Quick Summary
- To secure a sliding glass door, think in layers: make the panel harder to slide, make it harder to lift out of its frame, and do not rely on the factory latch alone.
- Public-safety guidance says the lock built into many sliders can be pried open easily, so treat it as a starting point, not the whole plan.
- Before you add any lock, bar or screen, make sure everyone in the home can open the door quickly and easily from the inside in an emergency.
- Ask a professional to evaluate what fits your exact door, including anti-lift hardware.
- No product makes a door break-in proof. Layers that work together are the goal.
How to secure a sliding glass door starts with two questions: how could someone get in, and how will everyone get out in an emergency? Once you can answer both, you can add layers. For help deciding what fits your door, ASAP Security’s security screens for sliding openings and a free on-site consultation are a place to start.
How do you secure a sliding glass door without blocking your way out?
Plan your exit before you add anything. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says to make sure all exits can be opened easily from the inside, including barred doors and windows. It says its Life Safety Code requires that ways out can be opened easily from inside, and that tools, keys or special effort should not be needed to escape. The U.S. Fire Administration advises finding two ways out of every room and making sure doors and windows are not blocked.
For a sliding door, that means any bar, lock or screen you add must not keep you or anyone else from opening the door quickly in a fire or other emergency. Ask your fire department or local building or housing official what applies in your area, and ask a qualified installer to check your exact door before you change it. Everyone in the household should know how each device works.
Why do sliding glass doors need extra attention?
Tulane University’s public safety office says people often install sturdy locks on their front doors but leave sliding glass doors open to illegal entry, and notes that these doors are usually more secluded than a front door.
The same guidance names two weak points: the lock, which it says is easily pried open on most sliders, and the panel, which it says can often be lifted out of its track from the outside.
How can you make a slider harder to open?
Many people start with the bottom track. A wooden dowel, a charlie bar or a purpose-made track bar sits in the track behind the panel so the panel cannot slide open as far. Washington State University’s campus alert says it is a good idea to place a wooden dowel or similar item in the track, and Tulane lists broomsticks and charlie bars, saying they should fit snug.
A bar that is properly fitted can make sliding harder, but how well it works depends on the door, the fit and the installation. It does not stop a panel from being lifted out of its frame, and it does not protect the glass. Choose one you can remove quickly from the inside, and make sure everyone at home knows how to take it out.
Should you add a supplemental lock?
If your slider has only the factory latch, Tulane’s guidance says a supplemental lock should be installed. Which type suits your door depends on the frame and handle, so ask a locksmith or a qualified installer. Choose a device that everyone at home can release quickly from the inside without a tool or special effort. For entry doors, ASAP Security’s locksmith services cover rekeying and smart locks.
How do you keep a slider from being lifted out of its track?
Many sliding doors can be lifted out of their tracks from the outside, according to Tulane’s guidance. Anti-lift hardware exists for that problem, and Tulane describes one approach that uses screws in the upper track. Whether your frame allows a change like that depends on the door, and Tulane warns that drilling too close to the glass can break it.
Because the right fix varies, ask a professional to evaluate anti-lift hardware for your exact door. If you rent, ask the property manager first.
What if you rent or don’t want to drill?
Ask your landlord what you may change before you touch the door. Do not remove or modify a lock or frame part that belongs to the property without permission. A fitted track bar and a camera or doorbell that needs little or no drilling are options that usually leave the door itself alone. Our guide to home security systems for renters in Las Vegas covers what to ask your landlord first.
When do security screens, cameras and alarms make sense?
Add them as layers once you have a safe way out. A security screen protects the opening, a camera shows the patio and a sensor tells you when the door opens.
ASAP Security’s security screens page lists custom sizing for sliding doors, and our security screens guide walks through what to check for a patio slider before you compare quotes: the track, roller access, handle clearance, lock operation and how the panel is removed for service. Ask any installer how the door and the screen open from the inside in an emergency. Our camera placement guide explains how to choose views for a back patio. Cameras show activity but do not stop a door from opening, so use them alongside the other layers.
What order should you work in?
Work through the layers in an order that keeps you safe:
- Confirm that everyone can open the door quickly and easily from the inside, and check with your fire department or building official about local requirements.
- Close and latch the door every night, and check that the latch catches fully.
- Consider a track bar or dowel that fits snugly and that you can remove quickly.
- Ask a locksmith or installer to evaluate a supplemental lock and anti-lift hardware for your exact door.
- Ask for a consultation about a security screen, camera view or alarm sensor for the patio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a dowel enough to secure a sliding glass door?
No single item makes a door break-in proof. A dowel or bar can make a slider harder to open when it is fitted well, but it does not stop a panel from being lifted out of the frame or protect the glass, and it can slow your own exit if it is hard to remove. Treat it as one layer.
How do you secure a sliding glass door from the inside?
Options installed on the inside include a fitted track bar, a supplemental lock and anti-lift hardware. Ask a professional to evaluate what fits your door. Whatever you choose, everyone at home should be able to open the door quickly and easily from the inside without a tool or special effort.
Can a lock or bar keep me from getting out in an emergency?
It can if it is hard to release. NFPA says all ways out must be able to be opened easily from inside, with no tools, keys or special effort needed to escape. Check local requirements with your fire department or building official, and ask a qualified installer to review your door.
Do security screens help on a sliding door?
A security screen adds a physical barrier in front of the glass opening, and ASAP Security installs custom screens for sliding doors. No screen makes a door break-in proof, so choose one by looking at the track, lock, daily use and how it opens from the inside, then pair it with the layers above.
Talk to ASAP Security About Your Patio Door
Not sure what your slider needs? ASAP Security has served Southern Nevada since 2003, including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, Spring Valley, Pahrump and Boulder City, and offers a free on-site consultation. Get Free Quote or call (702) 870-8880.
This article is general information. It is not a code or safety certification for your door, and it does not replace advice from your fire department, building official or a qualified installer.
Sources
- NFPA: Security Bar Safety Tips (NFPA tip sheet, 2019; read 2026-11-05)
- U.S. Fire Administration: Home Fire Escape Plans (page last reviewed April 10, 2025; read 2026-11-05)
- Tulane University Department of Public Safety: Preventing Residential Burglaries (read 2026-11-05)
- Washington State University: Exercise extra security if you live in a residence with a sliding glass door or ground level window (WSU Alert, October 27, 2016; read 2026-11-05)
ASAP Security has served Southern Nevada since 2003.
