The invention relates to a handheld transmitter having an energy store, a motion sensor for detecting a movement of the handheld transmitter, and a transmission/reception unit for establishing a wireless connection to an electrically actuable portable lock, wherein the handheld transmitter can be switched over between a manual mode in which the connection establishment can only be triggered by the actuation of an actuation element by a user and an automatic mode in which the connection establishment can be triggered by a movement of the handheld transmitter. A further subject of the invention is a locking system comprising such a handheld transmitter and an electrically actuable portable lock. The invention additionally relates to a method of unlocking an electrically actuable portable lock by means of a handheld transmitter.