Can You Copy a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock Key? What Toronto Key Holders Need to Know
Short answer: no, not at a hardware store, key kiosk or shoe-repair counter. Medeco and Mul-T-Lock keys use restricted keyways. The blanks aren't sold to the public, and only an authorized dealer can cut a copy, and only for someone registered to the system or holding its key card. In Toronto and the GTA, KDL Locksmith is an authorized Medeco and Mul-T-Lock dealer and cuts genuine copies at our Vaughan shop.
That restriction is the reason people buy these locks. Here's how it works, what to bring when you need a spare, and what to do if you've lost your key card.
Need a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock key copied? Call 416-303-0255 to check your blank is in stock before you come in, or request a quote online.
Why a key kiosk can't copy a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock key
A standard house key, such as a Weiser, Kwikset or basic Schlage, can be copied almost anywhere because the blanks are sold everywhere and the cuts are simple. High-security keys are different in three ways:
Restricted keyways. The key's profile is controlled by the manufacturer. Blanks go only to authorized dealers, so self-serve kiosks and big-box key counters have nothing to cut.
Complex cuts. Medeco keys have angled cuts that rotate the pins as well as lift them. Mul-T-Lock uses telescopic pins, a pin inside a pin. A standard key machine can't reproduce either.
Key control. Each system is registered. The owner gets a key card (Mul-T-Lock) or is registered with the dealer (Medeco), and copies are cut only against that record.
If someone offers to copy one of these keys with no card, no ID and no questions, be suspicious. It's either not a genuine blank, or the key control you paid for isn't being enforced.
How to get a copy of a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock key in Toronto
Find your key card or registration details. Mul-T-Lock systems come with a plastic key card printed with a code. Medeco systems are registered to the owner or authorized signers through the dealer who set them up.
Bring government-issued photo ID. The name should match the registered owner or an authorized person on the account.
Bring the card, and an existing key if you have one. For Mul-T-Lock, the card code is enough to cut a new key even if every key is lost.
Call ahead. We keep common blanks in stock, but some key systems are ordered through the manufacturer.
For businesses, condo corporations and property managers, copies are cut only for the people named as authorized signers on the account. That's how a master key system stays under control when staff or residents change.
Medeco vs Mul-T-Lock key control at a glance
Feature | Medeco | Mul-T-Lock |
|---|---|---|
Can a hardware store or kiosk copy it? | No | No |
Key mechanism | Angled cuts that rotate and lift the pins | Telescopic pin-in-pin tumblers |
Proof needed for a copy | Registered owner or authorized signer, with ID | Key card code, with ID |
Replace a key when all keys are lost | Yes, through the dealer holding the registration | Yes, from the code on the key card |
Who can cut it in the GTA | Authorized Medeco dealers, including KDL Locksmith | Authorized Mul-T-Lock dealers, including KDL Locksmith |
For a deeper look at how the two locks resist picking, bumping and drilling, see our Medeco vs Mul-T-Lock comparison.
Ready to get your spare cut? Bring your card and ID to our Vaughan shop, or call 416-303-0255 first.
Lost your Mul-T-Lock key card?
The card matters more than any single key. Lose a key and the card replaces it. Lose the card and you lose the easy way to get new keys. What to do:
If the system was installed by KDL Locksmith, call us. We'll verify ownership and look up your registration.
If another dealer installed it, start with that dealer, since they hold the registration.
If the registration can't be recovered, the secure fix is to re-pin or replace the cylinders on a new registered key. Anyone who finds the old card could otherwise order keys to your door.
Store the card somewhere safe that isn't with your keys, such as a home safe or a file at the office. Don't photograph it and keep the photo on your phone.
Should you switch to a restricted key system?
If you've ever handed out keys to a contractor, tenant, cleaner or ex-employee and wondered how many copies now exist, a restricted system fixes that. It makes the most sense for:
Homeowners who want to know exactly how many keys to their front door exist
Rental and multi-unit properties with frequent tenant turnover
Offices, clinics and retail stores that use a master key system
Anyone upgrading after a break-in or a lost key they can't account for
Both brands can usually be fitted to your existing door as a cylinder or deadbolt upgrade, without replacing the whole door. See our Mul-T-Lock and Medeco pages for the options.
Frequently asked questions
Can a locksmith copy a Medeco key without the card?
A legitimate Medeco dealer cuts copies only for the registered owner or an authorized signer, with ID. If you're the owner and can't find your paperwork, the dealer who set up the system can usually verify you from their records.
Can Minute Key or other self-serve kiosks copy a Mul-T-Lock key?
No. Kiosks and hardware-store counters don't have Mul-T-Lock blanks and can't cut telescopic-pin keys. Only an authorized Mul-T-Lock dealer can cut a genuine copy.
Do "Do Not Duplicate" stamps stop a key from being copied?
No. A stamp is only a request, and many shops will copy a standard key anyway. Only a restricted keyway with registered key control, like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, actually prevents unauthorized copies.
How long does it take to get a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock key copied in Toronto?
When the blank is in stock and your card or registration checks out, a copy is usually cut while you wait at our shop. Some systems need a factory order. Call ahead and we'll tell you before you drive in.
Where can I copy a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock key near me in the GTA?
KDL Locksmith is an authorized Medeco and Mul-T-Lock dealer at 2060 Steeles Ave W, Unit 4, in Vaughan, serving Toronto and the GTA. Call 416-303-0255 before you come in.
Need a spare high-security key, or want to move your home or business to a restricted key system? Call KDL Locksmith at 416-303-0255. We've been a family business serving Toronto and the GTA since 1988. Prefer to write? You can request a quote online.
Comments