Fixing August Smart Lock Third-Party App Integration Issues
The real power of an August Smart Lock is unlocked when you connect it to other services like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Airbnb, and more. This integration allows for voice control, remote access, and automated guest management. When this connection breaks, it can be a major inconvenience. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve common third-party app and integration problems.
The Key to Integration: The Wi-Fi Connection
Before diving into specific app issues, it's vital to understand one thing: all third-party integrations depend on your lock being connected to the internet. Your August lock communicates with your phone via Bluetooth. To get online and talk to services like Alexa or Google, it needs either an August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge or to be a newer model with Wi-Fi built-in. If that bridge is offline, no remote commands will work.
First step in any troubleshooting: Open the August app and confirm that you can lock and unlock your door remotely when you are away from home (with your phone's Bluetooth turned off). If you can't, the problem is with your lock's Wi-Fi connection, not the third-party app.
Troubleshooting Alexa and Google Home Integration
When voice commands like "Alexa, lock the front door" suddenly stop working, it's almost always an authentication issue.
### Symptom: Voice Commands Fail or Device is "Unresponsive"
This happens when the security 'token' that links your August account to your Amazon or Google account expires or becomes invalid.
-
The Solution: Unlink and Relink the Service This is the most effective fix and resolves the issue 99% of the time.
For Amazon Alexa:
- Open the Amazon Alexa app.
- Navigate to
More>Skills & Games. - Search for the "August Home" skill and select it.
- Tap
Disable Skilland confirm your choice. - Wait a few moments, then tap
Enable To Use. - You will be prompted to sign in with your August account credentials. Follow the on-screen steps to complete the linking process.
- Once linked, you can ask Alexa to discover devices by saying, "Alexa, discover devices."
For Google Home:
- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap
Devices>Add>Works with Google. - Under the 'Linked services' section, find "August Home".
- Tap on it and select
Unlink account. - After it has been unlinked, add it back by finding August in the list of services and signing in with your account details.
Troubleshooting Airbnb Integration
The August and Airbnb integration is a powerful tool for hosts, automatically generating unique entry codes for guests.
### Symptom: Guest Codes Are Not Being Created
- Solution 1: Check the Integration Status: In the August app, go to the
Settingsmenu for the specific lock you use for your rental. Verify that it is still actively connected to your Airbnb account and linked to the correct property listing. - Solution 2: Refresh the Connection: If it appears connected, try disconnecting the Airbnb integration from within the August app and then setting it up again. This can often resolve any synchronisation errors between the two platforms.
- Solution 3: Check Guest Information: Ensure the guest has a verified phone number associated with their Airbnb profile, as this is what August uses to send the entry code information.
General Troubleshooting Tips
- Update Your Apps: Ensure you have the latest versions of the August app, the Alexa/Google Home app, and any other relevant third-party app installed on your smartphone.
- Check for Service Outages: On rare occasions, the August cloud service or the service you're trying to connect to may be down. Check the official social media pages or support websites for any announcements.
- Reboot Your Wi-Fi Bridge: If you use an August Connect bridge, simply unplugging it from the wall for 30 seconds and plugging it back in can resolve many connectivity issues.
By following these targeted steps, you can restore the powerful integrations that make your August Smart Lock a central part of your connected home.