Window tilt latches are installed near the upper corners of a tilt-window sash. Their projecting noses engage the jamb and hold the sash securely in the upright position until both latches are retracted.

Before You Start

Tools and information you may need:

• Digital caliper, ruler, or tape measure
• Original left- and right-hand tilt latches
• Small screwdriver, when required for removal
• Paper or notes app for recording dimensions
• Phone or camera for reference photos
• Any visible part numbers, logos, or molded markings
• Photos showing the latch while still installed

Important: Keep the original latches until the replacements have been installed and tested. Do not identify a replacement using overall length alone.

The replacement must fit the sash, align with the original mounting method, and extend far enough for the latch nose to engage the jamb correctly.

Removal note: Many slide-in latches can be moved out of the sash track after a stop, cap, or retaining feature is removed. Do not force the housing if it does not slide freely.

How to measure: Measure from the center of the first mounting hole to the center of the second mounting hole. Do not measure from the outer edges of the holes.

Thickness is especially important for slide-in latches because the housing must fit inside the sash track or pocket without binding.

1. Turn the latch on its side.
2. Measure across the thickest part of the main housing.
3. Record any raised guides or tabs separately.
4. Photograph the side profile clearly.

A latch that is too thick may not enter the track, while one that is too thin may move excessively or fail to remain properly positioned.

Many tilt latches are supplied as matching left- and right-hand parts. Do not assume that one latch can be installed on either side.

Record:

• Which latch came from the left side of the sash
• Which latch came from the right side
• The direction each nose points
• The location of the button or actuator
• The interior and exterior orientation of the sash
• Whether the design is handed or reversible

Document:

• Latch color
• Plastic, metal, or mixed construction
• Button shape and travel
• Spring position and style
• Housing ribs, rails, tabs, and slots
• Mounting-hole shape and location
• Any numbers, logos, letters, or molded markings
• The manufacturer of the window, when known
• The approximate age of the window

Clear photos can help distinguish between latches that look similar in a product listing.

Include photos of:

• The front of both latches
• The back of both latches
• The complete side profile
• The nose from above and from the side
• The mounting holes or slide-in track features
• Any markings or manufacturer logos
• The latch beside a ruler or caliper
• The top rail of the sash before removal
• The jamb area where the nose engages
• The complete window from the interior

• Including the latch nose in the housing-length measurement
• Measuring only the overall length
• Measuring mounting holes from edge to edge
• Ignoring slide-in housing thickness
• Failing to record the housing side profile
• Assuming left- and right-hand latches are identical
• Ordering based only on color or appearance
• Failing to photograph the back of the latch
• Discarding the original before testing the replacement
• Forcing a slide-in latch out of the sash track
• Confusing a concealed internal latch with a slide-in design
• Ignoring damage to the sash or jamb where the latch engages

To identify a surface-mounted tilt latch, measure the housing length and width, center-to-center mounting-hole spacing, and nose projection.

For a slide-in latch, also measure the complete housing thickness and document the tabs, rails, springs, and side profile that allow it to fit inside the sash track.

Keep the original left- and right-hand latches, photograph them from several angles, and compare every important feature before ordering.