In the history of Elder Scrolls, the easiest way to obtain money, albeit not the safest, is to lockpick containers and Oblivion: Remastered isn’t an exception. However, the system might be a bit daunting for some and even confusing, especially since it isn’t in line with some of the modern lockpicking mini-games we’ve seen. So, if you’re struggling to break into a house, open a chest, or anything that requires a lockpick and a bit of skill, here we’ll tell you how to lockpick in Oblivion: Remastered.
Lockpicking in Oblivion: Remastered, Explained

Many players are used to the modern lockpicking mini-games of rotating the lock while finding the right spot. Oblivion: Remastered handles its lockpick skill a bit differently.
To get started, you’ll need a lockpick in case it isn’t obvious. You can purchase these from certain NPCs or find them while looting containers or enemies. Once you have a few, you need to find a door or a container that can be lockpicked. Usually, you’ll see a lock icon and a difficulty level, and maybe even some red letters if opening the lock or container is considered illegal. A few of them aren’t, though.
When the mini-game starts, you’ll see the inside of the lock, your lockpick, and the tumblers. Locking all tumblers at the top can be difficult, depending on your timing and the lock’s difficulty. Here are some tips to succeed in this mini-game:
- Start with whatever tumbler you want and press X/A/Space to move it to the top.
- Familiarize yourself with the tumbler’s speed.
- You need to see when it reaches the top so you can lock it in place.
- When you see the tumbler at the top, press the aforementioned buttons.
- If you succeed, the tumbler will stay there. If you fail, the lockpick will break, and previously pushed tumblers will reset.
One way to cheese this mini-game is by spamming the direction button to keep the tumbler rising and then pushing it once it slows down. It takes a lot of practice, especially since you need to have perfect timing. If you do it too fast or too slow, you’ll fail. However, once you nail down the basics, there won’t be any locks you can’t open in Oblivion: Remastered.
Also, if you ever run out of lockpicks, you can find any of the Thieves Guild fences that sell these items. You need to join the Guild first, but we have a guide here to help you do so.