To use a lockpick in Palworld, craft the correct tier Lockpicking Tool, approach a locked chest, press V to start the minigame, find the sweet spot, and turn the lock to open it without consuming the tool.
Lockpicks in Palworld are permanent Ancient Technology tools that let you bypass the Copper, Silver, and Gold Keys normally required to open locked Treasure Chests. Instead of carrying single-use keys for every chest type, you craft a Lockpicking Tool once and keep it forever. The tool lands in your Key Items tab, has infinite uses, and weighs nothing—making it strictly superior to hoarding keys once you have the right tier unlocked.
What lockpicks are and why they replace keys
Lockpicking Tools are not consumables. Once crafted, a tool sits permanently in your Key Items inventory and can open an unlimited number of its corresponding chest type. This makes them a direct upgrade over carrying Copper, Silver, and Gold Keys, which clutter your inventory and serve no purpose once the matching lockpick tier is owned. The only scenario where a physical key still helps is when you need to instantly open a chest during a time-sensitive event—such as an Oil Rig raid—where spending seconds on the minigame is too risky.
Lockpicking Tool tiers, unlock levels, and material costs
| Tool Tier | Ancient Tech Level | Chest Type | Material Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockpicking Tool v1 | Level 16 | Copper Key chests | 10x Ingot, 10x Paldium Fragment, 5x Nail |
| Lockpicking Tool v2 | Around Level 26–28 | Silver Key chests | 20x Ingot, 20x Paldium Fragment, 10x Nail |
| Lockpicking Tool v3 | Level 51 | Gold Key chests | 30x Pal Metal Ingot, 30x Paldium Fragment, 20x Nail |
There are three tiers of Lockpicking Tools, each tied to an Ancient Technology node and a specific chest type. Crafting the right tier requires gathering Paldium Fragments alongside Ingot or Pal Metal Ingot, so planning your material farms ahead of time saves repeated trips to the bench.
The v2 Ancient Technology unlock level is contested across guides, with reports placing it anywhere from Level 26 to Level 28, so expect to spend points in that range. Regarding cross-tier compatibility, at least one guide claims the v2 tool can open both Copper and Silver chests, while others imply a strict one-tier mapping. Because this is inconsistent, test your tool on a lower-tier chest in your current patch before discarding your keys.
How to craft and use a lockpick in Palworld
STEP 1/6
Craft the Lockpicking Tool
Unlocking the Ancient Technology node for your tier and craft the tool at a Production bench using the required Ingot, Paldium Fragments, and Nail.
STEP 2/6
Confirm it is in Key Items
Open your inventory and check the Key Items tab to verify the tool landed there after crafting.
STEP 3/6
Approach a locked Treasure Chest
Find a chest that requires a Copper, Silver, or Gold Key and stand close to it.
STEP 4/6
Hold V to start lockpicking
Press and hold V on PC (or Y on Xbox) to begin the lockpicking minigame.
STEP 5/6
Find the sweet spot and press A to turn
Move the pick slowly until you find the spot with no resistance, then press A to turn the lock roughly 90 degrees.
STEP 6/6
Stop if you feel resistance
If the lock wiggles or stops turning, stop immediately, adjust the pick angle slightly, and try again until it opens.
Video help
Minigame mechanics and finding the sweet spot
The lockpicking minigame asks you to find a specific rotational position—the “sweet spot”—where the pick catches and the lock can rotate freely. Start in the middle position and move slowly from there. As you adjust, the pick will wiggle and you will feel resistance when you are in the wrong spot. The lock needs to turn roughly 90 degrees to fully open. If it starts shaking or stops mid-turn, stop immediately rather than forcing it, nudge the pick angle slightly, and try again. The sweet spot does not move between attempts on the same chest, so once you find the general area you can refine from there.
Common mistakes with lockpicks and keys
The biggest mistake is treating lockpicks as single-use items and hoarding keys unnecessarily. Lockpicking Tools are permanent Key Items with infinite uses, so once you own the correct tier you can safely sell all your Copper, Silver, and Gold Keys to merchants for Gold. Another common error is rushing the turn—forcing the lock when you feel resistance causes repeated failures, so slow down and nudge the pick instead. Finally, because the game does not pause during lockpicking, attempting the minigame during an Oil Rig raid before clearing nearby enemies leaves you completely vulnerable to attack. Clear the area first, then pick the lock at your own pace.
Sell all your Copper, Silver, and Gold Keys to merchants once you own the matching lockpick tier — the tools are permanent, weigh nothing, and open unlimited chests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do lockpicks break or get consumed on failure in Palworld?
No. Lockpicking Tools are permanent Key Items with infinite uses. Failing the minigame does not break or consume the tool—it stays in your Key Items inventory and you can retry immediately.
Can a higher-tier lockpick open lower-tier chests?
This is inconsistent across sources. At least one guide claims the v2 tool can open both Copper and Silver chests, while others imply a strict one-tier mapping. Test your tool on a lower-tier chest in your current patch before discarding your keys.
Should I sell my Copper, Silver, and Gold Keys to merchants?
Yes, once you own the matching lockpick tier. Because lockpicks are permanent and have infinite uses, physical keys become dead weight. The only reason to keep a key is for instant chest opens during time-sensitive scenarios like Oil Rig raids, where skipping the minigame saves critical seconds.
What happens if I fail the lockpicking minigame?
Nothing is destroyed or consumed. The minigame simply resets and you try again. Stop turning the moment you feel resistance, adjust the pick angle slightly, and attempt the turn again until the lock opens.
Does the game pause while lockpicking?
No. Palworld runs in real-time during the lockpicking minigame, meaning enemies can still attack you. This is especially dangerous during Oil Rig raids—always clear nearby enemies before starting the minigame.
