If you are deciding between a retrofit smart lock and a full replacement, the Lockin Veno path is usually a full deadbolt replacement: remove the compatible existing deadbolt and install the Lockin exterior and interior assemblies, latch, mounting plate, and related hardware. It is not an interior-only adapter that turns an existing mortise, multipoint, or unusual lock body.
The practical boundary is simple: if your door already has a compatible single-cylinder American-style deadbolt preparation, you may be able to replace that deadbolt without new drilling. If it has a mortise case, multipoint mechanism, interconnected lock, narrow-stile preparation, or incompatible holes, stop before ordering or modifying the door and confirm the exact model with Lockin support.
Retrofit and replacement do not mean the same thing
In smart-lock shopping, “retrofit” can mean two different installation paths:
- Interior retrofit: the outside cylinder and deadbolt stay in place while a motorized interior unit turns the existing thumbturn.
- Deadbolt replacement: the existing deadbolt hardware comes out and the new smart lock uses the door’s existing preparation.
Lockin’s Veno installation guide describes the second path. It lists the standard American deadbolt type, a single-cylinder configuration, and specific door measurements. The kit includes a latch or deadbolt, exterior and interior modules, mounting hardware, and a mechanical backup key. In other words, “no drilling required” on a compatible door means the existing preparation can be reused; it does not mean every existing lock body remains in place.
That distinction matters for the first inspection. A separate deadbolt above or below a handle is a promising starting point. A tall mortise faceplate that combines latch, deadbolt, and lever functions is not the same preparation. Neither is a multipoint or interconnected mechanism.
Which Lockin installation path applies?
Use this quick decision table before removing hardware:
| What you have now | Likely path | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Compatible single-cylinder deadbolt on a standard entry door | Full Lockin deadbolt replacement using existing preparation | Measure the door and compare it with the exact model guide. |
| Standard deadbolt, but dimensions or faceplate are unknown | Replacement pending a fit check | Keep the existing lock installed; measure and photograph it first. |
| Mortise, multipoint, interconnected, or narrow-stile lock | Not a standard Veno replacement path | Do not drill or file; ask Lockin or a qualified door professional about the exact model. |
| Round latch faceplate or nonstandard holes | Do not assume compatibility | Compare the exact model’s preparation requirements before purchase. |
| Storm door or another door that blocks a video lock’s camera | Model-specific stop condition | For Veno Pro or Veno Plus, verify the camera clearance; the official guidance lists storm-door blockage as incompatible. |
This is a fit screen, not a promise that every door passing one measurement will work. The exact product page and quick-start guide control if a model’s instructions differ.
The measurements that decide whether replacement can use existing holes
For the standard Video Veno preparation, Lockin’s current installation guidance lists these checks:
| Check | Published requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Lock type | Standard American deadbolt; single cylinder | The new assemblies must connect to the deadbolt preparation rather than a mortise case. |
| Door thickness | 35–55 mm (1⅜–2¹¹⁄₆₄ in) | The interior and exterior assemblies need the correct clamping depth. |
| Crossbore | 54 mm (2⅛ in) | This is the large hole through the door face. |
| Backset | 60 or 70 mm (2⅜ or 2¾ in) | This is the distance from the door edge to the crossbore center. |
| Door-edge hole | 25.4 mm (1 in) | The latch and bolt must sit correctly in the edge preparation. |
| Latch-faceplate cutout | Rectangular | Lockin lists round faceplate cutouts as incompatible for the Veno guidance. |
| Latch-box depth | At least 25.4 mm (1 in) | The bolt needs room to extend and retract without binding. |
Measure the slab, not the trim. With the door open, photograph both faces, the door edge, the strike, the handle, and any storm or screen door. Record whether the deadbolt is separate from the handle and whether the latch moves smoothly before you change anything.
What a full Lockin replacement involves
Once the door passes the exact model check, the workflow is a replacement—not a cosmetic overlay:
- Keep the original hardware until the new lock is working. This is especially important for a rental or a door whose owner requires restoration.
- Remove the existing deadbolt carefully. Do not enlarge holes or reshape a mortise case just to make a diagram fit.
- Install the supplied latch and exterior assembly. Keep the exterior unit vertical and align it with the existing preparation.
- Route the cables through the mounting plate. Connect the power, door-status, and other model-specific cables without pinching them.
- Fit the interior assembly and tailpiece. Before closing the battery cover, turn the thumbturn and confirm that the latch extends and retracts smoothly.
- Test the door while it is open. Check mechanical movement, the keypad or biometric method, the backup key, and the strike alignment before testing with the door closed.
- Complete Lockin Smart App setup. The official installation guide describes Bluetooth pairing, Wi-Fi setup, admin access, biometric enrollment, and lock-direction configuration. Exact network and feature requirements vary by model; follow the current guide for the product you purchased.
Do not rely on an “easy install” time as a fit guarantee. A compatible, well-aligned door may be straightforward; a binding bolt, poor strike alignment, blocked camera, or wrong preparation needs correction before normal use.
When should you stop instead of choosing a retrofit?
Stop before purchase or modification when:
- the door has a mortise, multipoint, interconnected, or narrow-stile mechanism;
- the existing lock is not a separate single-cylinder deadbolt;
- the backset, crossbore, thickness, edge hole, or latch depth falls outside the exact model’s guide;
- the latch faceplate is round when the model requires a rectangular cutout;
- the bolt binds or the door must be lifted, pushed, or pulled to lock;
- a storm door blocks the camera on a video model; or
- the door is shared, fire-rated, institutional, or rented and the hardware change is not approved.
The right next step is to save the exact model you are considering, take the measurements and photos above, and use Lockin’s quick-start guide library and FAQ. If the preparation is unusual or borderline, contact Lockin support before drilling, filing, or placing the order.
The short answer for Lockin shoppers
For a compatible standard deadbolt, choose the full replacement path: remove the old deadbolt and install the Lockin assembly using the existing door preparation. Treat “retrofit” as “reuse the existing holes,” not “leave every existing lock body in place.” For a mortise or unusual lock, do not force a Veno deadbolt installation. Confirm the exact model and door first, then use the model-specific Lockin installation resources as the next action.