Expert Advice: Step-By-Step Guide For How To Rekey Schlage Deadbolt

Have you relocated, or have you misplaced the keys to your house’s front door? Have you forgotten your house keys at your aunt’s house, or is the key to your lock broken? Whatever the cause, there are some circumstances where you have no choice but to rekey your lock if you want to avoid replacing it.

Though you could consider using Schlage replacement keys, not everyone has extra deadbolt door lock keys stashed away.

For a novice homeowner, it might be challenging enough to rekey any door lock, let alone one built by Schlage. When you unintentionally lose or misplace this crucial object, the question that comes to your mind is ‘can a Schlage lock be rekeyed?’ and ‘how to rekey a Schlage deadbolt?’

Although the majority of people would assume that calling a locksmith is the quickest approach to resolve this issue, you don’t always need to spend money in these situations. This post will talk about the most effective method for resolving this issue and creating a new key for your door lock.

To rekey your Schlage lock, you would need to use a master key to remove the lock housing. Then find your new key’s key cut number and insert the key into the cylinder. Using the rekey kit map, compare the numbers on the new key and assemble the cylinder back into its original form. 

This article will discuss rekeying a Schlage lock both with and without the master key. However, let’s first master the fundamentals of rekeying a lock.

What Is Rekeying Of A Lock?

Rekeying a lock entails switching the lock’s operational key for a different key without replacing the lock. In other words, the lock remains the same, but the old key no longer works. To accomplish this task, you must disassemble the lock, and a few internal components referred to as tumblers or key pins are replaced.

When you swap out the key pins in your lock for new ones, you essentially create a new key that will lock and unlock the lock instead of the old one because each sequence of keyholes in your lock corresponds to a certain key pin. Despite how difficult this may seem, if you have the correct equipment, it’s a simple process that should not take more than a few minutes.

All locks can be rekeyed as a built-in feature, so you don’t need to worry about that. This is a crucial point to remember. However, there are variations in how to rekey various locks, which may require using different and appropriate tools.

Why Might You Need To Rekey Your Locks?

You might be wondering why you should rekey your lock, but I suggest doing so semi-regularly to increase your home’s security. However, there are a variety of other circumstances in which you might want to think about rekeying your lock in addition to boosting security.

Below is a list of a handful of them.

• Your locks should be rekeyed when you move into a new house. Rekeying a lock is a quick and easy approach to verify that you are the only person with a set of keys if your property was previously occupied.

• Rekeying the lock may be a more affordable option than replacing it if you have misplaced the keys to your lock and don’t want to jeopardize your space’s security.

• Whether it was a complicated relationship or a fantastic friendship that soured, rekeying your locks is a wise option if you do not wish to allow anyone else with the key to enter your home.

• Despite the fact that your locks are working perfectly, you want to change the key because the old key will no longer work or is damaged.

• You want one key to match more than one of your locks, provided the locks are of the same brand.

Can I Rekey A Schlage Lock Myself?

The reason why the majority of people don’t rekey their locks is that they believe it to be an expensive process that necessitates hiring a locksmith. However, if you have the proper rekeying kit that includes a master key for your lock, you can rekey a lock like an expert at a fraction of the cost. 

The majority of lock brands have rekeying kits available, but they are not interchangeable. So, the Schlage lock master key will be compatible with rekeying only the Schlage locks. You can rekey your Schlage lock easily using a Schlage master key.

If you don’t have the original key, you might wonder, ‘can you rekey a Schlage lock yourself?. So, certainly, the answer to your query is a yes. The task is challenging nonetheless because Schlage locks are regarded for their security.

How To Rekey A Schlage Lock Using The Key?

Even though smart locks are growing in popularity, many people still prefer deadbolt locks over them. Deadbolt locks are notable for their simplicity in usage and installation, as well as their level of security.

You will learn how to quickly and affordably rekey a traditional lock using a master key in this section of the article. Following these detailed instructions, you may rekey a Schlage deadbolt lock at home on your own.

• Step 1: Open the deadbolt using the original master key.
• Step 2: Locate the cylinder cap in the middle of the disassembled lock and remove it using the cylinder cap removal tool.
• Step 3: Take off the spring holding the cylinder pin.
  
• Step 4: Position the key at two o’clock.
• Step 6: Pull the lock housing out of the cylinder by utilizing your follower bar. Be careful not to remove the follower bar; instead, maintain it inside when removing the housing. Ensure that the notch on the follower bar is horizontal.
  
• Step 7: Search the cylinder for any existing bottom pins and remove them and take out the original master key.
• Step 8: Find your new key’s key cut number and insert the key into the cylinder. The key cut numbers are usually printed on the interior of the lock cylinder and also in the user manual of the lock.
• Step 9: Use the rekey kit map to look for pins. Compare the numbers on the new key.
  
• Step 10: Reading the cylinder from right to left, find the first hole, and place the appropriate numbered pin there. Repeat the steps for the second, third and fourth holes.
• Step 11: Check to ensure your new key’s inserted pins are lined up with the top of the cylinder as it is in the keyway.
• Step 12: Push the cylinder back into the deadbolt housing using the follower bar and take out the new key.
• Step 13: Remove and reinstall the cylinder spring.
• Step 14: Now, reinsert the cylinder pins. 
• Step 15: Using the cylinder cap removal tool, tighten the cylinder cap back into place.
• Step 16: Simulate locking and unlocking the deadbolt to ensure that your rekeying procedure was successful.

How To Rekey A Schlage Lock Without The Original Key?

Schlage locks are challenging to rekey without a key because they were made to be challenging. A locksmith could complete this quickly, but they might charge more. If your Schlage lock original key is lost or is not accessible, you may end up wondering if a locksmith can make a duplicate key without the original key. While this may be one option, the other may be rekeying a lock without the original key.

In this section of the article, we will discuss detailed step-by-step instructions for rekeying a Schlage deadbolt. You might have no trouble removing the Schlage smart lock cylinder by following the steps, but if you find the task complicated, I recommend seeking a professional locksmith’s help.

• Step 1: The first step is to unlock your door at home using legal lock-picking gear. The Precision hook and pick set available on Amazon is a good option if you wish to consider it.
• Step 2: Grab a paper clip and insert it firmly into the knob hole located on the side of the knob. Pull the knob off as soon as the knob clip releases.
  
• Step 3: Detach the cylinder housing.
  
• Step 4: Remove the ring using the retainer ring removal tool from the Schlage rekeying kit.
  
• Step 5: Remove the cylinder plug from the cylinder using the plug follower tool. Keep in mind to work gently to prevent the pins from springing out.
  
• Step 6: Remove the old pins so you can insert your new key. Carefully match the color-coded pins with their new locations.
  
• Step 7: After installing your new key, lock your door one time to secure the cylinder, doorknob, and housing mechanism.

FAQs

Q1. How do locksmiths make keys without the original key?

Answer – Depending upon the lock and the locksmith, a locksmith may use a different approach to cut the key for your lock. The major techniques used to make the duplicate keys without the original keys are making an impression of the key using the lock, cutting the key as per the key code, or as a last resort, dissembling the lock.

Q2. What should I do if I cannot find the key cut number while rekeying?

Answer – If the key cut number cannot be located or you are rekeying using a duplicate key rather than the original, you should use a key gauge to determine the proper pin height.

Conclusion

It frequently happens for people to forget their keys at a friend’s or family member’s house or lose the key to their home. We all have a tendency to get a little reckless from time to time due to the busyness of everyday life. But if you don’t rekey the locks, this negligence could endanger the security of your house.

Using the master key, Schlage users can easily rekey their locks on their own. Even so, you might still be able to rekey your lock by using the instructions on this page if you don’t have the original key. Once you have all the required tools and knowledge, rekeying a Schlage lock using a master key is not difficult. You will succeed if you get the Schlage rekey kit and adhere to the directions in this post.

If you found the information given in the article useful, share it with your friends and family for their upcoming rekeying session.  I appreciate you finding time to read the article.