how do you take off a doorknob?

Question

i need to take off a doorknob, ive lost the key for it and i cant figure it out. help me please, i cant get in!!

Answer 1

Different knobs work different ways.
But the most common type has a metal plate that rests against the door. (When you grab the door knob, your hand is pretty much covering everything except the plate that I'm talking about.)
You need to remove that plate in order to get at the screws that hold the door knob to the door.

The plate can be pried off. (You don't have to bend it, you just need to get something between the plate and the door (a knife blade maybe) and pop it off.

However, before you can get the plate to pop off, you usually have to remove the outer knob (the part that you grab with your hand). To do that, look at the narrow part of it (the part between the plate described above and the part of the knob that you grab). You will probably find a small rectangular hole with something metallic sticking into it from inside the knob. If you press on that something with a screwdriver blade and try to make it go back into the rectangular hole, you'll find that it is on a spring. It will push back against the screwdriver, but you can hold it down. While you're holding it down, pull the knob away from the door, and you'll find that it comes right off.

With the knob off, remove the plate, as discussed above.

With the plate off, remove the screws that hold the knob to the door.

Keep track of all the parts as they come off. They should be:
outer knob
plate
screws
another plate that the screws go through
the main knob assembly, including the knob from the other side of the door

Removing all this leaves the latch (the part that goes in and out when you turn the knob. There should be two screws that hold this in the door. Just remove those screws and take the latch out.

(p.s. Most of the people who have answered this question don't know how knobs work. Whatever you do, don't think that you need to take the door off its hinges to remove the door knob. That won't help. John K gave a good explanation of how it works.)

Answer 2

A doorknob can not be removed from the outside without a key. You remove the 2 screws on the inside and it all comes apart.

There are 2 more screws on the edge of the door holding in the tongue. You can leave that alone and just bring the lock part to a locksmith for a new key.

Answer 3

you will need to be on the inside
some doorknobs have visible screws
some have a removable flange covering them that is easily popped off exposing the screws
it is a simple task to remove the screws and the knob
at that point you can take it to the local hardware store where they can make you a key (s) and away you go.
should cost about $6
be careful to note how things came apart so you will know how to put them back together
an expensive option is to call a locksmith.....quite expensive

Answer 4

unscrew the screws. But if you don't want to do that use a credit card to break in. I always break into my house after school when I forget my key. Just push the card in the crack in the side directly next to the doorknob the door should open if it's a simple lock anyways.

Answer 5

if it is internal in your house (not your front or back door) you should be able to unscrew the sides of the doorknob, once its unscrewed you should be able to move the door mechanism in and then open the door.

From your question, it seems that its your front or back door, or at least one that locks. In this case, its best to call a locksmith or conversely break down the door.

If you do break down the door, you will still needto call a locksmith and also a door repairman, so thats not really advisable.

Answer 6

Defiant Door Hardware

Answer 7

If you are on the outside of the house or door you will not be able to take off the knob. Knobs are designed to keep people out, so the screws to install / remove are on the inside of the room. If you are locked out of your house you are better off to call a locksmith. Much cheaper than breaking a window and then having the glass replaced.

Answer 8

before you remove the screws on the bigger round plate look on neck of knob close to the round plate with screws. you will see a thin slot with a tab that sticks out a little bit. you need to take a small screw driver or other similar tool and push this tab in and pull on knob at same time. then you can take screws and plate off.

Answer 9

RE:
how do you take off a doorknob?
i need to take off a doorknob, ive lost the key for it and i cant figure it out. help me please, i cant get in!!

Answer 10

You can remove the screws and take apart the assembly. If the screws are not accessible, you may have to remove the door from its hinges. Good luck.