Safe lock help · Mesa Safe
Safe lock troubleshooting › Mesa Safe › MSL-5 keypad (Gun Lite series)
The Mesa MSL-5 is the round electronic keypad on Mesa Gun Lite (MGL) series safes. It has one 6-digit user code and a 9-volt battery. This guide covers how to open the safe, change the code, replace the battery, and what the lights and beeps mean.
Want the whole manual? Jump to the manufacturer download links.
Is this your lock?
- A round keypad on the safe door with the MESA name at the top, number keys with letters, and * and # keys, with three small lights at the left (green, orange and red).
- Mesa uses it on its MGL Gun Lite series safes.
- It has one user code, 6 digits long, and runs on one 9-volt battery behind a sliding door on the bottom edge of the keypad.
- The MSL-50 and MSL-500 keypads look similar but work differently. See those guides if yours is one of them.
How to open it
- Enter your 6-digit code. The green light stays on for about 5 seconds and you hear a click.
- Turn the handle to the open position before the green light goes out.
- A wrong code gives a red light and 5 beeps.
- To lock the safe, close the door and turn the handle back to the locked position. Always make sure the safe is locked before you walk away.
- Press the keys firmly with your fingertips only. A fingernail, pen or other tool can damage the keys.
How to change the battery
The keypad uses one 9-volt battery (we recommend Procell alkaline). Low battery: the green and orange lights come on with 2 sets of 5 beeps, or you enter a valid code and get a valid response but the lock does not respond.
- Find the battery cover on the bottom edge of the keypad and slide the battery compartment door to the left.
- Carefully remove the old 9-volt battery. Hold on to the battery connector so you do not pull the wires out of the housing.
- Connect the new battery and put it in, without forcing it.
- The lock keeps your code and settings when the battery is changed. Test your code with the door open.
How to change the code
Always do this with the safe door OPEN.
Test the new code several times before you close the door. The lock will not accept the factory code as your new code.
- Enter 000000. The lock gives 2 beeps and 2 green flashes.
- Enter your existing code. 2 beeps and 2 green flashes.
- Enter your new 6-digit code. 2 beeps and 2 green flashes.
- Enter the new code again. 2 beeps and 2 green flashes mean the change worked.
- 5 beeps with the red light means the change failed. The old code still works, the lock shuts down for 1 minute, and the orange light shows for 3 seconds if you press keys. Repeat the steps after the minute is up.
What the lights and beeps mean
| What you see or hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| Green light for about 5 seconds, and a click | The code was valid. Turn the handle now. |
| Red light and 5 beeps | The code was not valid. |
| 2 beeps and 2 green flashes | Code change: that step was accepted. |
| Green and orange lights with 2 sets of 5 beeps | The battery is low. Replace it. |
| Orange light for 3 seconds when you press a key | The keypad is shut down (lockout) and is not accepting codes. |
Wrong-code lockout
If 3 wrong codes are entered in a row, the keypad shuts down for 5 minutes. During that time it will not accept any code, and the orange light shows for 3 seconds whenever you press a key.
If it still won’t open
The keypad does nothing
Replace the 9-volt battery (see the battery section). If the keypad is in the 5-minute shutdown, the orange light shows when you press a key: wait it out.
The code is accepted but the handle will not turn
The green light only stays on for about 5 seconds, so turn the handle right away. A weak battery can also stop the lock from unlocking. Replace the battery.
The safe is locked and the keypad is dead
Mesa includes a concealed override key for this. Its steps are in Mesa’s manual (linked below). If you are not sure, do not take the keypad apart: call us.
Download the full manufacturer instructions
This page is a quick-reference summary. For every feature and diagram, use the official manual for your model:
- Mesa MSL-5 Electronic Lock Instructions (PDF)Mesa Safe Company, 2015. Hosted by Mesa.
- Mesa MSL-5 lock pageMesa’s page for the MSL-5.
- Mesa Safe technical supportMesa’s lock list and support page.
Need a hand?
Still stuck? We can help.
Having a hard time getting into your safe? Our technicians are trained to open malfunctioning safes professionally, so your valuables can still be safely secured. Call us or stop by.
Steve’s Lock, Safe and Alarm · 3401 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
More lock guides
About this guide. This is an independent guide from Steve’s Lock, Safe and Alarm, a safe and lock dealer. Brand and model names belong to their owners and are used only to help you identify your lock. We are not affiliated with the manufacturers. These steps summarize the manufacturers’ own instructions; your lock may be a different version, so if anything here does not match what your lock does, follow your manual or call us. Always change codes with the safe door open, and test the new code several times before you close the door.
Steps last checked against the manufacturer documents on October 15, 2026.