How to Get Clearance for the Elevator in Borderlands 4

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-09-14 13:07:35
Welcome to Kairos, Vault Hunter. You've just survived a crash landing and a brief, explosive introduction to the local wildlife. Now, as you begin your first real mission in Borderlands 4, you're faced with a seemingly simple task: activate an elevator to meet up with Claptrap. But as many players are discovering, the "Recruitment Drive" quest has a surprisingly tricky roadblock.The elevator won't budge, and without a clear objective marker, it's easy to get stuck. This early-game puzzle is a common point of confusion for new players, but the solution is simple if you know where to look. This guide will walk you through the precise steps to get clearance for the elevator and continue your adventure.

Solving the Recruitment Drive Elevator Puzzle in Borderlands 4

The Recruitment Drive: Solving the Elevator Mystery

The "Recruitment Drive" quest begins immediately after the tutorial segment, with you and Claptrap making your way across the Coastal Bonescape. It's a straightforward mission that introduces you to the basic combat and traversal mechanics of the game. However, once you reach the elevator that leads to your first safehouse, the mission seems to come to a halt.You'll find the elevator at the end of a short path, surrounded by the bodies of defeated Timekeeper goons. Despite your best efforts, the elevator remains unresponsive. Your next objective is to "get clearance" for it.The key to solving this puzzle is to pay close attention to your surroundings. The hint is right in front of you: the dead enemies hold the answer. To get the elevator to work, you need to find the specific Timekeeper corpse that has the clearance key.

Here's the simple solution:

  • After you clear the enemies and approach the unresponsive elevator, turn around.
  • Look for a body sitting against a crate by the railing. The body is slumpedover, and it can be easy to miss in the heat of the moment.
  • Approach this specific corpse. You should see a small on-screen prompt to "Interact" and "Take Bolt."
  • Interact with the body to pull the Bolt from its neck. This is the access key you need.

The interaction prompt is notoriously small and can be hard to spot,especially for new players who are still getting used to the UI. Youhave to be standing very close to the body for the prompt to appear.This is the main reason so many players get stuck at this early stage of the game.

The Beginning of Your Journey

Once you've "borrowed" the access key from the deceased Timekeeper, simplyreturn to the elevator and activate it. The elevator will come to life,bringing Claptrap up to your level and allowing you to proceed with thequest.

With the elevator running, your final objective for"Recruitment Drive" is to establish your first safehouse. This new areawill serve as a crucial hub for your early-game adventures, providing:

  • A Fast Travel point, allowing you to instantly return to this location from anywhere on the planet.
  • Vending Machines to sell unwanted gear and purchase new weapons, shields, and ammo.
  • A Bounty Board with small side quests to take on for extra experience and Cash.

This first safehouse is just the beginning. As you explore the various regions of Kairos and other planets in Borderlands 4, be on the lookout for additional safehouses. Activating them willexpand your network of fast travel points, making it much easier tonavigate the world and get to key locations for farming, missions, andloot. With your first safehouse secured, you are now officially a partof the Crimson Resistance and can start preparing for the challengesthat lie ahead.

Platform(s): PlayStation 5 PS5, Microsoft Windows PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S
Genre(s): First-person shooter, action role-playing
Developer(s): Gearbox Software
Publisher(s): 2K
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Release date: September 12, 2025
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
Video preview



Other Articles Related

How to Get a Vehicle in Borderlands 4
Learn how to unlockevery vehicle in Borderlands 4. Our guide covers finding Catch-A-Ridestations, vehicle types, upgrades, and customizations to dominatePandora and beyond.
How to Get Aegon's Dream in Borderlands 4
Unlock the secrets of Aegon's Dream in Borderlands 4. Our guide reveals thequest start location, step-by-step walkthrough, and powerful legendaryrewards for completing this epic mission.
How to Complete Electroshock Therapy Quest in Borderlands 4
Struggling with the Electroshock Therapy quest in Borderlands 4?Our guide covers how to find the conductor coils, power the transformer, and defeat the boss for epic loot.
What Are Lost Capsules in Borderlands 4
Uncover the mystery of Lost Capsules in Borderlands 4. Learn whatthese hidden caches are, where to find them, and the legendary loot they contain for daring Vault Hunters.
How to Respec Skills & Specializations in Borderlands 4
Discover how to respec skills and specializations in Borderlands 4.Unlock new strategies and enhance your gameplay with our guide.
How to Destroy the Jamming Device & Save Quent in Borderlands 4
Struggling with the jamming device in Borderlands 4? Our guideshows you exactly how to destroy it and save the fan-favorite character, Quent. Get the step-by-step walkthrough here.
All Difficulty Settings in Borderlands 4
Explore Borderlands 4's difficulty settings and understand how theyaffect your gaming experience. Choose the right level for thrilling  
How to Mute Claptrap in Borderlands 4
Unlock the coveted Kai Cenat skins in Fortnite with our guide.Explore strategies and tips to enhance your character's look andgameplay 
All Fadefields Vault Symbols in Borderlands 4
Unlock every secret. This guide reveals all Fadefields Vault Symbol locationsin Borderlands 4 for dedicated vault hunters seeking 100% completion.
How to Get Clearance for the Elevator in Borderlands 4
Navigate the challenges of Borderlands 4 with our guide on obtainingelevator clearance. Elevate your gameplay and explore new heights!
How to Get Unlimited Cash in Borderlands 4
the guide to earning unlimited cash in Borderlands 4. Unlocktips and strategies to enhance your gameplay and maximize your loot.
How to Farm Legendaries in Borderlands 4
Unlock the secrets to farming Legendaries in Borderlands 4. Exploreeffective methods and boost your arsenal with our farmingguide.
Where to Find Weapons in Borderlands 4
Unlock the secrets of weapon locations in Borderlands 4. Dive into our guide to enhance your gaming strategy and gear up foradventure.
How to Get Legendary Class Mods in Borderlands 4
Unlock the secrets of Legendary Class Mods in Borderlands 4. Elevateyour character's abilities and gain the edge you need to conquer yourfoes.
How to Find All Vault Key Fragment in Borderlands 4
Explore every Vault Key Fragment location in Borderlands 4. Our detailed guide helps you find them all for an epic gaming