So my character Artemis got to find Esbern's room in the Ratways. Esbern looked through his door "slat" and talked to her. She tried a couple of times, saying that Delphine sent her, that she is a dragonborn, saying the password/sentence and all the time Esbern AGREED to let her in, something like, "Oh is that right? Come on in..." BUT the door remains CLOSED! I killed all the lowlifes in the other rooms, thinking they had to be rid of before the door opens, to no avail. I tried to reload a former save, maybe three times, nothing worked. I'm with Janessa, she's staying out of the way. Am I missing something? I really hate to quit the MQ just when we've gone half through with it... Thanks for your help!

Are you sure that you are waiting long enough? It can take a little while for him to actually open the door.

This is a pretty common bug. After talking to Esbern and experiencing the glitch. Simply entering and re-entering the cell should fix your problem.

If it doesn't.. try leaving the cell and talking to another NPC and coming back. If you want to save yourself some time, bring a merc with you and talk to them in the previous cell.

I'm on PC, it says "E- Open Door" command, so I figured the door is opened from the inside by Esbern... But the door won't open, yeah I've waited long enough I think....

Thanks for the advice, may I know what "cell" you are referring to... you mean before entering the "place" with many doors/cells with the stairway? Re-tracing my steps? ... Thanks!

Sorry. A cell is a technical term. It means the loaded play space. For example. When you're in whiterun, you are in a cell. It is the city. You cannot leave the cell freely. You must exit through the doors.

There is a bit of a pun since you were in a prison and I was using the term cell. But what I meant is go back to the previous area. The previous area will have to load via loading screen. Once that happens go back to the cell Esbern is in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85SdkLDn6mY