How to Fix a Stuck Kwikset Lock

Is your Kwikset Lock stuck? Keep reading to see how to troubleshoot this problem.

Fixing a Stuck Kwikset Lock

First off, your Kwikset lock could be stuck because you didn’t perform the door handing detection after installation, or the installation was not done correctly.

More so, low battery power could be the reason your lock got stuck.

With that in mind, let’s look at how to resolve this issue.

Troubleshooting a Stuck Kwikset Lock

Perform the Door Handing Detection Process

Your Kwikset lock might be jammed because you haven’t performed the door handing detection process on your lock after installation.

Door handing detection is also required when you move your lock to another door.

If you don’t perform the door handing detection, your deadbolt may swing in the wrong direction when you are using it. As such, the lock might become stuck.

To resolve this issue, perform the door handing direction to teach the lock the orientation of your door.

Here’s how to do this:

  • Go inside your home and remove the interior cover of the lock. Please keep the door open.
  • Remove the battery pack.
  • Next, press and hold the Lock button on the keypad of your Kwikset lock.
  • While still holding the Lock button, re-insert the battery pack into the lock.
  • You’ll now hear several beeps from the lock. The deadbolt on the interior of the lock will also swing around. Release the Lock button when this happens.
  • You have finished performing the door handing detection on your lock.

Next, lock the door from inside your home. Then try unlocking it.

Note that the procedure to perform the door handing detection may vary depending on the model of your Kwikset lock. If this method doesn’t work for you, try this method or refer to your user manual for guidelines.

That said, if the lock is still stuck, continue to the next step.

Replace the Batteries

If your Kwikset SmartCode Lock gets stuck, the batteries could be low.

If the lock is stuck in the lock position, try to unlock it with a physical key. If it opens, low battery power might be the culprit.

Get a new set of alkaline batteries and replace the old ones. If you’ve received a low battery notification earlier, press and hold the Program button for a few seconds before installing the new batteries.

Ensure that You’ve Used the Correct Deadbolt

Ordinarily, your deadbolt is supposed to swing to the correct position once you’ve performed the door-handing detection. But sometimes, the deadbolt may accidentally turn to the wrong position when you are trying to lock your door. The tapered deadbolt in your Kwikset lock helps prevent this problem.

The tapered deadbolt has a pointed end that guides the crank into the correct position when you are locking your door.

Unfortunately, few traditional deadbolts are tapered. So, if you use your old deadbolt with your new Kwikset lock, the lock may get stuck.

In that case, you’ll need to take your lock apart and replace your old deadbolt with Kwikset’s tapered deadbolt.

If your Kwikset lock gets jammed after you’ve used the correct deadbolt, move on to the next step.

Drill Your Bore Hole to the Correct Depth

If you haven’t installed a lock on your door before, the bore hole might not be deep enough. The depth of your bore hole needs to be at least 1 inch to accommodate the turn piece in your Kwikset lock.

If you install your Kwikset lock in a hole that is less than 1-inch-deep, your deadbolt might be cramped in the space. This may be why your smart lock keeps getting jammed when you try to lock it.

Remove your Kwikset lock from your door. Then use a hole gauge to check if your borehole is deeper than 1 inch. If it isn’t, drill the hole for a while longer to match the required depth for Kwikset locks.

Remove the Adapter Ring from Your Lock

Usually, the keyhole on your Kwikset lock has a diameter of 1-1.5 inches. In contrast, the hole drilled into your door may be as large as 4 inches. Kwikset offers an adapter ring that lets your keyhole fit into larger bore holes.

That said, you shouldn’t use the adapter ring if the hole on your door only measures about 1- 1.5 inches. If you do, the lock won’t be aligned to your door hole. This might cause the lock to get stuck in the latch.

If your Kwikset lock is jammed, you may have placed your adapter ring on a bore hole of the same size. Detach your lock from the door and remove the adapter ring.

Then measure your bore hole with a hole gauge. If the diameter of the hole is 1.6 inches or more, place the adapter ring back onto the lock.

However, if the diameter of the hole is only about 1.5 inches, remove the adapter ring and re-install your lock without the ring.

Once you’ve completed the re-installation, insert your key into your Kwikset lock’s keyhole and lock the door with it. Then, try unlocking it. If the smart lock refuses to open, try the next tip.

Align Your Strikes to the Latch on the Lock

When you lock your door, the upper and lower parts of the latch are supposed to enter the corresponding strikes in the lock. But if your latches aren’t aligned to the strikes, the latches will be stuck in one position. As such, you won’t be able to lock your deadbolt.

You can fix the alignment issue by adjusting the lower strike on your door jamb.

Here’s how to do that:

  • Open your door.
  • Next, use a screwdriver to adjust the position of the lower strike. This should pull down the upper strike, such that it aligns with the upper part of your latch.

After changing the position of your lower strike, you’ll need to test if the strike is now properly aligned with the latch. To do this, rotate the turn piece on your lock as if you are unlocking the device. Then close your door.

If the door closes easily, your latch is well aligned with your strikes.

However, if you still need to push or lift your door to close it, the latch and strikes are not correctly positioned. Keep adjusting your strikes until they are properly aligned with your latch.

You should be able to lock your door easily after aligning your latch to your strikes.

Reposition Your Mounting Plate

If you can’t rotate your key in the Kwikset lock, you may have positioned the mounting plate wrongly during installation.

If your mounting plate is in the wrong position, it might place a lot of stress on the torque blade. Due to this tension, the torque blade may restrict the movement of the latch in your lock.

You’ll need to change the position of your mounting plate to fix this issue.

Follow the guide below to reposition your mounting plate:

  • Detach the interior part of the lock from the mounting plate.
  • Next, loosen the screws on the plate.
  • Shift the mounting plate slightly, ensuring it is still aligned with the strike plate.
  • Now, you need to check that the new position of your mounting plate doesn’t put any tension on the torque blade. To do this, rotate the lock with your key.
  • Your mounting plate is correctly positioned if the latch moves swiftly when you try to lock or unlock the door.
  • Once you’ve confirmed that the mounting plate is properly placed, replace the interior of the lock on the mounting plate.

After repositioning your mounting plate, your lock should be working properly.

Wrapping Up

To recap, if your Kwikset Lock gets stuck, performing the door handing detection may help fix the problem.

More so, replacing the batteries in your lock can do the trick. But if that doesn’t help, your installation may be wrong. Remove the lock from the door and reinstall it correctly.

Contact Kwikset Support if none of the steps above fixes the problem.

You may also like to see how to troubleshoot Kwikset SmartCode locks keypad issues and battery problems.