Sliding door latch
Also called: hook latch, patio door catch
Quick answer: a sliding door latch is the metal hook in the edge of the sliding panel. When you flip the lever, the hook swings out and grabs a keeper (also called a strike) on the door frame. If the hook and keeper no longer line up, the door will not latch.
- Thumb turn, the lever on the inside handle
- Lock body, hidden inside the panel edge
- Hook, which swings out and curls behind the keeper
- Keeper, the slotted plate screwed to the frame
How to check why it won’t catch
Work through these in order. Most of the time the fix is a screwdriver, not a new lock.
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Test it with the door openFlip the lever. If the hook swings out smoothly, the lock itself works.
Safe to do yourself
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Mark where the hook landsRub marker on the hook tip, close the door gently, flip the lever, then look at the keeper.
Safe to do yourself
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Move the keeper or raise the doorLoosen the keeper screws and slide it to the mark, or raise the rollers a quarter turn at a time.
Take care: keep the panel in its track
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The hook will not come outParts inside the lock body have broken, so the lock body needs replacing.
Call a pro
Fix it yourself or call a pro
- Safe yourselfVacuum the track and the hook slot, tighten the keeper screws, and test the hook with the door open.
- Take careRaising the rollers or moving the keeper. Make small turns and keep the panel in its track the whole time.
- Call a proA broken lock body, a bent hook or keeper, pry marks, or any fix that means taking the glass panel out: two people at least.
Step by step: sliding door won’t lock or latch? What to check.
Door won’t latch?
Select Sliding Doors handles sliding door repair, including latches, keepers and lock bodies, across Dallas-Fort Worth. Mon to Sat, 7am to 10pm.
Questions people ask
Why won’t my sliding door latch catch?
Usually the door has dropped a little, or the keeper has moved. The hook still swings out, but it lands above, below or short of the slot. Moving the keeper or raising the rollers fixes most cases.
Is the latch the same as the lock?
On most sliding patio doors, yes. The same hook latches and locks the door. A key cylinder outside, if your door has one, moves that same hook.
Can I replace just the keeper?
Yes. Keepers are sold on their own, but the shape must suit your hook. Take the old one with you, or have a technician match it.
Related terms
Photo: own media library. Diagram: Select Sliding Doors.
