How To Fix A Door That Won't Latch, by Everyday Home Repairs on YouTube. 13 min 30 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 30 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Close the door slowly and watch where the latch meets the strike plate on the jamb. Note whether the door sags, rubs, or the latch misses high or low.
Check every hinge screw on both the door and the jamb. Turn each one snug with a screwdriver. Loose or spinning screws are the most common cause of a door that won't latch.
If a screw spins, it has stripped the wood. Replace the 3/4 inch hinge screws with #10 3 inch wood screws that reach the framing behind the jamb.
If the hole is too far gone, glue a wooden dowel or a few matchsticks into it, let it set, then drive the screw again. A washer under the head also helps pull a hinge flush.
Shut the door and test the latch. If it now catches cleanly, stop here. If it still misses, move on to the strike plate.
Coat the latch with chalk or pencil lead, close the door gently, and look for the mark it leaves on the strike plate. That mark shows exactly where the metal is binding.
File the marked edge of the strike plate opening with a hand file. Take off a little metal, test the door, then repeat. Small amounts are easier to correct than a wide opening.
If the door still won't latch, loosen the screws on one hinge at a time and slip a thin shim behind the hinge leaf on the jamb. Tighten and test after each hinge.
Start with the top hinge if the door sags, or the middle hinge if the latch sits high. Adjust in small steps and recheck the latch each time.
When the latch drops fully into the strike plate hole without a push, the job is done. Check that the door swings freely and does not rub.
Tips and common mistakes
Support the door on a wedge or block before you loosen hinge screws, so it does not drop and tear the screw holes.
Wear safety glasses when filing the strike plate, as metal filings can fly.
Wood doors swell in damp weather, so test the latch again in a few weeks before you file more metal.
Do not widen the strike plate more than the latch needs, or the door will rattle and come loose again.
Questions
Why does my door latch but not stay shut?
The strike plate is usually set too far back, or the door has sagged, so the latch only catches the edge. Tighten the hinges first, then adjust the plate.
Do I need to take the door off its hinges?
No. All three fixes work with the door still hanging. Only remove it if a hinge is badly bent or the door needs planing.
Can I use longer screws in every hinge?
Yes, as long as the screw heads sit flush and do not stop the door from closing. Screws that reach the wall framing give the strongest hold.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
