Everyone has this problem: some doors just don't latch all the time. Sometimes, the door latches just fine, and other times, the door just won't close. In this ihowtofix article, you will learn a simple and easy way to fix a door that won't latch.

1. Step 1

   Open the door. There are two essential components here: the latch itself, and the striker plate. The latch is the thing that's connected to the doorknob, and the striker plate is the metal part in the door jamb.

2. Step 2

   If the door isn't latching properly, then the latch isn't properly lined up with the striker plate. You must now determine how they are misaligned. Crouch down and slowly close the door, looking at the latch. Is the latch too high or too low? If not, then it's likely not lining up left-right.

3. Step 3

   Once you've determined how the latch is misaligned, simply use the metal file and file down the hole in the striker plate until the door successfully latches. You may need to use the chisel to remove some wood from the hole, as well. Keep trying to close the door until it repeatedly latches properly.

4. Step 4

   If it's very misaligned, it may be better to reinstall the striker plate. Simply unscrew the screws to remove the plate, and then re-install the plate where it needs to be.