I back up my computer with Time Machine and Backblaze. I back up physical paperwork with Evernote. And now, I back up my keys with KeyMe. All you have to do is snap a photo of your key and it’s saved in the cloud, ready for the next time you lock yourself out.
You may be wondering how a digitally stored key can help you get back into your locked apartment, but the app is just one part. KeyMe can generate codes that a local locksmith can use to cut you a new key, or if you live near one of their kiosks, you can have a robot cut a key for you.
For those who like to prepare for disaster or just don’t have time to get to the locksmith, KeyMe can cut keys on demand and send them to you in the mail. The service also lets you share keys with friends or family. Did you forget to leave your neighbor a key to feed that cat? Email them the digital version of the key to be cut on demand.
To add a key to your digital keychain, take it off your keyring and lay it on a blank sheet of paper. Take a picture of one side, then the other, and KeyMe analyzes it to make sure it can gather enough information to remake the key. KeyMe then stores that info for the next time you’re locked out.
KeyMe can handle about 85 percent of keys covering all the major key types, from homes and offices to padlocks and mailboxes. Kiosks can make copies of car keys as well, but the app doesn’t store them.
The iOS app is free and you can store as many keys as you want with KeyMe. Mailing one standard key costs $3.50 and each additional key is 30 percent off. You can also get designer keys with sports teams, flags or other patterns printed on them for an extra cost. Getting the code for a locksmith to cut a new key is a little pricey at $10, but that’s far less than getting a locksmith out to your apartment at 2 a.m.
