Schlage manufactures some of the best keyless electronic locks available today. With Schlage’s battery-powered locks, you no longer need a key to get access to your home! However, many homeowners have wondered what to do when the batteries in their Schlage keyless lock die.
Since all Schlage locks are battery-powered, the only way to fix a keyless model with a dead battery is to replace the battery. Models will either use a 9-volt alkaline battery or four AA batteries. For models powered by the 9-volt battery, it’s possible to jump-start locks when the battery is dead.
If you’re stuck with a Schlage lock with dead batteries and no key, we’ll break down everything you should know! Ultimately, there are two solutions: jump-starting compatible Schlage locks or replacing the dead batteries.
How To Unlock Schlage Locks With No Key And Dead Batteries
There are many benefits to replacing traditional locks with one of Schlage’s many electronic locks, from improved security to sheer convenience. But, of course, many homeowners are skeptical about these electronic locks; what happens when the power goes out?
Due to this exact concern, all Schlage electronic locks are battery-operated, which means the locks will continue to work during an unexpected power outage. Batteries can provide locks with a continuous power source for around a year. However, they will eventually die and need to be replaced.
With certain Schlage locks, there will be a physical backup keyhole. When the appropriate key is used, the lock can be opened even when the battery is dead. However, Schlage also manufactures keyless electronic locks. As the name suggests, these locks are manufactured without the emergency backup key option.
Keyless electronic locks tend to be more expensive than models with emergency keyholes, largely due to the benefits they offer homeowners. In addition to not needing a key to unlock the door, these locks offer different ways to access them – but what happens when the batteries are dead?
If you have a keyless electronic Schlage lock with dead batteries and no key, the only way to fix the lock is to replace the batteries. Of course, this means you will need to purchase the appropriate replacement batteries for your lock.
Ultimately, the batteries used by Schlage locks vary by model. In many models, four AA batteries are used to power the lock. With certain models, AAA batteries may be used. There are also many Schlage locks that are powered by a 9-volt alkaline battery.
Regardless of which Schlage electronic lock you have – and which type of batteries it uses – replacing the batteries will allow you to resume using the lock. Replacing the batteries will fix both keyless and keyed electronic locks from Schlage.
However, for certain Schlage locks powered by a 9-volt alkaline battery, there’s an even quicker way of gaining access to your house in the event the current battery dies. With many of these models, contact points on the lock’s panel allow homeowners to jump-start the lock should the batteries die.
2 Solutions To Schlage Lock With Dead Batteries And No Key
In general, there are two solutions for a Schlage lock with a dead battery and no key: jump-start it (with compatible models) or replace the batteries. In the following section, we’ll break down each of these solutions. Your electronic Schlage lock will be working in no time!
Solution #1: Jump Start Schlage Lock With Dead Battery And No Key
As discussed above, Schlage locks with a 9-volt alkaline battery have built-in emergency contact points installed. For models with these contact points, it’s possible to jump-start your electronic lock should the batteries be dead!
Step One: Examine Your Schlage Lock
The first step is to examine your Schlage lock to determine whether you can jump-start your specific lock. Unfortunately, this solution is only compatible with certain Schlage models. These jump-start contact points are located on the exterior side of your door, typically at the bottom of the lock.
If you’re able to locate these contact points on your Schlage lock, it means you’ll be able to jump-start the dead battery to unlock the door. However, if you don’t find these contact points on your Schlage lock, you’ll need to proceed to Solution #2 and replace your lock’s batteries.
Step Two: Buy A Replacement 9-volt Alkaline Battery
To perform an emergency jump-start on your Schlage lock, you’ll need a replacement high-quality 9-volt alkaline battery. Without this, you won’t be able to jump-start your dead Schlage lock with no key.
If you don’t have a replacement handy, you can purchase 9-volt batteries online or at a hardware store, supermarket, or convenience store. You’ll find many value packs of 9-volt batteries. These batteries are manufactured by many well-known brands, including Energizer, Duracell, and ANSMANN.
Buying a pack of 9-volt batteries ensures you always have a replacement handy when you need it.
Step Three: Connect New Battery To Schlage Lock’s Contact Points
Once you have a new high-quality 9-volt alkaline battery, it’s time to jump-start your dead Schlage lock! First, you’ll need to connect the replacement battery to the contact points on the exterior panel of your Schlage lock. Then, you’ll need to keep the battery connected to the contact points for the following two steps of the jump-starting process.
Step Four: Wait For A Long Beep
While the new 9-volt battery is connected to the contact points, keep your ears tuned for a long beep. This long beep signifies that the jump-starting process has been successful, and you’ll be able to unlock your door.
However, if you don’t hear this long beep, you may be using a dead or low-quality battery. Also, check if the battery contact points align correctly with the lock’s contact points.
Once you hear a long beep, you can proceed to the following step while keeping the battery connected to the contact points.
Step Five: Unlock Your Schlage Lock
Once you’ve heard the long beep, keep the new battery connected to the emergency contact points and unlock your door. If you have a keyless Schlage keypad lock, you should enter your code. Once you’ve unlocked the Schlage lock, you’ll be able to open the door. You can now disconnect the new battery from the contact points.
Step Six: Replace The Dead Battery With The New Battery
The new 9-volt battery you used to jump-start your Schlage lock can now be your replacement battery. Once you’ve gotten back inside, you can replace the dead battery on your Schlage lock.
We’ll outline this process in the following solution, which is compatible with all Schlage electronic locks.
Solution #2: Replace Schlage Lock Batteries
While the previous solution only works with compatible Schlage locks, this solution works across Schlage’s range of electronic locks! If you have a lock with a dead battery and no backup key, replacing the battery will fix your problem!
Step One: Open Your Schlage Lock’s Battery Compartment
You'll need to open the battery compartment to replace the dead batteries in your electronic Schlage lock. The specific way to do this will vary between different models. If you’re unsure how to open your Schlage lock, you should consult the owner’s manual that was provided with your lock. Generally, the battery cover is removed by sliding it up.
Step Two: Check Which Batteries Your Schlage Lock Uses
Now that you’ve opened your battery compartment, you should verify which type of batteries your Schlage lock uses. As we discussed earlier, all Schlage electronic locks are battery-powered. Multiple AA or AAA batteries will be used if a 9-volt alkaline battery does not power your lock.
Step Three: Buy Compatible Replacement Batteries
Once you’ve verified the type of batteries used by your Schlage lock, you should purchase high-quality replacement batteries. By purchasing high-quality batteries, you can ensure the battery has a long lifespan. You can buy high-quality replacement batteries in-store or online.
Step Four: Replace Your Schlage Lock’s Batteries
You can now remove the existing batteries from your Schlage lock’s battery compartment. Once you’ve removed the dead batteries, carefully replace them with new batteries. Your Schlage lock should power on again at this point.
Step Five: Replace The Lock’s Battery Cover
When the battery compartment of your Schlage lock is open, some internal wires may become exposed. Carefully tuck these wires back inside your lock before replacing the battery cover. Your Schlage lock should now be working properly!
Step Six: Monitor Battery Levels Going Forward
To prevent your battery from dying unexpectedly, you should monitor the battery levels in the future.
If you’re unsure of how to monitor the battery level of your electronic Schlage lock, we’ll explain how to do this in the following section!
How To Prevent Schlage Lock With Dead Battery
Now that we’ve outlined the solutions to a Schlage lock with a dead battery and no key, let’s look at how you can prevent this situation. Once again, there are two ways to do this: familiarize yourself with the indicator light on your Schlage lock and keep replacement batteries handy!
Monitor Indicator Light On Schlage Lock
The best way to prevent your Schlage lock’s battery from dying is to monitor the indicator light on your Schlage lock. Ultimately, the indicator light placement will vary between different models. For example, on touch screen models, the indicator light will be replaced with a battery icon on the screen.
By familiarizing yourself with the different indicator lights on your Schlage lock, you can monitor the battery level and replace it before it dies!
We’ll briefly explain what the different indicator lights mean on your Schlage lock. You can consult the owner's manual for information specific to your Schlage lock.
Red Light
When the indicator light on your Schlage lock turns red, it means an attempt to unlock the door was unsuccessful. For keyless models with a keypad, this means an invalid access code was entered into the keypad.
Flashing Red Light
On Schlage locks without a touch screen, a flashing red light indicates that the battery is running low and should be replaced. If you unlock an electronic Schlage lock and the batteries run low, the indicator light will flash a red light (indicating that the battery is low) and then flash green (indicating the door has been unlocked).
Low Battery Icon
On Schlage locks with a touchscreen panel, the indicator light is replaced by an icon on the screen. When the low battery icon appears, it means the battery is running low and will need to be replaced soon.
Flashing Low Battery Icon
When the battery icon on the touchscreen Schlage locks turns red and begins flashing, it means the battery is critically low. Therefore, when you see this flashing red battery icon, you should replace the battery inside your lock to prevent it from dying.
Keep Compatible Replacement Batteries Handy
In addition to monitoring the indicator light on your electronic Schlage lock, you should keep spare replacement batteries handy. Should your Schlage lock unexpectedly die, you’ll be able to replace the lock’s battery without hassle.
As we discussed earlier, the type of battery used varies between Schlage’s electronic lock. While many use a 9-volt alkaline battery, some may use 4 AA or AAA batteries.
Therefore, when purchasing compatible replacement batteries for your Schlage lock, you should buy a value pack so that you always have spare replacement batteries!
Conclusion
If your keyless electronic Schlage lock’s battery has died, you’ll need to replace the dead battery to fix the lock. However, with certain models powered by a 9-volt alkaline battery, it’s possible to jump-start the battery to unlock the door before replacing the dead battery. Ultimately, replacing the dead battery is the only way to keep using your Schlage electronic lock without a key.
