{"title":"How to Install a Smart Lock","canonicalUrl":"https://www.showmestepbystep.com/home-improvement/how-to-install-a-smart-lock","category":{"slug":"home-improvement","name":"Home Improvement"},"creator":{"name":"Dave Wirth","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGqF5ktj2oAlwm3HPaWbDOQ","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeO0wEaJSRo"},"tldr":"Swap an old deadbolt for a keyless keypad smart lock in under an hour. Remove, install, wire the keypad, and program your code, step by step.","totalDurationSeconds":448,"difficulty":"medium","tools":["cordless drill","screwdriver","Phillips bit","tape measure"],"materials":["keyless electronic deadbolt lock","AA batteries"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Remove the Old Latch Bolt","text":"Start on the edge of the door. Back out the two screws holding the old latch faceplate, then pull the latch bolt straight out of its slot. Keep the screws in a cup so they don't roll off the porch. With the latch gone, the deadbolt body should loosen up and you can move to the flat face of the door."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: Pull Out the Old Lock Body","text":"Now clear the round bore hole. Loosen the mounting screws on the interior side and separate the two halves of the old deadbolt so they slide out of the door. You should be left with a clean bore and an empty edge slot. Wipe out any grit so the new hardware seats flush."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: Install the New Latch Bolt","text":"Feed the new latch bolt into the edge of the door, curved side facing the direction the door closes. Push it back until the faceplate sits flat against the door edge, then drive the two included screws to hold it. Check that the little hole in the latch lines up with the center of the bore. That's where the keypad post has to pass through."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Mount the Exterior Keypad","text":"Hold the keypad against the outside of the door and slide its square post and cable through the latch and out the interior side. Keep the keypad level while you do this so the numbers sit straight. Have a hand ready on the inside to catch the post so nothing pinches or twists as it comes through."},{"number":5,"title":"Step 5: Attach the Interior Body and Batteries","text":"Set the interior body over the post and mounting plate, then drive the through-bolts to sandwich the door tight. Don't crank them all the way yet. Snug them so the lock still moves freely. Pop the cover and load the AA batteries into the tray. The keypad should light up once power hits it."},{"number":6,"title":"Step 6: Test the Deadbolt Throw","text":"Before you program anything, turn the interior thumb-turn by hand. The bolt should slide in and out smoothly, with no grinding. Then close the door and check that the bolt lines up with the strike plate on the frame. If it catches, loosen the mounting bolts and shift the body slightly until the throw is clean."},{"number":7,"title":"Step 7: Program Your Master Code","text":"Grab the quick-start card. Enter the factory master code, press the brand button, then type the new code you want and confirm. Wait for the green light before you let go. Dave hit a few red flashes here, and found that typing four or five digits quickly worked better than going slow. Once it takes, test the code from the outside and lock up."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-07-14T00:57:29.004Z","published":"2026-07-14T00:54:00.744Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}