If your interior door won't latch, the fix is almost always straightforward — even if the cause isn't immediately obvious. The three most common culprits are a misaligned strike plate, sagging hinges, or a door that has swollen or shifted with seasonal moisture changes. Identifying which one you're dealing with takes about two minutes, and most repairs require basic tools you probably already have.
Check the Strike Plate First
The strike plate is the metal piece mortised into the door frame that the latch bolt clicks into. Over time, the door frame can settle slightly, or the door itself can warp just enough that the latch bolt no longer lines up with the strike plate opening.
To check alignment, close the door slowly and watch where the latch bolt hits. If it's catching on the edge of the strike plate rather than sliding cleanly into the hole, you can often see scuff marks or shiny wear on the plate itself.
If the misalignment is minor — a millimeter or two — the quickest fix is to file or chisel the strike plate opening slightly in the direction needed. Remove the plate, use a metal file to enlarge the opening, reinstall, and test.
If the gap is larger, you may need to reposition the strike plate entirely. Unscrew it, use a sharp chisel to deepen or extend the mortise in the right direction, and reinstall. Fill the old screw holes with wooden toothpicks or a small wood plug and wood glue before driving new screws — this gives them something to bite into and keeps the plate secure.
Sagging Hinges Are More Common Than They Look
A door that's dropped even slightly at the latch side can throw the bolt off enough that it won't catch. This usually shows up as a latch that hits low on the strike plate, or a door that drags along the floor or frame near the bottom.
Start by checking the hinge screws. Over years of use, screws loosen — especially the top hinge, which takes the most stress. Open the door and try tightening each screw. If a screw spins without gripping, the hole has stripped out. The fix is the same as above: remove the screw, pack the hole with glue-coated toothpicks or a wood plug, let it dry, and redrive the screw. In most cases, this alone brings the door back into alignment.
If the hinges themselves are bent or the frame has shifted more significantly, you may need to recess a hinge slightly deeper into the jamb using a chisel, or add a shim behind a hinge to push one side of the door outward. These adjustments require a little patience but are well within DIY range for most homeowners.
When the Door Has Swollen
Wood doors expand when they absorb moisture and contract as conditions dry out. In climates with long wet seasons — which is most of the Pacific Northwest — interior doors can swell enough that the latch won't reach the strike plate at all, or the door binds in the frame before it even gets there.
If the problem appears or worsens during wet months and improves when conditions dry out, swelling is likely the cause. A few things to try:
Tighten the hinges first. A swollen door that's also sagging can seem worse than it is.
Check whether the door is painted on all six sides, including the top and bottom edges. Unfinished or poorly sealed edges absorb moisture much faster. Sealing exposed wood with paint or a clear interior finish can reduce seasonal movement significantly.
Plane or sand the binding area if the swelling is persistent. Identify where the door is sticking (look for rub marks), remove the door, and remove just enough material to allow clearance. Be conservative — taking off too much creates a gap that's obvious when the door dries out again.
If the door is a hollow-core or composite interior door that has swollen significantly and won't return to shape, replacement may be more practical than continued adjustment.
When to Call In Help
Most latch problems are fixable without professional help. But if you've adjusted the strike plate, tightened the hinges, and addressed swelling — and the door still won't latch consistently — there may be a deeper framing or settling issue at play. Doors in older homes sometimes reflect foundation movement or structural shifts that go beyond what a simple adjustment can correct.
EVN Handyman handles door repairs like these throughout the Portland metro area if you'd prefer to have someone else sort it out.