What does smart lock installation involve?
A smart lock swaps the key-only part of your door hardware for something that also takes a code, a phone, or both. Smart lock installation is more than bolting a new lock to a door, though. The lock has to fit the holes already drilled in the door, the bolt has to slide into the strike plate without dragging, the electronics and batteries have to be seated correctly, and the software has to be set up properly: user codes, app pairing, Wi-Fi connection and auto-lock behavior.
When one of those pieces is off, you get the complaints we hear most. A bolt that strains and drains the batteries. A lock that reports locked when the bolt is only half thrown. An app that loses the lock every few days. Most of those trace back to the installation, not to the lock itself, which is why we treat alignment and setup as the real work.
We handle keyless entry installation, keypad lock installation, Wi-Fi lock installation, Bluetooth lock installation and full app-controlled setups for homes, apartments and condos in Los Angeles. We also do smart lock repair, smart lock replacement and troubleshooting when a lock you already own stops behaving. David oversees the work, and it is one company from the phone call to the final test, with no dispatch middleman in between.
Which keyless door lock fits your door and your habits?
There is no single best smart lock. The right one depends on how you live, what your door is made of and what you want the lock to do. These are the main types we install:
Whatever you pick, we look at the door first. Some doors are too thin at the edge, drilled for different hardware, or warped enough that a motorized bolt will fight them. If all you want is a stronger standard lock with no electronics, that is a deadbolt installation job instead. And if a smart lock is wrong for your door, we will say so before we drill anything.
- Keypad deadbolts: you enter a code on the door. No phone is required, there are fewer parts to fail, and it is easy to give a code to a cleaner, a dog walker or a family member. This is often the most practical choice for rentals and shared households.
- Bluetooth locks: your phone acts as the key when you are near the door. They tend to be easier on batteries and do not need your router, but you generally cannot control them from across town unless you add a bridge.
- Wi-Fi locks: the lock joins your home network, so you can lock, unlock and check status from anywhere. The tradeoff is heavier battery use and a reliance on your internet connection and the manufacturer's app.
- Hub-connected locks: these pair with a smart home system using standards such as Z-Wave, Zigbee or Matter. They make sense if you already run lights, cameras or thermostats from one hub. We confirm compatibility with your system before installing.
- Retrofit units: some products keep your existing deadbolt and its key and add a motorized, app-controlled thumbturn on the inside. These can suit renters who need the outside of the door left untouched.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
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Call (213) 577-1366How do we install and set up a smart lock?
Every door is a little different, but the job follows the same order.
Setup is where a rushed install shows, and it takes longer than most people expect. We would rather spend the extra time getting codes and settings right with you standing there than leave you to sort it out from a manual later.
- You call (213) 577-1366 and tell us about the door: front door, apartment entry or patio slider; what lock is on it now; whether you have already bought a smart lock; and what kind of phone and Wi-Fi setup you use.
- We inspect the door and frame: thickness, edge, bore holes, backset, strike plate, and any rubbing or swelling that would make a motor work harder than it should.
- We confirm the lock fits. If you bought one, we check it against your door before anything is opened that cannot go back in the box. If you have not, we help you choose a type that suits the door.
- We remove the old hardware and fit the new lock, adjusting or reinforcing the strike plate where the frame is weak so the bolt throws freely and holds.
- We test the bolt by hand, then with power, before any software is involved. A smart lock on a misaligned door is a repair call waiting to happen.
- We install batteries, pair the lock with the app, connect it to Wi-Fi or your hub if it uses one, and set user codes, auto-lock timing and any guest access you want.
- We replace factory default codes, show you how the lock signals low batteries, and make sure you know how to get in with the backup key or emergency power contacts if your model has them.
- We cycle the lock repeatedly with the door open and closed, from the keypad and from the app, then walk you through everything before we leave.
What affects the cost of smart lock installation in Los Angeles?
We do not put numbers on a web page because the honest answer depends on your door and the lock. Here is what moves the cost, so you can see where a quote comes from:
The usually more economical route is a simpler lock on a sound door rather than a feature-packed lock on a door that needs repairs first. If a modest keypad does everything you need, we will say so, and we explain the quote before we start drilling.
- The lock itself. Keypad-only, Wi-Fi and hub-connected models vary widely in features and build quality. If you supply the lock, you are paying for installation and setup rather than hardware.
- The condition of the door. A door that needs a new bore, a strike repair or some adjustment takes more work than one that already matches the lock.
- Door type. Standard wood, steel and fiberglass doors are the usual case. Mortise doors, glass doors and narrow-frame doors can need different hardware or extra labor.
- Number of doors. Doing several doors in one visit, with a consistent code scheme, is usually more economical per door than separate trips.
- Setup complexity. A standalone keypad is quick to configure. Wi-Fi, hub pairing and many user codes take more time.
- Location and timing. Distance to the job and whether you need work outside regular hours both factor in.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Smart lock repair, replacement and troubleshooting
A good share of our smart lock calls come from people who already own one that has become unreliable. Before replacing anything, we work through the usual causes:
Many of these are fixed with realignment, fresh batteries and a proper reset, which falls under lock repair. When the electronics are failing, the model has been discontinued, or the app is no longer supported, lock replacement is the better path. We will tell you which one we think applies and why.
If your smart lock has died and you are stuck outside, call anyway. The phone is answered around the clock.
- Weak or mismatched batteries, which cause slow bolts, false lock status and random beeping.
- A door that has shifted or swollen so the bolt rubs the strike. On the foggier Westside, older wood doors can swell slightly with the seasons.
- A lost Wi-Fi connection after a router change, or an app that needs to be re-paired after a new phone.
- A worn keypad, or a motor that has been straining against a misaligned bolt for months.
- User codes that were never cleaned up, leaving old guests or former roommates with access.
Where do smart locks make sense in Los Angeles homes and buildings?
Renters outnumber owners across most of the central city, and that shapes smart lock work here. Apartment lockouts around UCLA and Westwood Village student housing are a typical scenario in our area, and shared apartments in 90024 are a natural fit for a keypad lock if the landlord approves: when a roommate moves out you change a code instead of chasing a key. If you are locked out right now, our apartment lockout service is the place to start.
Palms, Sawtelle and Koreatown have a very large stock of mid-century apartments and dingbats. Where the door is sound, a keypad or Bluetooth deadbolt can often go in without much trouble. Where a building still carries its original mortise lockset, as many older buildings do, a smart deadbolt may not fit without extra work, so we check that first. The same caution applies to 1920s Spanish Colonial and Tudor homes in Mid-Wilshire, where original mortise hardware can be worth keeping, with the smart lock added to a different door.
Mar Vista and Rancho Park have postwar single-family tracts, and front and back doors there are often among the more straightforward installs. On the Westside, the morning marine layer can leave exterior hardware damp, so for a keypad on an exposed door we favor finishes and models suited to it. The effect on locks is modest, but it is a reason not to pick purely on looks.
Along the Wilshire Corridor through Westwood, many condominium high-rises are HOA-managed, so door hardware is often governed by building rules. Downtown adds loft conversions in early-1900s commercial buildings, where the shared entry may run on a building-level system. For tenant-wide or building-wide entry, access control installation is the right service. For your own unit door, a smart lock is usually what you want, once the building allows it.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Renting or in an HOA building? Check these first
A few questions asked before installation save a lot of trouble afterward. If you are not sure about any of them, call us and we will talk it through before anyone drives out.
- Does your lease allow lock changes? Many require landlord approval or a way for the landlord to enter. If you rent, keep the original hardware so it can go back on when you move out.
- Does your HOA or building management control door hardware, finishes or fire-rated entry doors? Ask first, particularly in high-rise condos.
- Does the property need master keying or emergency access? Managed buildings often do. Our locksmith for landlords page explains how we approach those properties.
- Does your locksmith hold the required license? California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before work begins.
Is a smart lock more secure than a regular lock?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. A smart lock changes how the door is opened. It does not make a weak door strong. If the frame is split, the strike plate is held by short screws, or the door is thin and hollow, a keypad on the outside will not fix that. We look at those points during every installation and reinforce what we can.
Habits matter as much as hardware. Give each person their own code, delete codes when people leave, avoid obvious codes like birthdays or 1234, protect the app account with a strong password and two-step verification, and keep the lock's software up to date. For Wi-Fi locks, remember that remote convenience and remote exposure come together. If you do not need to open the door from across town, a Bluetooth or keypad-only lock can be the sounder choice.
Many smart deadbolts also include a key cylinder as a backup. That cylinder is part of your security too, so it is worth knowing who holds a key to it.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for smart locks?
We have been in business since 1987, long enough to have worked on the original mortise locks and mid-century hardware still hanging on older Los Angeles doors, as well as the newest keypad deadbolts. That mix matters, because most smart lock problems turn out to be door problems.
- A storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood plus mobile locksmith vans, so we can come to your door or you can talk to us in person.
- One company, with no dispatch middlemen between your call and the technician at your door.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
- The phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366.
- We serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and Los Angeles is home base.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a smart lock I already bought?
Yes. Tell us the make and model when you call. We check it against your door before work starts: thickness, bore holes, backset and door handing. Occasionally a lock simply does not suit a door, such as one made for a standard bored door going onto an older mortise door, and we will tell you that rather than force it.
Will a smart lock work on my Los Angeles apartment door?
Often, yes, but get your landlord or property manager's approval first. Many older central-city buildings still have original mortise locksets, which can limit your options. In that case a retrofit unit that keeps your existing deadbolt may be a better fit. We check the door and explain what will and will not work.
What happens if the batteries die or my Wi-Fi goes down?
Most smart locks warn you well before the batteries run out, and many have a backup key cylinder or external power contacts for emergencies. If Wi-Fi goes down, the lock still works by keypad or key; only remote features pause until it reconnects. Details vary by model, so we show you exactly how yours behaves.
Should I choose a keypad, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi lock?
Choose a keypad if you want simple, phone-free access. Choose Bluetooth if you like using your phone as the key and want gentler battery use. Choose Wi-Fi if you need to lock, unlock or check the door from anywhere. If you already run a smart home hub, we also check hub compatibility before installing.
Can you put a smart lock on an older door or a mortise lock?
Sometimes. Many smart deadbolts are made for doors with standard bored holes. Older doors with original mortise hardware may need a model made for mortise, a retrofit unit, or a different approach entirely. We inspect first and tell you honestly if the original hardware is worth keeping.
Can a smart lock be hacked?
No lock is unbeatable, but in practice the weak points are usually simple: easy codes, shared app accounts, forgotten old codes and flimsy door frames. We set unique codes, reinforce the strike where needed and explain how to protect your app account, which covers most of the real risk.
Do I still need a physical key, and can the lock be rekeyed?
If your smart deadbolt has a key cylinder, keep a key somewhere safe as your backup. That cylinder can usually be rekeyed if a key goes missing, which is covered by our lock rekey service. Some keyless models have no key at all, so we tell you which kind you are buying.
Do you handle smart lock installation at night or on weekends?
Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round at (213) 577-1366. Installs are usually planned jobs, so tell us when you need it and we will work out timing with you. If a smart lock has left you locked out tonight, call right away.
Do you repair smart locks you did not install?
Yes. Smart lock troubleshooting and repair are part of what we do, whoever installed the lock. We check the batteries, the door alignment, the strike plate and the app connection first, then tell you whether a repair makes sense or whether replacement is the more economical route.
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Smart Lock Installation near Los Angeles
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.