Locke & Key: Every Key & What They Do, Explained

Locke & Key is one of those series that sweeps up its fans and keeps them obsessed. That goes for both the comics and the Netflix series. One of the biggest fascinations with the series is, of course, the keys.

The keys introduced in both versions of the series have intrigued fans from the start, so that’s what we’re here to talk about today. While sometimes the keys varied between the two mediums, there’s still a lot to learn about their mysterious ways.

Note: this list contains potential spoilers for future Locke & Key episodes, thanks to the inclusion of keys from the comics. Nothing is certain, however, as keys that have already made an appearance have already been altered.

36 Age Key

The Age Key is essentially exactly what you would expect it to be. It turns the user into an older (elderly) version of themselves. Body first heard about it from Echo, who listed it among several other keys.

35 Alpha Key

(Spoiler warning) Some keys have a natural counterpart. Where the Omega Key can put a person at risk of being possessed, the Alpha Key will do the opposite. It will lock away (kill) the demon possessing any person.

34 Angel Key

Don’t worry. The Angel Key doesn’t involve death – there’s another key for that. Instead, the Angel Key provides a beautiful pair of wings. Wings which will actually work, thus granting the user the ability to fly.

33 Animal Key

The Animal Key is linked to a door, and as you might imagine, going through that door (after using the key) will transform you into an animal. Doing this grants you the additional ability to communicate with critters of the same species. To return to human, you must pass back through the door.

Also noteworthy: the opposite also works. As in, an animal can become human, if they were to walk through the doorway.

32 Anywhere Key

Fans are likely very well aware of this Key. The Anywhere Key becomes a portal to any other door, provided that it has a door (and that you can clearly picture it in your mind – that is vital). It only works on locations the user has previously been to.

31 Bitey Key (Grindhouse Key)

The Bitey Key, aka the Grindhouse Key, is another useful key in terms of taking out opponents. Unlike the Mirror Key, it does not intend to trap. The Bitey Key instead will create a massive mouth, which will eat whoever enters.

30 Chain Key

The Chain Key goes hand and hand with the Great Lock. This Key can neutralize and control the Great Lock.

29 Echo Key

The Echo Key, when used in the Well House, will bring back an ‘echo’ of a deceased person. As in, it will (and should) bring back their voice. They cannot leave the Well House.

28 Enigma Key (Question Key)

The Enigma Key is exactly that: a question, a mystery. We’ve seen it used in artwork in the graphic novels, but still don’t know what it does.

27 Gender Key

The Gender Key allows a person to swap their gender, becoming the opposite of what they were, provided they go through the Gender Changing Door after unlocking it with the key.

26 Ghost Key

The Ghost Key works with the Ghost Door. Entering through the Ghost Door will turn you into a ghost. But if the door is shut while you are in that form, you will stay dead.

25 Giant Key

The Giant Key does exactly what you would expect. It makes the user grow to a much larger size. Additionally, the key itself is giant in scale, being the largest of the set.

24 Harlequin Key

The Harlequin Key works with the Harlequin Wardrobe. Without the key, the wardrobe is nothing special. But use the key, and you’ll find itself previously hidden.

23 Head Key

The Head Key allows the user to enter somebody’s head, including their own. That means they can dive through memories and other secrets within the mind, as well as inserting new ones.

22 Hell Key

The Hell Key appeared in The Sandman crossover (Hell & Gone), and supposedly the owner of the key also rules over Hell itself.

21 Hercules Key

The Hercules Key works alongside the Hercules Necklace. If you wear the two together (for the key fits inside the necklace) you will, unsurprisingly, gain Herculean strength.

20 Identity Key (Skin Key)

The Identity Key, aka the Skin Key, allows the user to change their appearance at will. As long as they can imagine it, they can transform into it.

19 Keyhouse Key

(Spoiler warning) The Keyhouse Key was created by Tyler Locke in order to recreate the destroyed Keyhouse.

18 Matchstick Key

The Matchstick Key can and will set anything on fire, so long as it makes contact with the item (or person).

17 Mending Key

The Mending Key, when used with the Mending Cabinet, can repair any object put inside. There are limitations to the Cabinet, which become clear later in the series.

16 Mirror Key

The Mirror Key, used on any mirror, can trap the user (or their targets) inside. Dodge calls it the perfect prison.

15 Moon Key

This key opens a portal to the moon and was designed to provide a gentle passing for a very ill child.

14 Music Box Key

The Music Box Key works alongside the Music Box, and it gives the user control over any person who hears the music.

13 Omega Key

The Omega Key opens up the Black Door. This is where the material for creating new keys comes from, but it comes with heavy risk.

12 Owl Key

he Owl Key fits perfectly into a little Bronze Owl, and if used in this manner will wake the owl. Said owl will follow any commands of the user.

11 Philosophoscope Key

Dodge uses the Philosophoscope Key to spy on Keyhouse and residents. When you look through the scope, you can see the person you desire most to see (spying).

10 Plant Key

The Plant Key gives control over plants, and as shown in the Netflix show, that makes for a great hiding space.

9 Reali Key

The Reali Key is a bit of a gag key, at least in the way it was used. It opens doors to other dimensions, and when used showed Bode the creators of the series.

8 Riffel Key

This key is the reason why (most) adults cannot remember what went in inside Keyhouse. The effects are specifically designed to work on Keyhouse Manor, implying that the main door is the Riffel Door.

7 Shadow Key

The Shadow Key opens a door in the basement (Chamber of Living Shadows), and also works inside the Crown of Shadows. Used together, the key gives the user control over the shadows nearby and has been proven to be quite dangerous.

6 Small World Key (Dollhouse Key)

The Small World Key works with a magical dollhouse, and when combined will turn said dollhouse in a replica of Keyhouse. That means that all those inside at the time suddenly become mobile dolls.

5 Splody Key

The Splody Key is more or less exactly what it sounds like: a key that causes explosions. Naturally, Bode created some accidental damage with that one.

4 Teddy Key

The Teddy Key creates evil teddy bears, yes you read that right. They will do their best to murder whoever the user asks.

3 Thorn Key

The Thorn Key only made it onto one page, so not much is known about it. We know that it can be used within the greenhouse and that it will unlock an artifact.

2 Timeshift Key

The Timeshift Key grants the user the ability to see past events, so long as they use it in combination with the Grandfather Clock found within Keyhouse.

1 Undertree Key (Squirrel Key)

Another key that could be considered a gag, as this key provides the user with the ability to control squirrels. Hence the nickname.

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