Exploring the magical world of Hogwarts Legacy is one of the game’s most rewarding experiences. From secret chambers to mysterious classrooms and hidden hallways, the castle is filled with locked doors waiting to be opened. For players who want to access every room, collect rare loot, and uncover all the secrets Hogwarts has to offer, learning how to unlock doors is absolutely essential. With various levels of locks and magical puzzles, door unlocking in Hogwarts Legacy is a key gameplay mechanic that can shape how much of the game you truly experience.
Understanding Locked Doors in Hogwarts Legacy
Why Are Doors Locked?
Many areas in Hogwarts Legacy are protected by magical locks, serving as a form of progression and challenge for the player. These locked doors often conceal:
- Hidden rooms with valuable loot
- Secret passages that lead to shortcuts
- Lore-related content and side quests
- Unique gear and collectibles
Unlocking doors is not just about exploration it’s also about enhancing your character with better equipment and uncovering the rich story elements scattered throughout Hogwarts.
How to Unlock Doors in Hogwarts Legacy
Learn the Alohomora Spell
To begin unlocking doors in Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll need to learn the Alohomora spell. This essential spell is obtained during the main quest line, specifically from a quest given by Gladwin Moon, the caretaker of Hogwarts. This questline is called The Caretaker’s Lunar Lament.
During this mission, you’ll be introduced to the concept of Demiguise statues, which are directly connected to upgrading your ability to unlock higher-level doors. Gladwin Moon teaches you the base version of Alohomora, allowing you to open Level 1 locks.
Upgrade Alohomora for Higher Level Locks
While the basic version of Alohomora unlocks Level 1 doors, you’ll encounter Level 2 and Level 3 locks throughout the castle and surrounding areas. To open these, you must upgrade the spell. This is done by collecting Demiguise Moons found on Demiguise statues scattered around the map.
- To upgrade to Alohomora Level 2, collect 9 Demiguise Moons.
- To upgrade to Alohomora Level 3, collect a total of 13 more, making 22 Demiguise Moons in total.
Demiguise Moons can only be collected at night, so make sure to change the time of day at your map menu before hunting them down.
Use the Lockpicking Mini-Game
Once you have the spell and the required level, approaching a locked door will prompt a lockpicking mini-game. This mechanic involves rotating two dials to align glowing gears. One controls the outer ring, and the other the inner ring.
The goal is to find the correct positions where both rings glow steadily. Once done, the lock will open and the door will be accessible. While this mini-game doesn’t change much, higher level locks may require more precision and patience.
Best Places to Use Alohomora
Secrets Within Hogwarts Castle
Several locked doors within Hogwarts itself guard hidden rooms, faculty offices, and passages filled with useful rewards. Some notable places include:
- The Headmaster’s Office: Requires Level 3 Alohomora and offers unique lore and items.
- The Faculty Tower: An area first accessed during the Alohomora quest, with many locked doors nearby.
- The Restricted Section: Though accessed during a main quest, returning with Alohomora allows further exploration.
Hogsmeade and Beyond
Outside of Hogwarts, many shops and homes in Hogsmeade feature locked doors, hiding useful items or even side quests. In the broader open world, locked bandit camps and ruins often contain treasure chests that are only reachable after opening high-level doors.
Tips for Finding Demiguise Statues
Search at Night
As mentioned, Demiguise Moons only appear during nighttime. Don’t forget to toggle time using the map screen if you find a statue during the day. Look for a glowing moon-shaped object in towns, classrooms, and bedrooms.
Visit Different Regions
While many moons are found within Hogwarts, others are scattered across various towns and hamlets. Places like Lower Hogsfield, Aranshire, and Feldcroft have houses with locked doors, each containing a Demiguise statue. Combine exploration and Alohomora use to collect moons and access new levels of locked doors.
Unlocking Doors and Game Progression
Access to More Gear and Items
Many locked areas contain gear chests that help improve your stats. Some also contain wand handles, appearance items, or gold. By unlocking more doors, you boost your character’s strength and inventory options.
Advanced Exploration Opportunities
Some secrets are only reachable after unlocking specific doors. These include hidden corridors, fast travel points, and puzzle rooms that offer challenges and unique spells. For completionists, unlocking every door is a major step toward 100% game progression.
Supporting Side Quests
Certain side quests require entry into locked rooms or buildings. Without Alohomora, these missions either remain incomplete or inaccessible. Upgrading the spell ensures that you don’t miss out on storylines or additional XP rewards.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not Upgrading Alohomora Early
Many players delay collecting Demiguise Moons, but this limits their ability to explore and gather loot. Prioritize moon collection as soon as you get the spell, so you can quickly unlock Levels 2 and 3.
Ignoring Nighttime Requirement
Looking for moons during the day wastes time. Always explore statue-heavy areas at night to ensure the moons are visible and collectible.
Skipping Overlocked Doors
Don’t forget to backtrack. Many places you explore early in the game have doors that can only be opened once your Alohomora level increases. Returning to those areas often rewards you with powerful items or additional moons.
Unlocking doors in Hogwarts Legacy is not just a mechanic it’s an integral part of exploring the magical world in full. By learning and upgrading the Alohomora spell, collecting Demiguise Moons, and mastering the lockpicking game, players gain access to some of the richest content hidden within the game. Whether it’s for story progression, rare loot, or hidden side quests, door unlocking enhances both gameplay and immersion. Players who invest time in learning how to unlock every door will find themselves rewarded with deeper lore, stronger gear, and a more complete Hogwarts experience.