If the door latches well, the latch bolt will enter the strike plate. If not, check for the following Hinge screws may be loose. Ensure all fasteners are tightened. The gap between the door and the jamb may be too wide for the latch bolt. You may be able to adjust this with shims. Off center latching can be fixed by shimming the door in the appropriate direction. If you are unable to fix misalignment with shims, you may need to reset the latch plates. Having trouble locking or unlocking a deadbolt is fairly common. Wood framed houses settle and shift over time which can knock door frames out of square. An original article written by apartment security expert witness Chris McGoey Los Angeles California. The doors may be warped and causing misalignment. It is possible you will need to purchase and hang a new door. How to Install a Prehung Door. Check the horizontal gap, or reveal, between the top of the door and the head jamb. It should be uniform from left to right and 18 to 31. If necessary, adjust the reveal by pushing up the head casing. Set this reveal by driving an 8d nail through the face of the latch side casing and into the trimmer, near the top of the door. Check the vertical reveal between door and jamb on the latch side. It should be about the thickness of a nickel. To adjust it, grab the casing and move the jamb by hand. Open and close the door to check that its leading edge, the one that rests against the stop, clears the jamb by a consistent 18 inch. Set the reveal by driving 8d finish nails every 1. Make sure the reveal remains consistent.