August Smart Locks are advanced locks that replace traditional lock cylinders on the interior side of your door. They operate using advanced technology and intuitive software, allowing you to use your keys without changing the exterior of the lock. The HomeKit-enabled August Smart Lock uses voice technology to monitor who is entering and leaving your home, and offers remote access capabilities and seamless integration with smart home platforms. The August Smart Lock Pro allows you to use your smartphone or Apple Watch to unlock your door, even when you’re away.
To install August Smart Locks, tape the front of the deadbolt in place, remove the interior throw, screw down the mounting plate using the lock’s original screws, and place the correct knob on the unit. The August Smart Lock can be adapted to work with standard mortise locks via reversible and interior-only methods.
All August Smart Locks attach to your existing deadbolt on the inside of your door, allowing you to still use your keys. Some mortise locks can be easily adapted to work with standard August Smart locks via reversible and interior-only methods. The August Smart Lock runs on 4 AA batteries and uses Bluetooth for wireless communication. The August app is installed on your smartphone, and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock comes with a DoorSense sensor to detect if someone leaves the door open or closed but unlocked.
Auto-Lock is particularly useful for regular door security, while Auto-Unlock is a hands-free option.
📹 August Wifi Smart Lock Review – 6 Months Later
Long term review of the August Wifi smart lock 4th generation, how it compares to the previous gen, and if we recommend it.
Why is my door lock not turning from inside?
The malfunctioning of door locks or deadbolts can be rectified by the application of powdered graphite or a dry Teflon lube spray to the keyhole. This method can facilitate the movement of the lock and prevent the occurrence of sticking.
Does August Smart Lock work without internet?
In the absence of an August Wi-Fi Bridge, the August Smart Lock is only capable of receiving smart alerts when another user employs the August App to either lock or unlock the door. Furthermore, battery readings may be delayed or not transmitted until the device is connected through the August App.
What is the mechanism inside a lock called?
A cylinder pin tumbler mechanism is a lock or latch that uses a co-axial plug housing pins and drivers under spring pressure to pass through the door thickness. The correct key lines up the pins and drivers, allowing the plug to rotate and the lock to be operated. This mechanism offers high security against key interchangeability and is usually included in every cylinder. Yale 5 pin cylinders offer up to 24, 000 differents as standard.
What is the inner structure of a lock?
Cylindrical locks and mortise locks are common pieces of hardware used in various projects. Cylindrical locks are a type of bored lock, with limited functions compared to mortise locks. They come in grade 1, 2, and 3 and have a cylindrical case or chassis attached to which the operating trim and a sperate latchbolt attach. When pressure is applied to the trim, the retractor in the chassis retracts the latch bolt, allowing the internal parts to turn over and pull the latch back, opening the door.
Trims are levers or knobs used to operate locks. Pushbutton is a push/turn button on the inside trim to lock or unlock the outside trim. Rose is a decorative or protective plate placed behind the trim of a lockset. Latchbolt is a component of a lock that projects from the lock front and has a beveled end. The bolt is spring loaded but can be drawn back by operating the lock trim. When the door is closed, the latchbolt projects into a hole in the strike, holding the door in a closed position.
Latchbolt assembly houses the latchbolt and connects it to the lock. Lock chassis encloses the body of the lock. Thru bolts are mounting posts that help align both sides of the lock and secure the lock to the door. Deadlatching feature is an auxiliary deadlatch portion of a two-piece latchbolt that prevents the latchbolt from being pushed in by end pressure when the door is closed. Strike is a metal plate mounted to the door frame or inactive leaf of a pair of doors to receive the projected bolt or latch of a lock. Standard commercial strikes are typically 4 7/8″.
Can you open August lock without phone?
In the event of the loss or theft of a mobile phone, it is possible to regain access to one’s account by visiting the August website (account. august. com) and clicking on the “Login with email” option at the bottom of the screen. This will prompt the user to enter their email address and password.
What are the cons of August Smart Lock?
August smart locks offer a solution for property owners and managers looking to enhance their operations through smart connected systems like contactless check-in. However, they require battery power, which can be monitored and replaced periodically. Enso Connect has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of August locks, focusing on features, benefits, recommended models, pros and cons, ease of installation, expected battery life, and security level. The company specializes in assisting property owners and managers in optimizing their operations through smart connected systems like contactless check-in.
How does a door lock from the inside?
A door lock is a mechanism that secures a door by engaging a movable bolt that extends into the strike plate. There are two main styles of latches: spring bolts and deadbolts. A spring bolt is a bolt held in place by a spring clip, which is compressed to unlock the bolt and snaps into a locked position when released. Deadbolts, on the other hand, do not have a spring loading mechanism and can be locked or unlocked using a key or with a knob on one side of the door. Deadbolts are considered more secure, especially when the lock has a deadbolt plunger.
Additional components of a door lock include a faceplate, thumb turn, keyhole, backplate, spindle, and housing. The faceplate guides the latch or bolt into the strike plate, while the thumb turn allows for easy lock or unlocking without a key. The keyhole matches the specific key profile of the lock. The backplate provides additional support and protection for the lock mechanism. The spindle is a rod that connects the handles or knobs through the door and operates the latch mechanism. The housing protects the internal mechanism of the lock from damage and tampering.
Does August Lock work remotely?
August Smart Lock is a Wi-Fi Smart Lock that allows users to remotely lock or unlock their device, receive activity alerts, and connect multiple smart home products to automate the home. It features keyless entry, virtual keys, auto-lock and unlock, remote monitoring, and control via the August App. Connecting the lock to the Wink app allows for the creation of Wink Shortcuts or Robots, and is compatible with the Smart Keypad for convenient code entry.
How does August locks work?
The August Smart Lock Auto-Unlock feature in the August app allows users to automatically unlock their home door when they return within 200 feet of their home. The app will find the lock within 20-30 feet of the door, allowing the user to return to Home Mode without having to open the lock manually. This feature also locks the door behind the user, ensuring their home remains secure and sealed, regardless of their presence at home. More information and tips for using the August Smart Lock Auto-Unlock can be found for iOS and Android devices.
What is the mechanism inside a lock?
Pin-and-tumbler locks are basic locks with spring-loaded pins inside small cylinders. When the right key is inserted, the pins move up and down until they align with a shear line. Locks have been around for thousands of years, protecting valuables and are found in various forms, such as combination locks on school lockers and deadbolt locks on front doors. Keyed locks differ from combination locks in that they have pointed teeth and notches on the blade, allowing them to move up and down.
Why is my door locking from the inside but not outside?
To guarantee the security of the door, it is essential to conduct a thorough examination of the keyhole and its surrounding area for any potential impediments, including the presence of dirt, dust, or foreign objects. It is recommended that a flashlight be used to illuminate the interior of the lock in order to facilitate the search for even the smallest obstructions. Any visible debris should be removed using a soft brush, compressed air, or a cotton swab, taking care not to push it further into the lock.
📹 August Smart Lock 4th Gen VS August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen – Older is Wiser?
If you want a good smart lock, August is a major company you cannot ignore due to their high-quality products. The comparison …
Another reason that the 3rd gen utilizes better battery life is because of the bridge itself. It operates as a ZWave hub (Much like Phillips Hue included hub) and as a result garners you better battery life because ZWave is an incredibly low-power protocol that functions essentially similar to Bluetooth Low-Energy by using Sub-Gigahertz frequencies. The reason the 4th gens battery life is impacted so greatly is because it only has Wifi as a connection offering.
I got this lock because there were concerns about not being able to use the regular old fashioned key. It was an extremely good way to provide some comfort knowing that you could always use your key to get in to the house in the event the lock didn’t work. The locks work so well that keys are no longer carried around. I would recommend them to anyone who is hesitant to make the jump to smart home locks and I would give them at least an A rating. Why not A+? So, these locks are the reason I started using Home Assistant. I wanted to have a more reliable and much faster “Auto Unlock” feature. I wanted Auto Unlock to work on more than just one door in the house (August won’t support having more than one lock in your house/garage Auto Unlock) because they haven’t figured out how to properly sense for your phone. August, if you ever read this… bayesian algorithm, use it! I wanted a button on the home screen of Andriod/Apple phones to quickly unlock door without having to open an App. I wanted better control of Auto Lock feature so that I wouldn’t accidently lock myself out of the house by forgetting my phone in the house. The August App is a very good application, I just kept running in to minor things that, when added together, summed up to make me want to try Home Assistant. This was about a month ago and currently I have added temperature sensors and lights to Home Assistant becuase I figured out that Home Assistant can run all your smart home devices and have one application on your phone to control them all.
I have a 3rd gen and live in a traditional suburban single family home. The Auto-Unlock works well about 95% of the time. Enough so that I don’t cary my key in my pocket because it’s convient enough to just pull out my phone to unlock when the auto-unlock doesn’t work. Though I do keep a key in my wallet, but that’s mostly me being paranoid. I haven’t needed but once or twice in 3 years or so of having the lock.
It’s crazy I saw your article today, I just removed my august 4th gen yesterday because I was absolutely sick of buying batteries for it every month or so! Reinstalled my old 3rd gen pro! But I have been told if you use a wifi bridge with the 4th gen it might help its battery life a little bit! Great article
Battery life can be affected if your lock experiences any resistance when locking and unlocking as well. Everything must line up perfectly so the lock moves smoothly. One thing I can’t find is a notification if the door is left unlocked, or the ability to auto lock at a certain time. This would ensure that the door is not accidentally left unlocked. The auto-lock feature only allows for a specific amount of time, not a time on the clock, ie 8pm.
IMO the best all-around smart lock is the EUFY that lets you enter via keypad, app, physical key, voice assistant, or fingerprint (what I use daily). It absolutely rocks; best smart home purchase I’ve ever made. Of course the downside is that you need to completely replace your deadbolt, and as Josh mentioned, landlords won’t like that their master key won’t work any more. If I was still renting, an August lock like this would definitely be the way I’d go. Nice review Josh!
I’ve had the August Smart Lock the previous generation for about 2 years, and it has completely replaced my keys. I think I’ve used my keys a total of five times since I’ve installed it. The features I really love are auto lock because after 10 minutes just locks itself. My family usually opens the August app 5 to 10 minutes before they arrive home. We honestly love it. However I have to mention some bugs. The geofencing is terrible, similar to you it’s literally faster for me just to open The August app then waiting for my phone to GPS or Bluetooth to kick in and activate the feature. Also it does require me to be a little proactive of when I’m approaching my house, sometimes I do get frustrated when I’m at my door and I’m just so conditioned to use the August app that I forget I have keys but it’d be faster if I use the keys then using the August app. But other than that I still love the August Smart Lock
After 6 months use reliability and battery life are disappointing, initially replacing every 5 weeks but after disabling wifi and installing the connect bridge batteries lasted twice as long. Bridge also improved remote operation which was previously slow and often timed out even though wifi coverage was excellent near the lock (app reporting 46bB). Auto-unlock was the main reason for purchase but can take up to 3 minutes before triggering, when it works. Manually unlocking/re-locking does not abort an in progress auto-unlock action, consequently after entering the house the door you thought you’d locked is now unlocked. Auto-unlock outcome is also unpredictable if multiple phones (same model) arrive home simultaneously, frequently one device unlocks then minutes later the second device attempts to unlock. August techs confirmed only single device trigger is supported, obviously not realistic in family home. This could be a good product with further development, but I’m not ready to leave my keys at home.
I have had the previous generation with the bridge on my home since August 2018 and have only changed the AA batteries once when it sent an alert to tell me to do it. I would say if you were a home owner who enters mostly through the garage and instal this on your front door you would be amazed. Setting up temporary codes for maintenance people that allows them access etc is also a great feature.
Interesting to read about different struggles with this lock. I have the 3rd gen w/ the bridge. My battery life is fantastic. My auto-unlock works every single time but I did buy a keypad to use for those times that I don’t have my phone with me (running). The keypad provides excellent flexibility for friends & family to use when they stop by. I think it is certainly key to not only have the bridge, but to have the bridge close to the august lock.
It’s unfortunate that you haven’t gotten as much use out of your August lock as you had hoped. I have an August lock as well. I got the Pro version which comes with the Connect Hub but doesn’t have Wifi built in. I’ve had mine for over a year now and I’m quite happy with it. So far I haven’t needed to replace the batteries yet. I don’t even remember how to open it at this point; I’ll have to look it up when it is time to replace them. The Auto-Unlock feature works almost every time for me (99%). When it doesn’t it’s usually an issue with my phone. In order to make certain the door didn’t relock before I got to it I just had to raise the delay time for Auto-Lock in the August app to 90:seconds. I hear the tone from my phone when I get to the bottom of the stairs telling me that my front door has unlocked. And 90 seconds so far has always given me enough time to get to the door and open it before it relocks. You can set Auto-Lock as high as 10 minutes or more, or you can turn it off completely if you’re having issues with it. I do have the 3rd gen rather than the 4th gen. But I think the Connect Hub makes a difference, especially when it comes to battery life. That’s part of the reason I bought that version; read some reviews from existing customers online before purchasing.
The battery issue was my original deal breaker but I ended up just buying a rechargable 4pack off amz. Swapping them potentially more often isn’t an issue it was the long term cost of batteries and throwing more into the garbage because I’m a hippy tree hugger. So far so good the rechargables work fine in the lock.
I am a landlord and planning to move out of state, so am looking to changing old school deadbolt locks to the August 4th gen so that I can lock doors once a tenant moves out, QUESTION IS, CAN I CONTROL/LOCK THIS LOCK FROM ANOTHER STATE? THIS BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1926 SO HAS NO WIFI SO DO I STILL NEED TO GET WIFI IN BUILDING THO THERE IS BUILT WIFI IN LOCK? WILL THIS BE A GOOD LOCK FOR A REMOTE RENTAL OVERALL?
The only thing worse than the product is the customer service. If you’re outside North America I would look at other options. The battery life doesn’t live anywhere near up to what’s advertised and the customer service is infruating. The internet is littered with complaints and issues about the battery life and the company seems in denial. There answer was to offer to sell me more product at a discount as a potential remedy! Thanks, but no thanks.
the issue with august lock disconnecting from homekit: i belive is an issue with homekit not the lock, I am a smart home installer and I usually program/set/show a way to reset homekit which usually brings these disconnected devices back online Hope you have heard of Savant 🙂 they are pricey but amazing tech, dm for questions
Hi, I have the 3rd gen with the connect hub and was very happy with it until I changed my WiFi. I’m not very tech savvy and have been trying to figure out what went wrong. I think the problems started with just the new router but 3 months later I also got 5g. Now the connect hub is flashing red and when i tried to reset it tells me I don’t have a compatible lock. Also the August guide says the lock doesn’t work remotely with 5g. Does that mean I can never use it remotely again? Thanks
Does this cost you monthly? What gen would you recommend? My house has been robbed like 40/50 times, I think the person has a ring of kets cause I have changed my locks about 5 times already and I am still getting hit, I have a bunch of cameras I want one that notify’s me every time it is unlocked. Thanks in advance
Great article, but just a note on the Smart Lock Por (Third Gen). It does NOT rely on Z-wave. It has Z-Wave and Bluetooth so is fully compatible with the August Connect, like the Standard Gen 3, Gen 2 and Gen 1 smart locks. Z-Wave is just an added radio in addition to Bluetooth. It communicates with the August App on your phone via Bluetooth also. Saying it relies on Z-Wave would, incorrectly, make it appear Z-Wave was it’s only communication method.