TL;DR
- The bolted vent in the Basement Workshop cannot be opened manually.
- There is no tool to find — despite what the game implies.
- The vent opens automatically through story progression tied to the Joint Plug sequence.
- Use a Joint Plug to access the Workshop, crawl through the Furnace vent, and the Girl will open the bolted vent for you.
- After the vent opens, collect the Infected Blood left behind by the dragged zombie.
- The opened vent then works as a useful shortcut back into the Workshop.
The bolted vent in the Basement Workshop is one of the most confusing moments in Resident Evil Requiem. The game tells you that a tool is required to open it, and most players waste time searching for a special item that does not exist. The truth is much simpler — and a little unsettling. This guide explains exactly what you need to do, why the vent opens the way it does, and what to collect while you are in this area.
Resident Evil Requiem is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Where Is the Bolted Vent in the Basement Workshop?
After The Girl takes Emily to the Basement of the Rhodes Hill Care Center, Grace must follow them into the underground section. The Basement is dark, filled with zombies, and centered around finding three Joint Plugs to free Emily from the Holding Cells.
Early in this section, you use a Joint Plug to unlock the room west of the Holding Cells, which leads into the Workshop. Once inside, you will spot a bolted vent in the right corner of the room. Inspecting it triggers a prompt saying a tool is required to open it. Most players instinctively go looking for that tool — but it does not exist.
For full context on the Joint Plug puzzle in the Basement, see our guide on all Joint Plug locations in the Basement of RE9.
How to Open the Bolted Vent – Step by Step
The bolted vent is not opened by Grace directly. It is opened automatically as part of story progression. Here is exactly what you need to do.
Step 1 – Use a Joint Plug to Access the Workshop
Take a Joint Plug and insert it into the terminal on the west side of the Holding Cells corridor. This unlocks the door to the Workshop. Head inside and note the bolted vent in the corner on your right. You cannot open it yet — walk past it for now.
Step 2 – Find the Vent Leading Into the Furnace Room
Inside the Workshop, look for a small crawl space or vent opening that leads through to the Furnace room. This is a different vent from the bolted one — it is already open and accessible. Crouch and crawl through it. As you move through, look to your left side to find a Lockpick sitting inside the shaft. Pick it up before continuing. For all Lockpick locations and what they unlock, see our complete Lockpick and locked drawers guide for the Care Center.
Step 3 – The Girl Opens the Vent for You
As you crawl through the vent and turn right, a zombie will start crawling toward Grace from the other direction. Before it reaches her, The Girl intervenes — she grabs the zombie and drags it violently back through the bolted vent, tearing it open in the process. This is the game’s way of opening the vent without giving you a tool. The sequence happens automatically. You do not need to do anything except be in the vent at the right moment through story progression.
Step 4 – Exit and Collect Infected Blood
Continue through to the other side and exit the vent. When you come back around into the Workshop area, you will see that the bolted vent is now open — broken open by The Girl dragging the zombie through it. The zombie that was dragged away also leaves behind a pool of Infected Blood. Collect it. Infected Blood is essential for crafting, and every drop counts during the Basement section. For help getting more Infected Blood, see our guide on how to get Infected Blood in RE9.
What Is the Bolted Vent Used For After It Opens?
Once the bolted vent is open, it becomes a useful shortcut between the Workshop and the Furnace room area. The Basement involves a lot of backtracking with Joint Plugs, and this shortcut makes the journey between those two areas noticeably faster. You no longer have to go the long way around.
The opened vent also serves as a reminder that The Girl is active and moving through the Basement independently of Grace. She is not just standing still waiting to be encountered — she is hunting, and the workshop sequence makes that very clear.
What to Do Next After the Bolted Vent Opens
With the vent now open and the Infected Blood collected, continue working through the Basement toward your main objective. Here is a summary of what comes next:
- Collect the second Joint Plug from the Furnace room, near the forklift. Leave the plug in its socket for now to keep the lights on and The Girl at bay.
- Loot the side office in the Furnace area — it contains a safe. The code was found in a Warped Closet during Leon’s Care Center section. For the code, see our Basement Safe Code guide for RE9.
- Head to the Collection Pool with two Joint Plugs. Use the Square Socket Wrench to open the panel and insert both plugs. This activates the lights and unlocks the path to the Processing Room.
- Retrieve the third Joint Plug from the Processing Room after completing its challenge.
- Grab the Empty Injector from the zombie cell in the Holding Cells area before inserting the three plugs. Once the plugs are placed, that cell becomes inaccessible permanently. For full details, see our all Empty Injector locations guide.
- Insert all three Joint Plugs into the Holding Cells corridor terminals, then pull the lever to free Emily.
For full step-by-step guidance through the entire Basement, see our guide on how to restart the Power Distribution Units in RE9.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Basement Workshop
- Do not search for a tool to open the bolted vent. There is no tool. No item in the game opens it manually. Just progress through the Furnace vent and the story handles it.
- Pick up the Lockpick inside the Furnace vent. It is on the left side as you crawl through. It is easy to rush past during the tense zombie encounter.
- Collect the Infected Blood after the vent opens. The zombie dragged by The Girl leaves a blood pool. Do not walk past it.
- Grab the Empty Injector from the Holding Cell before placing all three plugs. Once you insert the third plug and pull the lever, the Basement becomes inaccessible. You cannot return.
- Keep the lights on when dealing with The Girl. While Joint Plugs are active in their sockets, the lights stay on and The Girl retreats. Remove plugs only when you are ready to move fast.
Related Guides
- All Lockpicks and Locked Drawers in the Care Center – RE9
- All Empty Injector Locations in Resident Evil 9
- Joint Plug Basement Locations in RE9
- How to Get the Mechanic Jack and Open Rusted Shutters in RE9
- How to Open the Organ Transport Box in Resident Evil Requiem
- How to Collect All 3 Detonator Parts in RE9
Frequently Asked Questions
What tool do you need to open the bolted vent in RE9?
No tool is needed. Despite the in-game prompt suggesting otherwise, the bolted vent in the Basement Workshop opens automatically during story progression. The Girl tears it open by dragging a zombie through it while Grace is crawling through the Furnace vent.
Where is the Workshop in the Resident Evil Requiem Basement?
The Workshop is located west of the Holding Cells in the Basement. You access it by inserting a Joint Plug into the terminal in the Holding Cells corridor, which powers and unlocks the Workshop door.
What does the bolted vent lead to after it opens in RE9?
Once open, the bolted vent acts as a shortcut between the Workshop and the Furnace room. It saves time during the heavy backtracking required to collect and redistribute all three Joint Plugs in the Basement.
Is there a Lockpick in the Furnace vent in Resident Evil Requiem?
Yes. As you crawl through the Furnace ventilation shaft that leads to the bolted vent sequence, look to your left side inside the shaft to find a Lockpick. Pick it up before turning right into the zombie encounter.
What does The Girl drop after dragging the zombie through the vent in RE9?
The zombie dragged by The Girl leaves behind a pool of Infected Blood. Collect it immediately — Infected Blood is one of the most important crafting materials for Grace during the Basement section.
