Choosing new locks is about more than finding a style or finish you like. If you want one house key to work on every exterior door, compatibility needs to be part of your shopping plan.

Schlage and Kwikset are two of the most common residential hardware brands. Their standard house locks generally use different keyways, so mixing them can leave you with separate keys.

What Does Keyed Alike Mean

Keyed alike means the same physical key operates more than one lock. For example, your front door deadbolt, back door lock, and garage entry lock could all use one key. It does not mean the locks need to look identical.

What is a Keyway

The keyway is the shaped opening where your key goes into the lock. For locks to be keyed alike, they need compatible keyways. Rekeying changes which key operates a lock, but it does not change the shape of that opening.

Exterior examples of Kwikset and Schlage hardware. The keyway is the opening where the key goes in. Use these photos as a starting point, and ask us if you are unsure what you have.

Example 1: Replacing a door and getting a new lock

You decide to replace your front door. Along with the new door, you pick out a Schlage lock that you love. Once everything is installed, you want the new lock to use the same house key as your other doors so you do not have to carry an extra key.

Then you realize the rest of your home has Kwikset locks. In this example, the new Schlage lock and your existing Kwikset locks have different keyways. The new lock cannot be rekeyed to match your existing house key, so you are left using a separate key for the front door.

Before choosing the new lock, check the hardware on the rest of your home. If your goal is one key for every door, selecting the same brand and confirming compatibility before buying can help you avoid this problem.

Example 2: Replacing All the Locks in Your Home

You are updating your home and decide to replace all the exterior door locks. You choose Schlage hardware for the front and side doors and Kwikset hardware for the back and garage entry doors because you like the different styles.

You want all the new locks keyed alike so one house key works everywhere. The problem is that the Schlage and Kwikset locks you selected have different keyways. They cannot all be rekeyed to use the same key. You may be able to match the Schlage locks to each other and the Kwikset locks to each other, but you will still have two separate keys.

If carrying one key matters to you, plan the hardware for the whole house before purchasing. Staying with the same brand is a helpful starting point, and compatibility should still be confirmed.

Example 3: Keypad Locks

You decide to add a keypad lock to your front door so you can come and go without reaching for your keys. You choose a Schlage keypad, while the rest of your home has Kwikset locks. You also want the keypad’s backup key to match your existing house key.

Even though you normally enter using a code, a keypad with a physical backup key still has a keyway. If its keyway is different from your other locks, the backup key cannot be matched to them by rekeying.

If you are comfortable keeping two separate backup keys, that is fine. If you want one key for everything, choose compatible keypad hardware and have the locks keyed alike. Buying the same keypad model does not automatically mean the included keys will match.

A backup key can also come in handy if the keypad batteries die or you forget your passcode, especially if you have no other way to get inside. Having the backup key with you gives you another way to unlock the door in those situations.

Not every keypad lock has a backup keyway, so check before buying. Whether you prefer a keypad with a backup key or a model without one is completely up to you and your vision for your home.

Things to Consider Before Replacing Your Locks

Before purchasing, think about how you want your locks to work together. If your goal is one key for every exterior door, keyway compatibility should be part of the decision from the start.

• Are you replacing one lock, the hardware on one door, or every exterior lock in your home?

• Do you want the new lock to match your current house key, or do you want a new set of keys for the whole home?

• Have you checked the brand of the existing locks and whether the new hardware can be keyed alike with them?

• Not all keypad locks have backup keyways. Do you want a backup key option? If so, do you want that key to match your other doors too?

• Does the new hardware fit your door? Key compatibility and physical fit both matter.

Unsure What to Choose

Whether you are choosing Schlage, Kwikset, or considering another brand, feel free to reach out if you would like help confirming keyway compatibility before purchasing.

Shoot us an email at info@aw-locksmith.com or a quick text to 484-673-7818. Let us know what you are looking to do and include photos of your current hardware, along with photos or a product link for the new hardware you would like. We can help determine whether the keyways are compatible before you buy.

We are here to help and would love to help those around our community!

Do You Need New Locks or Just New Keys

Replacing your hardware means removing the existing locks and installing new ones. This may be the right choice if your hardware is worn or damaged, or if you want a new style or features such as a keypad.

Rekeying means keeping your existing hardware and rekeying the lock cylinders to work with a new set of keys. After the lock cylinders are rekeyed, the old keys no longer work. If your hardware is in good condition, you may not need to replace it just to change your keys. Compatible locks can also be keyed alike during this process.

For new homeowners, changing who has access should be a must-do step when moving in. You may not know how many copies of the previous house keys exist or who has them. Have the locks rekeyed to a new set of keys, or replace the hardware and make sure it uses new keys. Simply receiving keys at closing does not mean the previous copies have stopped working.