Generally speaking, Schlage locks are amongst the safest and most reliable out there. So, it came as some surprise to us to hear that there are quite a few of you out there suffering from the same issue.
Naturally, seeing as this issue makes your door effectively totally useless, we thought we would explore the cause of the problem further and figure out how to fix it.
Of course, the issue that we are going to talk about today is the one where the electronic smart lock just doesn’t want to work – which doesn’t seem all that smart.
In all likelihood, the whole reason for this is that it is simply just getting jammed.
Looking at the inner workings of the lock, what seems to be the main culprit for this is that the lock may only be able to engage the deadbolt in 1 direction.
Unfortunately, this can mean that it either gets stuck in the unlocked or locked position. No movement will be possible from that position.
Well, if the problem isn’t as advanced as all that, you may also be able to hear some clicking and grinding noises from within the body of the device.
In either case, the methods by which to fix it remains the same. So, if you are one of the few people out there experiencing this issue, read on to fix it with us, step by step.
Schlage Encode Lock Jammed During Operation
Okay, so this fix might be a little tricky if you have little to no experience doing things like this. However, we believe that if you follow the steps below closely, you should be able to do it by yourself.
You will need to tinker with and take apart a few things, but none of it is all that complex. With that being said, let’s get into it!
1. We mentioned above that you may have to take your lock apart to fix the problem. Well, before we take any unnecessary measures, let’s check the simple stuff first.
After all, it would be a shame to take such a drastic measure for no reason. First up, try testing the key in the lock again. Which direction is struggling with the smart key?
For example, can you lock it but not unlock it again? Or, can you disengage the lock only to hear a grinding noise when you try to lock it again?
2. Next up, try the same again while applying light pressure to overcome the friction that may well be overpowering the motor. In a lot of cases, you will actually be able to get the lock to do what you need it to.
However, this is by no means going to fix the problem in the long term. At this point, if you know what you are doing, you could decide to manipulate the back plate of the lock in such a way that it will be fixed.
3. Next up, you will need to pen the lid, being careful not to disconnect any wires while you are doing so.
At this point, it is a pretty good idea to take a picture of the internal workings of the lock, just to make sure that you know what it is supposed to look like while you are putting it back together.
Now remove the axles and gears.
4. Then, if you have some compressed air to hand, use it to clean off the body of the lock and clear out any material that may have built up over time.
Such debris can actually cause your lock to stop working over time, so even if it isn’t to blame this time, it is still worthwhile to do so.
Next up, reset the tooth and try the key test again to see has anything changed. If not, let’s keep going.
5. In this step, all you need to do is take the cover off of the electronic lock on the inside of the door. This is done by opening the lock. After this, it should come off without too much trouble.
6. After you have removed the necessary parts, you will need to unplug the cable that connects it to the rest of the lock mechanism.
7. At this point, you should open the door. The front half of the body should support the lock on the outside of the door. Now, unscrew and remove the two parts entirely.
From here, you should then be able to remove the lock and latch face entirely. Then, all you need to do is make sure that the deadbolt lines up properly again before putting it all back together again.
The Last Word
Unfortunately, if this fix didn’t work for you, there is little else that we can recommend other than calling in a technician to have a look.
Nevertheless, we hope that you are one of the many out there who managed to do the whole thing solo.
I was having a problem with my Schlage Encode grinding and/or giving me locked jammed notifications. The battery level indicated in the Home app was 75% so I didn’t change them. I factory reset the lock and that didn’t solve the problem. My husband then took the batteries out and tested them with a battery tester One of the four batteries was bad. We replaced the one bad battery and that solved the problem. So even if the app indicates an acceptable battery level, you may still need fresh batteries.
This was very helpful and exactly my problem. I had 47% battery left, but the lock kept “jamming”. Replaced the batteries and the lock worked fine again.
I just had an issue with my Schlage Encode lock refusing to work with the keypad and the Home app reporting lock jammed. While waiting interminably on hold for Schlage customer service, I took the lever/motor portion of the lock off the door and tried the app again. It worked – BACKWARDS!
I had to force the lever back (push the motor) to the correct position and factory reset the lock. Entered the factory key code, the lock figured out what was the proper direction to work the bolt. I then went back and set the lock back up & I’m up and running.