on the complexity of the lock, the procedure will have to be repeated several more times: select the shape of the key, then insert it into the appropriate slots.

Think ahead

Unlike similar puzzles in Skyrim and Fallout, in Starfield you can solve the entire puzzle in your head, simply by analyzing the actions in advance. At higher levels you can sometimes get a key that fits multiple rings.

Pay attention to the following steps immediately - if there are no necessary keys left, you will have to start the process all over again and lose the master keys. Therefore, try to calculate the solution for all levels in advance, and only after that proceed to the hacking itself.

Use keys that have a lot of jagged edges first. As a rule, they are rarely used and are unlikely to be needed at subsequent levels of the castle. Unlike figures, where there are only one or two notches.

Do not hurry

During the mini-game, time stops, so you can take your time. Methodically rotate each key 360 degrees to see where it might fit.

How to quickly level up your Security skill to open all types of locks

Increase your skill level "Security" in the [Tech] technology branch and open Galbank ATMs to increase your rating and open advanced, expert and master locks in Starfield.

There are four ATMs in GalBank, all with increased difficulty. The fastest way to level up your skill is to pick 4 different locks on one booth. GalBank can be found in New Atlantis and other urban areas.

Examples of opening locks

Since the locks are generated randomly each time, it is impossible to show the exact sequence, even for the same safe. However, to demonstrate the general algorithm for solving puzzles with locks, we present a few examples step-by-step hacking with different levels of difficulty.

Novice level

A beginner level security lock usually involves one or two steps with multiple cutters. This is the simplest safe puzzle, how to solve it:

1. There are 5 slots in total; if you look at the proposed master keys, it will become clear that the option with three incisors will have to be used here anyway. Otherwise, using a combination of other keys on the first level, you will only be able to plug 4 holes. Select third option and twist it to the desired slots.
2. Key A insert the key or press "Y"to use the auto slot and not lose the master key if you are not sure of your choice.
3. From the remaining list, select another, most suitable digipik, twist it and insert it inside. Then the first level of the castle will be completed.
4. Inner rings are usually lighter than the previous ones, and there are much fewer options here. Rotate the existing shapes and install them in the desired slots.

Level Advanced

The second most difficult lock is the Advanced security level lock. Usually there are no more than three stages of the puzzle. Maybe two, but with many grooves. Selecting cases will be more difficult than at the Beginner level.

How to solve these mini-games:

1. Follow from complex figures to simple ones. Try to install unusual cases in the first row that have a lot of notches.
2. Then fill the remaining slots with simpler options.
3. Complete the stage by twisting the master keys offered on the right. If you made no mistake in the previous step, then there should be suitable cases left.

Expert level

We'll show you roughly how to open an Expert security level lock. Unlike the previous one, here there are 3-4 rings with a large number of slots, and there are 8-9 cases to choose from.

Think through the steps in advance so that by the last stage you have universal digipics left and do not have to waste them on cancellations.

1. Always start with the figures where 4 serrations, since they are rare and situational - keys with fewer protrusions are more practical, there are many solutions with them.
2. Add another case with a suitable figure to the remaining slot.
3. Then rotate the keys and think through alternative options so that you can then choose the best one and save the good master keys for the central level. By the end there will be about 5 digipiks left, so there shouldn’t be any difficulties with the solution.

Master level

The most difficult riddle is the Master security level lock, where there can be 4 steps, and each has many grooves. 16 master keys will appear on the right; many of the pieces here fit into different slots at once, but they can only be used once. Be vigilant and count your moves ahead so that you don’t end up without the necessary keys when you get to the center of the device.

1. Always try to insert difficult variants with many notches first: those with one or two protrusions are universal, and can be useful in later stages. Find the most suitable shape for the three grooves. And then think about the remaining recesses.
2. Having made a decision, insert each element one by one into place.
3. Using the same principle, select new master keys from the list.
4. Using the same advice, follow through with the task. At the last stage, there will be only 4 master keys left, from which it is easier to choose.

How does automatic lockpicking of locks and safes work?

In the future, you can save auto-opening attempts, which will help you quickly solve the riddle. Use them for more complex locks or when you run out of spare picks. By successfully picking locks, you can earn and accumulate an auto slot, but there are some restrictions on the number:

• Rank 1 of the Security skill - you can get two auto slots.
• Rank 2 – three auto slots,
• Rank 3 – four auto slots.
• Rank 4 – five auto slots.

Also at a higher rank you can use the key "X", which will remove from the list of keys all the figures that are not required to open a complex lock, and when the correct option is selected, the central ring will become blue.

We hope this Starfield lockpicking guide helped you learn how to open locks and safes. If you have any questions or difficulties, please comments, we will definitely try to help. Read site section.