Safe lock help · Mesa Safe
Safe lock troubleshooting › Mesa Safe › MSL-50 and MSL-50-P keypad
The Mesa MSL-50 and MSL-50-P are the round electronic keypads on Mesa MBF gun safes, burglary-and-fire safes and MSC high-security safes. This guide covers how to open the safe, change your two user codes, replace the 9-volt 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 that also show letters, and * and # keys. Three small lights sit at the left: green, red and orange.
- Mesa uses the MSL-50 on its MBF gun safes and burglary-and-fire safes, and the MSL-50-P on its MSC high-security safes.
- It has two user codes, each up to 8 digits long, and runs on one 9-volt battery in a compartment on the bottom edge of the keypad.
- The MSL-5 and MSL-500 keypads look very similar but work differently. See those guides if yours is one of them.
How to open it
- Enter your code, then press #.
- 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: a red light comes on along with the green light when you open the safe, or you enter a valid code and get a valid response but the lock does not unlock.
- Find the battery cover on the bottom edge of the keypad and pull its tab to remove the cover.
- 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 all your codes and settings when the battery is changed. Test your code with the door open.
How to change your codes
Always do this with the safe door OPEN.
Test the new code several times before you close the door. The red button is on the inside edge of the door, on the hinge side.
Change the 1st user code (1 to 8 digits)
- Find the red button on the inside hinge-side edge of the door.
- Press the red button. The lock gives 2 beeps with the yellow light on.
- Enter your new code, then press *. The lock gives 2 beeps.
- 5 beeps means the change failed and the old code still works. Repeat the steps.
Change the 2nd user code (1 to 8 digits)
- On the keypad enter 00, then press the red button. The lock gives 2 beeps with the yellow light on.
- Enter your new code, then press *. The lock gives 2 beeps.
- 5 beeps means the change failed and the old code still works. Repeat the steps.
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 with the yellow light on | Code change: the lock is ready for the new code, or the new code was accepted. |
| 5 beeps during a code change | The change failed. The old code still works. |
| Red light with the green light when you open | The battery is low. Replace it. |
Wrong-code lockout
If 3 wrong codes are entered in a row, the keypad shuts down for 15 minutes. During that time it will not accept any code.
If it still won’t open
The keypad does nothing
Replace the 9-volt battery (see the battery section). Make sure the connector is snapped on and the wires are not pinched. If the lock is in the 15-minute shutdown, 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 MBF-GUN Series MSL-50 Electronic Lock Instructions (PDF)Mesa Safe Company, 2015. Hosted by Mesa.
- Mesa MSL-50 lock pageMesa’s page for the MSL-50, with the manual for each safe series.
- Mesa MSL-50-P lock pageMesa’s page for the MSL-50-P (MSC high-security safes).
- 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.