Alohomora

• Incantation: Alohomora
• Pronunciation: a-LOH-ho-MOR-ah
• Wand Movement: A backward S-shape or a tap on the lock (film)
• Light: A small blue or white spark (film); none described in the novels
• Effect: Unlocks and opens mundane or simply enchanted doors and windows. It is ineffective against more powerful locking spells.
• Type: Charm

Known as the Unlocking Charm and nicknamed the “thief's friend,” Alohomora is one of the most practical and frequently used spells in the wizarding world. Its primary function is to bypass non-magical locks and simple magical seals.

• In 1991, Hermione Granger, having learned the spell from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 before arriving at Hogwarts, used it to open the locked door to the forbidden third-floor corridor. Later, the trio discovered that the door had been left unlocked by Professor Quirrell, as it was protected by more complex enchantments meant to guard the Philosopher's Stone.
• In 1993, Gilderoy Lockhart attempted to use the spell on his office door to avoid being exposed as a fraud by Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, but the spell failed to have any effect.
• During the rescue of Sirius Black in 1994, Hermione Granger successfully used Alohomora to open the window of Professor Flitwick's office, where Sirius was being held captive.
• In 1995, Harry Potter used the spell to open a classroom door to hide from Argus Filch and Professor Snape while they were patrolling the corridors at night.
• During the 1995-1996 school year, Harry taught the spell to members of Dumbledore's Army. Later that year, Hermione Granger attempted to use it on a locked door in the Department of Mysteries, but the spell backfired, causing the lock to melt and seal the door permanently.
• In 1997, Harry Potter cast Alohomora to gain access to Professor Slughorn's office after Ron was poisoned.
• During their infiltration of the Ministry of Magic in 1997, Hermione used the spell to unlock Dolores Umbridge's office door. However, the spell later proved useless against the enchanted cell door in the cellar of Malfoy Manor.

Alohomora is a fundamental spell taught to first-year students in their Charms class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is included in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk. Due to its relative simplicity, many young witches and wizards master it quickly. While effective on simple locks, the Unlocking Charm can be defeated by a variety of magical countermeasures:

• Colloportus: The Locking Spell, Colloportus, magically seals a door and is the direct counter-charm to Alohomora. A door sealed by Colloportus can typically be unsealed by Alohomora.
• Advanced Locking Enchantments: More powerful and complex enchantments render Alohomora completely ineffective. Examples of such protections include the door guarding Fluffy, the entrance to the Department of Mysteries, Professor Umbridge's office door at Hogwarts, and the door to Dumbledore's office.

According to J.K. Rowling, the incantation is derived from the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy. It is a combination of the words aloha and mora, which translates to “friendly to thieves.” (J.K. Rowling interview).

• In the film adaptations, the spell is consistently depicted as producing a small spark of blue or white light at the tip of the wand. The sound of a physical lock clicking open often accompanies the spell's effect. The films also establish a common wand movement: a key-like, backward S-shape gesture. (film).
• In several *Harry Potter* video games, casting Alohomora initiates a lock-picking style minigame that the player must complete to successfully open a locked door or chest. (video game).