How to Change the Battery in a Schlage Lock (All Models)

A flashing red light on your Schlage keypad almost always means one thing: the battery is getting low. Changing it is a quick, screwdriver-and-five-minutes job, but the details differ by model, and a couple of small mistakes can leave you with a lock that still warns low or, worse, a damaged keypad. We service these locks across New York, so here is exactly how to change the battery in any Schlage lock, which battery yours takes, what the warning lights mean, and what to do if the lock is already dead.

First, what the warning light means

• Flashing red: the battery is low. Replace it soon, within a few days, before it dies completely.
• Solid red: the battery is critically low. Replace it immediately to avoid a lockout.

Which battery does your Schlage take?

This is the part people get wrong. Match your model first so you buy the right battery.

Use name-brand alkaline batteries only. Schlage recommends against lithium and rechargeable batteries. Lithium can fail suddenly with little warning, and rechargeables run at a lower voltage that can make the lock read low when it is not. Good alkaline cells give you a clear, gradual warning instead.

How to change a 9V battery on keypad models like BE365 and FE595

1. Remove the interior cover. Use a Phillips screwdriver to take out the two screws on the inside of the lock, then lift off the cover to expose the battery.
2. Disconnect the old 9V. Gently unsnap the old battery from its connector. Be careful around the thin connecting wires, since damaging them can break the keypad and turn this into a real repair.
3. Connect a fresh alkaline 9V. Snap a new name-brand alkaline 9V onto the connector with the terminals aligned. Tuck it into its holder so it does not dangle.
4. Reinstall the cover without pinching wires. Push the wires gently toward the center so they are not caught, then replace the cover and screws. Test the lock with a code.

How to change AA batteries on Encode, Connect, and Sense

1. Remove the battery cover. Slide or lift off the decorative cover on the interior assembly to reveal the battery tray.
2. Pull the battery tray straight out. Gently slide the tray up and out of the lock.
3. Install four new AA alkaline batteries. Place four fresh AA cells in the tray in the correct orientation. When the tray is seated properly, the batteries face toward the door.
4. Reinsert the tray and cover. Slide the tray back in, replace the cover, and test the lock to confirm it responds.

After you replace the battery

Your codes and settings are stored in the lock’s memory and are not erased by a battery change, so you do not need to reprogram anything. If the lock is acting up beyond the battery, that is a separate issue; see our guides on resetting a Schlage keypad lock and changing a Schlage code.

Still getting a low-battery warning after replacing?

If fresh batteries still trigger a low-battery alert, work through these.

• Confirm the battery type and brand. A weak, off-brand, lithium, or rechargeable cell is the usual culprit. Switch to name-brand alkaline.
• Check the connection. On 9V models, make sure the connector is fully snapped on and the wires are not pinched. On AA models, confirm every cell is seated and oriented correctly.
• Look at the bolt and strike. A bolt that binds or a misaligned strike forces the motor to work harder and drains batteries fast. If the deadbolt does not throw smoothly, that mechanical drag is the real problem, not the battery.

What to do if the lock is already dead

If you ignored the warnings and the lock will not respond, you still have options before calling anyone.

• Use the physical key. Most Schlage deadbolts include a key cylinder as a backup. The key always works regardless of battery state.
• Emergency power, on supported models. Some Schlage models without a keyway, such as certain BE375 and FE695 units, accept an emergency jump by touching a fresh 9V to the external terminals to power the keypad just long enough to enter your code.

If you have no key, no override, and a dead lock, that is a lockout, and our guide on what to expect from an emergency locksmith in NYC explains the next step.

How often should you change the battery?

A good habit is to replace the battery once a year, on the same schedule you test your smoke-alarm batteries, so you never get surprised. Encode and similar smart locks last roughly a year on AA alkalines depending on how often the lock is used. For the official, model-specific steps, Schlage’s battery replacement support guide has interactive instructions.

When to call a locksmith

Call a pro if the lock is dead and you have no key or override, if you damaged the keypad wires during a 9V swap, or if fresh batteries keep dying because the bolt binds. We service and repair Schlage locks across NYC. If you are weighing a new lock instead, see our roundup of the best smart locks for NYC apartments and whether keyless entry locks are safe.

Rainbow Locksmith NY | 338 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065 | Licensed and insured | NYC DCWP License. Recycle old batteries at a battery drop-off; do not place them in household trash. A swollen battery should be handled with care.