Yale Geofencing Not Working? Fix Auto-Unlock and Lock

Is Your Yale Smart Lock's Geofencing Unreliable?

The auto-unlock feature on a Yale smart lock is one of its most convenient functions. Using geofencing, your lock can detect when you're returning home and automatically unlock the door for you. Similarly, it can lock the door behind you as you leave. When this hands-free system stops working, it can be a significant inconvenience.

This guide is designed to help you diagnose and fix the common issues that cause Yale's geofencing and auto-unlock/lock features to fail. We'll cover everything from crucial smartphone settings to the hardware in your home.

## Core Concepts: How Yale Geofencing Works

To troubleshoot effectively, it's important to understand the moving parts:

1. The Geofence: In the Yale Access app, you set a virtual perimeter around your home.
2. Your Phone's Location: The app monitors your phone's GPS to see when you cross this perimeter.
3. Operating Modes: When you leave the geofence, the app switches to "Away Mode". When you re-enter, it switches to "Home Mode". The auto-unlock feature only triggers when you return and the app first enters Home Mode.
4. Bluetooth & Wi-Fi: The app uses Wi-Fi and your phone's location to detect you're near, but the final command to unlock the door is sent via Bluetooth. This is a security measure to ensure you are right at your door.

A failure in any of these steps will break the chain of events.

## Critical Smartphone Settings to Check

The vast majority of Yale geofencing issues originate from the settings on your smartphone.

### 1. Location Permissions are Essential

The Yale Access app needs permission to track your location at all times, not just when it's open.

• For iOS (iPhone):

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.
  2. Scroll down and tap on the Yale Access app.
  3. Set location access to "Always". This is non-negotiable for geofencing to work.
  4. Ensure the "Precise Location" toggle is switched on.

• For Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Yale Access.
  2. Tap on "Permissions" and then "Location".
  3. Choose the "Allow all the time" option.
  4. Make sure "Use precise location" is enabled.

### 2. Disable Aggressive Battery Optimisation

Battery-saving features can prevent the Yale Access app from running in the background, which is necessary for it to know when you've left or returned home.

• For Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Yale Access.
  2. Tap on "Battery" or "App battery usage".
  3. Select the "Unrestricted" option to prevent the system from putting the app to sleep.

• For iOS:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
  2. Find Yale Access in the list and make sure its toggle is switched on.

### 3. Keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth On

Even if you're not connected to a network, the app uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning to improve location accuracy. The final unlock command is also sent over Bluetooth. Ensure both are enabled on your phone at all times.

## Checking Your Yale Setup

If your phone settings are correct, let's look at the Yale hardware and app configuration.

• Check the Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge: The bridge is the vital link between the cloud and your lock. Ensure it's plugged in, online, and has a strong connection to both your Wi-Fi router and your smart lock. A weak signal in either direction can cause commands to fail.
• Review Auto-Lock/Unlock Settings: Open the Yale Access app and go to your lock's settings. Double-check that "Auto-Unlock" and "Auto-Lock" are enabled.
• Re-Calibrate Your Lock: In the app settings, there is an option to re-calibrate your Yale lock. This can sometimes resolve communication issues between the lock and the app.
• Log Out and Back In: A simple but effective solution is to log out of your Yale Access account in the app and then log back in. This can refresh your connection and resolve temporary glitches.