Older SentrySafe Keypad (PROG Key, 4 AA): Open, Code & Battery

Safe lock help · Sentry Safe

Safe lock troubleshooting › Sentry Safe › Older Sentry fire safes, T-series and EF safes: keypad with a PROG key

Before the P-key and touch keypads, many SentrySafe fire safes (and the T-series and EF executive safes) used a keypad with a PROG (program) key and a CLEAR key. It uses a 5-digit code and four AA batteries. This guide covers how to open the safe, set your own user code and PIN, replace the batteries on each design, open it with the override key if your model has one, and what the lights mean. Sentry also sold a version with a small display (PROG/ENTER key): see the Sentry advanced keypad guide.

• How to open
• Battery
• Set your user code
• Lights and beeps
• Lockout
• Override key (T-series and EF)
• Troubleshooting
• Manuals

Want the whole manual? Jump to the manufacturer download links.

Is this your lock?

• A keypad with the numbers 0 to 9, a CLEAR key and a PROG key. Small lights show ERROR (red), PROCEED (green) and LOW BATTERY (yellow).
• Round keypad in a ring (CS, DS, KS, MS, OA, OS and DA fire safes): a lock case that you turn off to reach the batteries. Sentry’s name for this is the “basic electronic lock.” If your keypad also has a small display and a PROG/ENTER key, see the advanced keypad guide.
• Square keypad (A3150 to A5889 and 1210 to 1570 fire safes): a small battery cover directly below the keypad.
• T-series (T0-331, T6-331, T6-3L1, T8-331) and EF executive safes (EF3428E, EF4738E) use the same style of programming.
• It takes four AA alkaline batteries. A factory code (printed on the first page or back cover of your owner’s manual) always opens the safe, and you can add your own user code and a temporary PIN (or passcode on the T-series).

How to open it

1. Enter your 5-digit code: the factory code, your user code, or the PIN (T-series: passcode).
2. The green light comes on. You have 4 seconds.
3. Turn the handle down (fire safes) or turn the handle or key to the unlock position (T-series) to open the door.

• If you make a mistake, press CLEAR and start over. You have 5 seconds between key presses, or the keypad gives an error (red light and three beeps).
• Locking: close the door and put the handle back horizontal. If your safe has a key lock (a cylinder that pops out), press it in with your finger for more security. On water-resistant models you may need to press the front left corner of the door before the handle goes back.
• Key lock models: on a safe with a key lock, turn the key to the right first so the lock cylinder pops out, and then enter the code.
• First time: open the safe with the door open and try your code several times before you rely on it.

How to change the battery

The keypad uses four AA alkaline batteries (we recommend Procell). Do not use rechargeable batteries or any other non-alkaline type. A yellow LOW BATTERY light means they are weak. How you get to the batteries depends on the design.

Round keypad (CS, DS, KS, MS, OA, OS, DA)

1. Open the safe (use your code first if you can).
2. Take out the screw at the base of the lock case if there is one.
3. Turn the electronic lock case to the right (clockwise), from 12 o’clock to 2 o’clock, and take it off.
4. Put in four new AA batteries.
5. Put the lock case back on and turn it left, back to 12 o’clock.

Square keypad with a cover below it (A3xxx to A5xxx, 12xx to 15xx)

1. Put a paper clip or pen point in the small hole of the battery cover directly below the keypad.
2. Push in while you slide the cover to the right.
3. Disconnect and take out the battery holder.
4. Put in four new AA batteries.
5. Reconnect the holder, put it back, and slide the cover back.

T-series

1. Take the keypad cover off by turning it counterclockwise and pulling it toward you.
2. Unlock the door with the override key (in the plastic bag on the owner’s manual) and open it with the lever handle.
3. Slide the key hook plate on the inside back of the door upward and pull it toward you.
4. Put in four AA batteries as shown, put the plate back and put the keypad back on.

EF executive safes

1. Hold the keypad with both hands, thumbs down, on its left and right sides.
2. Push the keypad up with your thumbs and pull it toward you to disconnect it.
3. Let the keypad hang by its wires. This shows the battery holder.
4. Put in four AA alkaline batteries as shown on the back of the holder.
5. Push the keypad’s four posts into the matching holes and push down until it snaps in.

• T-series: when you change the batteries, Sentry says you must open the safe with the factory code, and the passcode must be set again.
• If the safe does not work, check the batteries first, as Sentry says in all of these manuals.

How to set your user code, and a PIN

1. Press PROG.
2. Enter the 5-digit factory code. The green light stays on.
3. Enter your own 5-digit user code. The green light goes off after the fifth digit.
4. Test the new code with the door open.

T-series and EF: the other way to set a user code

1. Press the red button on the inside of the door (EF: on the hinge side). The lock beeps and the green light comes on.
2. Enter your 5-digit user code.

Add a temporary PIN (passcode on the T-series)

1. Press PROG twice.
2. Enter your 5-digit user code. The green light stays on.
3. Enter the 5-digit PIN you want (anything except 00000). The green light goes off after the fifth digit.

Delete the PIN

1. Press PROG twice and enter your user code.
2. Enter 00000.

• Delete the user code (round and square keypads): press PROG, then enter the factory code twice.
• You can have one user code and one PIN at a time. The factory code cannot be deleted.
• Sentry says to keep your codes written down in a safe place. If you lose the factory code, SentrySafe can look it up from the model and serial number.

Lights and beeps

Wrong codes

Three wrong codes in a row put the lock in Delay Mode for two minutes. The lock will not work and any key you press gives the error signal. Wait the two minutes and try again.

Override key (T-series and EF)

T-series: if the keypad fails or you have no code, take the keypad cover off (turn it counterclockwise and pull it toward you), put the key in the hole, and turn it clockwise to unlock the door. Do not lock the override key inside the safe.

EF: take the keypad and the battery holder off as shown above (the key hole is inside the opening for the battery), put the skeleton key in, turn it to the right, and open the door. Other models do not have this key: for those, the key lock cylinder is only a second lock.

If it still won’t open

I get a red light and three beeps

The code was wrong, the PROG key was pressed out of order, or you waited more than 5 seconds between keys. Press CLEAR and start over. If your own code will not work, try the factory code and then set your code again.

The yellow light is on

The batteries are low. Replace all four AA batteries (see the steps for your model above).

The keypad does nothing

Check the batteries first, as Sentry says. If the safe is locked and the batteries are dead, use the override key on T-series and EF models, or call us.

The handle will not go back or the door is hard to close

On water-resistant models the door gasket can be tight. Press the front left side of the door before turning the handle. On EF safes, Sentry says the gasket can swell with the temperature or if the safe is left open a long time.

I lost the factory code

SentrySafe can look it up from your model and serial number on its Lost Key or Combo page. Call us if you need the safe opened.

Download the full manufacturer instructions

More lock guides

• Sentry Safe Older Sentry fire safe, keypad with a display and PROG/ENTER key
• Sentry Safe Sentry fire and water safe, keypad with a P key (SFW, FP, FPW)
• Sentry Safe Sentry X-series security safe (X055, X075, X105, X125)
• ← All safe locks

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 19, 2026.