How to Fix a Door Handle

You don’t have to call in a locksmith to repair a faulty or broken door handle in your home. In fact, it’s a simple task that anyone can do with the correct tools and a bit of know-how. We’re here to help you get your doors working smoothly again.

Dealing with broken hardware can feel a little frustrating, but taking the time to fix it yourself is incredibly rewarding. Whether you want to know how to fix a loose door handle, or you are trying to find out how to fix a squeaky door handle, we can get you started.

And to make the job even more straightforward, take a look at our how-to video included on this page as part of your step-by-step guide.

Useful links

TOOLS

Flathead / Philips screwdriver

MATERIALS

WD40 lubricant spray

USEFUL LINKS

To fix a loose or floppy door handle, you generally just need to unscrew the door handle panels, remove the spindle, and clear away any internal blockages.
Spraying a generous amount of WD-40 or a similar lubricant into the latch and interior mechanism cleans away rust and resolves a squeaky handle.
Removing the door handles and checking the internal latch allows you to replace a broken spring or reattach a handle that has fallen off entirely.

Planning and preparation

Before you take your door handle apart, you’ll need to gather a few basic items. All you will need is either a flathead screwdriver or a Philips screwdriver. Check the screws on your door handle first to see which type of screwdriver you need. You’ll also need a can of WD-40 or another suitable lubricant spray.

If you’re worried about your drill or screwdriver slipping while you’re working, we recommend placing masking tape over your door handle panels and the handle itself. This simple step will help to prevent accidental scratches and keep your door looking great.

Use a doorstop to brace the open door. This makes it much easier to unscrew the door handles and stops the door from swinging while you work.

Screwdriver or power drill
Doorstop
WD-40 or another lubricant
Masking tape
Replacement screws (if needed)

How to fix a broken door knob or door handle

First, check the exterior of the door handles and the door latch mechanisms. You want to see if they’re moving freely without anything impeding them from the outside of the door.

If you can’t see any obvious issues with the exterior, start off by removing the screws from both door handles. You can use either a power drill or a manual screwdriver for this job. Then, gently slide the spindle out from the locking mechanism.

Once the spindle has been removed, check the locking mechanism for any lodges or obstructions. If needed, you can carefully clear them away with your flathead screwdriver.

Now unscrew the door latch mechanism and remove this entirely from the edge of the door

With the latch removed, spray WD-40 or another lubricant on the door latch mechanism. Do the same for the interior of the door handles to help them move freely. This spray helps to clean away any rust and debris, as well as thoroughly lubricating the mechanism.

Once you’ve done that, re-insert the door latch mechanism and screw it securely back into the door. Then slide the spindle back in. Fix the door handles back onto the door and secure them tightly with the screws.

Your door handle should now move smoothly and work better than ever.

Tackling specific door handle issues

Sometimes a repair job needs a slightly different approach. Here’s how to tackle the most frequent problems.

A loose or floppy handle usually means the connecting screws have worked themselves loose. Removing the handles, checking the spindle is seated correctly, and tightening the screws firmly will often solve the issue.

If your handle droops and doesn’t spring back up, the internal spring is likely broken. Remove the handle from the door using the method above. You can usually take off the circlip holding the spring mechanism and replace the broken coil with a new one.

uPVC doors have slightly different locking systems, often involving multipoint locks. If the handle is loose, it might just need the backplate screws tightening. Replacing a UPVC handle requires matching the exact screw hole centres and spindle size.

Patio doors face the weather, so they frequently suffer from rust and debris build-up. Follow our steps to remove the handle and clean the mechanism thoroughly with WD-40. This will often fix a stiff patio door handle.

If the handle has completely come away, the spindle might be damaged or the screws have threaded. Check the spindle to ensure it’s not worn down. If it is, you’ll need to buy and fit a replacement spindle before reattaching the handles.

Fixing a broken or loose door handle is a straightforward job. With a few basic tools and a little bit of time, you can get your doors working smoothly again.

And if you realise you need a replacement handle, a new spindle, or just a can of WD-40, we have everything you need to finish the task.

If you’ve got other issues with your door, check out our guide on how to fix a variety of other door problems.

FAQs

You don’t have to call in a locksmith to repair a faulty or broken door handle. It’s a simple task that anyone can do with the correct tools and know-how.

Spray WD-40 or another lubricant on the door latch mechanism and the interior of the door handles. This can help clean away any rust and debris as well as lubricate the mechanism.

Most of the time, you don't need to replace your door handle. You can easily repair a faulty one yourself with a few basic tools. If your handle is stiff or squeaky, clearing away any obstructions and lubricating the mechanism with WD-40 is often all it takes. But if you check the mechanism and find that the parts are completely worn down or snapped, it's time to buy a replacement.