How to Remove the Door Handle

A new door handle set and a flat-head screwdriver are all that are required to replace a door handle or door knob. Replacing an existing handle, whether to repair a worn-out door knob or to improve the aesthetic of a door with a new handle, is usually a painless process. Pick out a new door handle set from a hardware store or home improvement centre that you prefer, and get your screwdriver ready to go—your door will soon have a whole new look and feel!

1. Open the door and place a door stop beneath the bottom edge.

2. With a screwdriver, push the pressure release into the handle and pull it off.

3. Remove the door handle cover plates by unscrewing and pulling them off.

4. Remove the screws that hold the latch and inner plates together.

5. Remove the door latch mechanism and latch plate.

1. Open the door and place a door stop beneath the bottom edge.

Open the door halfway so that both sides of the door handle are easily accessible. While you replace the handle, position a door stop beneath the bottom edge of the door to keep it from moving and shutting. If you don't have a door stop, a wedge-shaped piece of wood or any other wedge-like object you can find around your house that will fit under the door could be used instead.

2. With a screwdriver, push the pressure release into the handle and pull it off.

Look for a small groove where the door knob or handle joins to the cover plate, or look on the side of the cover plate where it lays flat against the door. Pull the handle or door knob off by inserting the tip of a flat-head screwdriver into the slot and applying pressure with the tip of the screwdriver.

The circular or rectangular plates that sit against the door between the handle or door knob and the door itself are known as cover plates. These components are used to conceal the door handle's inner workings and give it a more appealing appearance.

If you don't notice this type of pressure slot, undo the knobs or handles. Different types of handles come off in various ways.

Some handles may not be removable independently. If you don't think you'll be able to pull or screw them off, you can skip this step. If your handle has a rectangular plate, for example, the handle may be attached to the plate and will simply fall off when the whole plate is removed.

3. Remove the door handle cover plates by unscrewing and pulling them off.

Using a flat-head screwdriver, remove any screws holding the cover plates in place on either side of the door. Pry the plates up carefully with the edge of your screwdriver until they pop off, then remove them and lay them aside.

l Screws aren't used to hold all cover plates in place. Some may just snap into place, allowing you to wrench them out with a screwdriver. To pry the cover plate off, look for a slot on the side or bottom that you can slide your screwdriver into.

l If you can't get the cover plate off by unscrewing or prying it off, try twisting the cover plate itself counterclockwise.

4. Remove the screws that hold the latch and inner plates together.

Remove the screws on the inside edge of the door that keeps the latch in place. Remove the screws on both sides of the door that keep the inner plates in place.

l The inner plates are the ones that sit beneath the cover plates you just took off. These keep the latching mechanism of the door handle in place inside the door aperture.

l The latch is the angled metal piece on the inside edge of the door that moves in and out of the hole. This latch hooks into a hole in the door frame to keep the door closed when you close it. This latch is moved in by turning the door handle, allowing you to open the door.

5. Remove the door latch mechanism and latch plate.

Pull the latch plate and mechanism carefully out of the door's inside edge hole and lay it aside. Remove the plates from both sides of the door and place them aside.

l Your door should now only have holes in it, which you may use to install a new door handle.

Founded in 2005, WUXI GMB International Corporation is a leading exporter and professional supplier of door hardware products, including lock body, door handle, lock cylinder, padlock, door hinge, ball-bearing slide and other furniture hardware. With a strong background of over 15 years in the hardware locks industry, GMB has established long-term business relations with relevant companies in many countries and regions. We have constantly expanded business and volume has increased year by year. We are paying close attention to the exploitation and cultivation of the market and focus on developing, designing and producing high-quality products.