Kwikset Powerbolt 250 10-Button Keypad Deadbolt

Curated from 76 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: March 14, 2025

Kwikset Powerbolt 250 10-Button Keypad Deadbolt

Brand: Kwikset
Price: $55
Snoop Score:
2.2
Sentiment
1.0
Popularity
0.1
Technical
4.0

Snoop's Take

The Kwikset Powerbolt 250 is a transitional electronic deadbolt featuring a 10-button keypad for keyless entry and customizable user codes. It offers auto-locking, LED illuminated code entry in low light, and SmartKey security to help mitigate break-in techniques. Consumers have been vocal about the product’s installation challenges and potential vulnerabilities. While one user defended its security by asking, “who is going to come to your house with a drill and make that kind of noise to draw attention to themselves?”, several others lambasted its assembly with remarks like, “Follow the instructions- you have the assembly 180 degrees out of orientation.” These mixed sentiments, largely leaning towards frustration with installation and rekeying issues, paint a picture of a product that promises convenience but often underdelivers due to execution flaws. In conclusion, while the Kwikset Powerbolt 250 packs an impressive array of features on paper, the prevailing negative feedback regarding installation and tamper vulnerabilities suggests that it may not be the best option in its category if you’re seeking hassle-free performance.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Keyless Entry

who is going to come to your house with a drill and make that kind of noise to draw attention to themselves?

Positive Feedback

If it's flipped, it does the opposite of what you want.

Negative Feedback
Product
2.2
Kwikset Powerbolt 250 10-Button Keypad Deadbolt
Residential Security
2 / 10
Commercial Applications
2 / 10
Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals
2 / 10
High Traffic Entryways
2 / 10
See how this compares to all Keyless Entry

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Strong anti-picking protection (SmartKey)
who is going to come to your house with a drill and make that kind of noise to draw attention to themselves?

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Assembly/installation orientation errors causing malfunction
If it's flipped, it does the opposite of what you want.
I think this lock should be taken off the market as it clearly does not work.
Has it ever worked? No, then you’ve gotta take it apart and start over.
Lock requires drilling for rekeying when key is lost
These are one of the few types of locks I'll go straight to drilling.
Stay away from those two and you're ok.
Easily tampered cylinder design (bible cap vulnerability)
All of Kwikset's cylinders with exception of the StupidKey can just have the bible cap popped off with minimal force and no outward signs of tampering.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Shared motor component in design
I've torn down 2 locks from different brands and they use the exact same motor.

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Exploring alternative lock solutions and recommendations
What about a commercial RFID option? Anything that looks good and is cheap enough to use for residential?
Will last as long as the house. Under $200
I'm using a Kaba E-Plex 1500 on both my garage and shop, and have had great luck with them.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Inadequate warranty and customer support
They won’t help because I’m 3 years and it’s a 1 year warranty.
Anybody have a recent reciept for the kwikset halo fingerprint one I lost mine and was trying to claim warranty.
Technical troubleshooting and reset tips
Try resetting it. There’s a reset button behind the lock panel.
Make sure the inside lock is turned counter clockwise all the way.
Cold climate performance and installation tips
I would suggest putting your keypad inside of an outlet protector. That should help keep it dry so that ice doesn't jam it up.
Most of them seem pretty bulky looking.
The locks for doors in to the house don't appear to be impacted by weather at all.
Battery maintenance is crucial for keypad locks
keep in mind anything with a battery needs to be maintained as far as replacing that battery on a routine to avoid issues.
it just takes four AA batteries I replace the batteries as soon as it starts warning, and then use those batteries for something else.
If you go with this one stay on top of the battery.
Installation and code compliance considerations for deadbolts
There's a reason why that's against code.
If you do get through the glass you have alarms going off the whole time.
The trick is to make sure your lock isnt the weak link.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Lock reliability and battery performance concerns
I have no idea what is happening. Maybe someone can help? Is this fried??
The touchpad on all 3 of my locks lasted 2 months, 13 months and 15 months, respectively.
I need to replace one of them, because the gearing/motor is starting to stick.
I'd avoid Kwikset just due to the quality of the lock.
Security and latch installation concerns
my fear is that this door lock might easily, even accidentally, be defeated.
Are the locks properly installed so that the deadlatch is functional?
These are functioning locks in lived in apartments.
A lock can function just fine without being deadlatched.
Skepticism about consumer-grade keypad locks
I'm a homeowner, not a locksmith. Very few (or no?) consumer-grade keypad locks are awesome.
Poor design and unreliable performance of keypad locks
Be365 spin knob schlage is the ugliest biggest piece of shit out there.
>I can tell you how it will fail too within two years give or take I'm not here to defend Schlage,
I subjectively genuinely believe it to be about as objective an opinion that it is flat out ugly.
I'm at between 10-20 dead locks so far in the past 5 years.

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