Digital Mechanical Locks - Passage Mode vs Holdback Mode
Posted by Mat on 9th Jul 2026
Digital Mechanical Locks - Passage Mode vs Holdback Mode: What’s the Difference?
Both features can allow temporary free access, but they do it in very different ways.
Many mechanical digital locks, including some Borg models, offer either passage mode or holdback mode.
These terms are often confused because both can allow a door or gate to be used without entering a code every time. However, they are not the same thing.
The simple difference is this: passage mode leaves the latch working but unlocks the handle, while holdback mode holds the latch retracted so the door or gate cannot latch closed.
The simple answer
Passage Mode
The latch still works, but the outside lever or knob remains unlocked. The user can press the lever or turn the knob to retract the latch and open the door without entering a code.
Holdback Mode
The latch is held back in the retracted position. This means the door or gate is not latching at all while holdback is engaged.
Passage mode unlocks the handle. Holdback mode holds back the latch.
What is passage mode?
Passage mode allows the lock to be used freely without entering the code each time.
When passage mode is active, the outside lever or knob is no longer locked. Anyone can operate the handle, retract the latch, and open the door.
The important point is that the latch itself still works. When the door closes, the latch can still engage with the strike and hold the door in the closed position.
The door can still latch closed, but the handle remains unlocked so people can come and go without entering a code.
When is passage mode useful?
Passage mode can be useful when you want a door to remain easy to use for a period of time, while still allowing the latch to hold the door closed.
- Business hours on a staff door
- A storeroom during active use
- A meeting room or office during the day
- A commercial door where access is temporarily open
- A controlled area where the lock is only required after hours
For example, a model such as the Borg BL7701 Heavy Duty Mechanical Digital Lock includes a free passage function for applications where this style of temporary free access is required.
What is holdback mode?
Holdback mode works differently.
Instead of simply unlocking the handle, holdback mode holds the latch in the retracted position. This means the latch is no longer projecting into the strike.
In simple terms, the door or gate can no longer latch while holdback is engaged.
The latch is physically held back, so the gate can swing freely. This is useful for temporary convenience, but the gate has nothing holding it closed while the function is active.
When is holdback mode useful?
Holdback mode is usually best for short-term convenience.
For example, if you have a gate at the front of your home and you are bringing in shopping, moving bins, carrying tools, or walking back and forth several times, holdback mode can stop the gate from latching every time it closes.
- Bringing shopping through a front gate
- Moving bins in and out
- Carrying tools or materials through a gate
- Temporary access during gardening or maintenance
- Short periods where repeated latching would be annoying
For example, a model such as the Borg BL2601 Marine Grade Mechanical Digital Knob Lock includes an optional holdback function.
The key difference
The most important difference is what happens to the latch.
Passage mode allows the latch to keep working. The lever is unlocked, but the latch can still catch into the strike when the door closes.
Holdback mode stops the latch from engaging. The latch is held back, so the door or gate may close against the frame, but it is not actually latched.
Passage mode is generally better when you still want the door held closed. Holdback mode is useful when you temporarily do not want the door or gate to latch at all.
Why holdback mode can be risky on gates
Holdback mode can be handy, but it needs to be used carefully.
If holdback is left on, the gate has nothing holding it in the closed position. It may blow open in wind, sit partly open, or appear closed without actually being secured.
- The gate may not stay closed
- The latch will not engage with the strike
- People may assume the gate is secured when it is not
- Wind can push the gate open
- Shared users may forget to turn the function off
Holdback mode is best treated as a temporary convenience feature, not something to leave on permanently if the gate is meant to stay secured.
What about apartment blocks and shared gates?
In an apartment block, strata property, shared entry gate or high-use common area, neither passage mode nor holdback mode is usually ideal.
The whole purpose of a shared access gate is usually to keep the area controlled. If one person leaves the lock in passage mode or holdback mode, everyone may have free access.
- Residents may accidentally leave the gate unsecured
- Visitors or trades may forget to turn the function off
- Holdback mode may stop the gate from latching altogether
- Passage mode may leave the handle unlocked for anyone to use
- The gate may no longer provide the access control people expect
For apartment blocks and shared access gates, these functions are often best disabled or avoided unless there is a very specific management process in place.
Can these features be disabled?
On some models, yes.
Some Borg mechanical digital locks include parts or plugs that can disable passage or holdback functions if they are not required. This can be useful in managed environments where you do not want users placing the lock into a free access mode.
Because the exact function varies by model, always check the product listing before ordering.
Check whether the lock has passage mode, holdback mode, neither, or both — and whether the function can be disabled if required.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Passage Mode | Holdback Mode |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Unlocks the lever or knob for free use | Holds the latch retracted |
| Does the latch still work? | Yes, the latch can still engage when the door closes | No, the latch is held back |
| Best for | Business hours or temporary free access where the door still needs to latch closed | Short-term repeated access where you do not want the gate latching each time |
| Main risk | The lock may be left unlocked for longer than intended | The gate or door may not latch at all |
| Shared gates | Usually not ideal unless carefully managed | Usually not ideal because the gate may not remain latched |
Which one should you choose?
Choose a lock with passage mode if you want the latch to keep working while allowing temporary code-free access.
Choose a lock with holdback mode if you want the latch held back for short periods, such as bringing shopping through a front gate or moving items in and out.
For apartment blocks, strata gates, shared entries and areas that should stay locked at all times, it may be better to avoid these features or disable them where possible.
Need help choosing the right function?
Send us a few details about your door or gate and we’ll help you choose the correct mechanical digital lock.
Ask an Expert- A photo of the door or gate
- A photo of the edge showing the existing latch or lock
- Whether the lock is for a private home, business, apartment block or shared gate
- Whether you want temporary free access, or whether the lock should stay secured at all times
This helps us recommend a lock with the right function before you buy.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Passage mode and holdback mode vary by lock model and installation. The correct product depends on your door or gate, security requirements, user behaviour and intended application. Always confirm the exact function before purchasing or installing hardware.