Sentry Safe Won’t Open? 7 Tips To Try When Your Code Isn’t Working

Although the top tier brand safes like Cannon, American Security, Union and Sports Afield, and so on continue to be on the consumers’ top of mind, Sentry Safes remain dominant in the field. Their safes are renowned for their reliability and safety and the innovative touch of being fire-resistant. 

Sentry Safe models come with various locking systems, however, and despite being the top choice for many, users often end up panicking when their safes won’t open. If you’re here, you’re one of the few currently having trouble with your Sentry Safe, and you’re desperately looking for a way to open your safe, use your code, and avoid spending money. 

This can be incredibly convenient, but we’re here to help you out. We’ve analyzed the most common reasons your code might not be working, along with the best tips to troubleshoot your current problem. 

Again, we’re here to help. Just read on to find out more!

4 Reasons Your Sentry Safe May Not Be Opening & Tips To Fix Them

If you’re having difficulty opening your Sentry Safe, some of them could be because of defects caused by wear and tear. More often than not, it could be someone as trivial as failing to charge it. It’s still good to learn about the potential reasons you can’t access your Sentry Safe, however, and here are some of them:

Sentry Safe’s Battery Is Dead

Seeing as you’ve invested hefty sums in your safe, it can be easy to simply panic when it doesn’t open. However, most users only end up facing dead batteries, but it can be quite tricky to tell, especially since you can still access your keypads. It just beeps and lights normally even with low batteries, so make sure to double-check. They can run, but not enough to open your safe.

Solution: Change the batteries if they’re completely dead. For the best possible results, purchase the best battery brands on the market, such as Energizer. 

Sentry Safe Is In Lockout Mode

The Sentry Safe comes with a ton of features, but like most safe brands out there, it’s designed to protect you at all times. If someone else enters the wrong combination repeatedly, your safe will go into a penalty lockout mode. More often than not, this could be you, and you won’t be able to access your safe.

Solution: You’ll need to wait for 10 to 20 minutes before trying to enter the code once more. After waiting out the lockout mode, make sure to re-enter your code combination properly!

Sentry Safe Has Jammed Bolt Work

Apart from dead batteries and lockout mode, your Sentry Safe may have jammed bolt work. This could possibly be the reason your safe won’t open even if you hear the motor trying to open the door. While this can seem like a daunting task, it can easily be fixed!

Solution: Press the door firmly to loosen the bolt work. You can do so multiple times, but take extra care not to press on the handle and keypad. After pressing the door, pull the handle in the opposite direction. Enter the code, and you’ll have opened your safe.

Sentry Safe Has Damaged Wiring  

No matter how hard we try to keep our possessions in good condition, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. If none of the reasons above applies to your current situation, you may be dealing with damaged wiring. 

Solution: You’ll need to remove the keypad to manually check the wires. If they’re simply loose, you can put them back together. If they look fine but no longer work, you need to contact your local technician. Attempting to fix it further can lead to serious consequences, so it’s best to call on the experts.

Is Your Sentry Safe Still Not Opening? Tips To Try When Your Code Doesn’t Work

If you still can’t open your Sentry Safe, we have the following tips in store for you. However, do keep in mind that these are DIY solutions. More often than not, these tips require skill and time.

Determine What Kind Of Safe You Have

So, what do you do when you can’t access your safe? Before anything else, your first step should be to research the type of safe you have. Information on Sentry can easily be found on the net, and you simply have to look for the model. When all else fails, contact the manufacturer directly for better guidance. 

Consider Safe Manipulation

Disclaimer: We do not recommend safe manipulation, and should only be done when all means have been exhausted. 

What is safe manipulation? It essentially pertains to the process of opening a safe without either the combination of the key. As mentioned, however, we do not recommend this method as it can easily damage your Sentry Safe. If you would still like to proceed, however, it’s best to research the method more thoroughly.

As a starting point, safe manipulation is done with the use of manual passcode key locks. These are locking mechanisms that can be manipulated without resorting to drilling, but one wrong move can cause the safe to become locked forever. 

For more a more professional approach, a locksmith may end up using small tools to try and manipulate the locking system. However, it’s best to simply take to a technician that will help open your Sentry Safe. 

Get A Replacement Key or Combination For Your Sentry Safe

When all else fails, it’s time to seek the help of the manufacturer. They’ll help you diagnose your problem, but this will usually result in getting a key replacement for your Sentry Safe. Again, we highly suggest that you work with the actual factory your safe came from. They’ll know best how to deal with your jammed safe, ensuring that you don’t have to replace it altogether.

If you’re dealing with an electronic lock, keep in mind that Sentry can also accommodate lost combinations. If you want to request a combination reset, simply fill out the Combo Recovery Form. 

The Takeaway

There are a myriad of reasons your Sentry Safe won’t open, the most common of which are listed above. As mentioned, you could be dealing with dead batteries, jammed bolt work, lockout mode, and even faulty writing. 

Don’t switch to a lockbox just yet! All these come with the challenge of owning a safe, and there are solutions readily available for you. Make sure to keep them in mind, but if necessary, never hesitate to call on a professional’s help. You’ll want to look for solutions on your own, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!