In my experience with electronics not working, you can typically just swap the battery and you are back in. That said, if a battery swap does not get you back in, that’s when the manual comes in – hasn’t failed me yet. I practice the manual combination on my higher end safe every week – since the combo is in my safe deposit box. I leave an instruction sheet (for the manual operation) on the top of the other safe (no combo, just process steps) and so far that has been enough.

The above may seem like overkill but, for me, it isn’t. I had my wallet and car keys – and back-up car keys – in a safe with an electronic lock…which failed (my current older safe). Being without cash and car keys for two days is not the way to live. I was very fortunate that the tech I was able to reach really knew his stuff and got me back in. A year or two later and he may have been retired and with him all his knowledge. Lesson learned, to this day I will not leave wallet or keys in either of my safes.