August Smart Lock Not Working? Your Troubleshooting Guide
An August Smart Lock adds a superb layer of convenience and security to your door, but when it stops working, it can be more frustrating than a traditional lock. Whether it's unresponsive, jammed, or just won't connect to your phone, most problems can be solved with some simple troubleshooting. This guide will walk you through the most common issues and their solutions to get your lock working smoothly again.
## The First and Most Important Check: Batteries
Before diving into any complex troubleshooting, check the batteries. Low battery power is the root cause of the vast majority of smart lock problems.
- Symptoms of Low Batteries: The lock may operate very slowly, make a weak sound, fail to connect to your phone, or not operate at all. The LED on the lock might flash red.
- The Solution: Open the faceplate of your August lock and replace all four AA batteries. It is highly recommended to use standard, new alkaline batteries. Avoid rechargeable or lithium-ion batteries, as their power delivery can be inconsistent and may not report the correct power level to the app.
## Common August Lock Problems and How to Fix Them
If fresh batteries didn't solve your issue, let's move on to other common culprits.
### Issue 1: The Lock is Unresponsive or Won't Connect
If the lock doesn't respond to commands from your phone, either via Bluetooth or remotely.
- Check Bluetooth: The primary connection between your phone and the lock is Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. Try turning it off and on again.
- Check the August Connect (for remote access): If you are trying to operate the lock when you are away from home, you are using the August Connect Wi--Fi Bridge.
- Ensure the Connect is plugged into a power outlet within Bluetooth range of your lock (typically 10-15 feet).
- Check the LED light on the Connect. A solid green light means it's online and connected. A flashing red light indicates a Wi-Fi connection problem.
- Try rebooting your home router and the August Connect itself by unplugging it and plugging it back in.
### Issue 2: The App Reports the Lock is 'Jammed'
This error can occur even if the deadbolt itself isn't physically stuck. It's usually a calibration error.
- What is Calibration? Calibration is the process where the lock 'learns' the precise start and end points of your deadbolt's travel, from fully unlocked to fully locked.
- How to Recalibrate:
- Open the August app.
- Go to the settings for the lock that is jamming.
- Scroll down and select Calibrate Lock.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions in the app carefully. It will ask you to manually open and close the deadbolt so it can re-learn the positions. A successful recalibration solves most jamming errors.
### Issue 3: Auto-Unlock or Auto-Lock Isn't Working
These automated features rely on a combination of your phone's settings and the August app.
- Check Phone Permissions: For Auto-Unlock to work, the August app needs access to your phone's location at all times.
- On your phone's settings, find the August app and ensure its location permission is set to 'Always' or 'Allow all the time'.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Must Be On: Auto-Unlock uses signals from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to know when you are close to home. Even if you aren't connected to a network, they must be enabled on your phone.
- Exiting the 'Home' Zone: Auto-Unlock will only trigger if you first leave your immediate home area (a radius of about 200 metres) and then return. It will not unlock the door if you just step out into your garden and come back.
- Auto-Lock Timer: For Auto-Lock, go into the lock's settings in the app and ensure the feature is enabled and the timer is set to your desired duration (e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute).
By methodically checking the batteries, connections, and calibration, you can solve nearly any issue you might encounter with your August Smart Lock.