Finger Scanning Door Lock

Product Description

Go keyless in your household with this finger scanning door lock. Perfect for locking down your home with nearly impossible to crack security, this clever ... [Read more]

Features

• Uses subdermal fingerprint scan technology
• Ideal for critical security access
• Enroll up to 50 unique fingerprints
• Easy to install, easy to program, easy to use
• Venetian Bronze finish

Top Reviews

Touchy to operate, low-quality construction.
by A. Holub (1 out of 5 stars)
May 30, 2009

I used to love this lock, mostly because it's so cool. I, at least, had no problems getting it to open, and as I said, it's way cool. However, nobody else in my family could get it to open in fewer than a dozen swipes. They ended up carrying keys, but after about six months the rather cheaply made cylinder gave up the ghost, so even the key didn't work. Then the fingerprint scanner stopped opening for me (even though it opened on the first try for at least a couple months). I eventually just gave up and replaced it with a Schlage combination lock (

Schlage BE365VCAM716 Camelot Keypad Deadbolt, Aged Bronze
), which has been working really well (even if it's not as cool :-).
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It Okay
by Domel (3 out of 5 stars)
October 13, 2008

It's a nice product, but it's still in it's infancy. If you expect for the finger scan to work as well as the finger scan on your laptop or some professional scanners in large companies don't bet on it. This is not my first time using a finger scanner and it took me a while to develop a proper swiping technique to satisfy the lock. Not only that you have to position your finger just right if you do it too slow or too fast it won't work so you have to repeat 3 or 4 times to get it to open (older people or kids will definitely have a problem with it). It's a nice product to have as an emergency if you ever forget your keys and get locked out of your house but for an every day use it's just too much hassle (I found that i can reach to my pocket and pull out the keys faster then to get the scan to recognize my fingerprint correctly).

Installation was simple and the instructions are easy to fallow.

Overall I don't think the product is bad but for a price tag like this it should work much better, or at least come as a part of a set, with matching door handles and everything (this is deadbolt lock only).

Update...

After only 2 years of use the scanner stopped working and all I get is a sensor error. After going to the manufacturers website I found that the product is no longer sold or supported.
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Looks neat, but doesnt work
by Jeremy (1 out of 5 stars)
December 12, 2008

I have purchased other biometric locks from Amazon before. This wasnt the wisest purchase. Installation was relatively easy. But the scanner is very unreliable, requires atleast 5-10 attempts before you can get it to work. Also the bolt doesnt function properly, maybe I didnt install it correctly. But I did follow all the instructions and I'm reasonably good at this stuff. When you swipe your finger, if it does manage to read the fingerprint, you hear a buzzing sound. Could mean it opened, or could mean nothing. So you keep trying. More often than not, the bolt doesnt open all the way, preventing the door from being opened. So you have to lock it again, then start all over again. If you are lucky, you might get it after a few tries (quite often, atleast 10 attempts). If it's snowing and your hands are cold, forget it, you'll probably get arrested coz you look like you are trying to break in to your own house!
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Five Stars
by Larry Moseley (5 out of 5 stars)
January 29, 2017

bye bye keys
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Function is Iffy at best
by M. Anderson (1 out of 5 stars)
June 26, 2009

I have used Kwikset Powerbolt electronic locks for years with great success so when I read about this product I was very interested to be able to use the scan of a finger to operate the lock. Unfortunately the product isn't ready for prime time. I have a background in computer security and have been involved in the evaluation of biometric security systems for commercial use so I feel that I have knowledge of the science and the Kwikset products. The problem with this product is that it operates inconsistently and it requires that you carry the backup key to guarantee that you will be able to gain access to your home. The whole point of this purchase (for me) was to avoid carrying a key to the house.

The detailed instruction manual recommends that multiple fingers be enrolled in the system and that the security level can be reduced from high security to normal security to enhance the accuracy of the finger scans. This feature is described for use when children are involved. In our case two adults are involved. However, after enrolling three separate fingers and reducing the security level (not a good thing) the lock fails to open every time. In fairness to the device, we have only had it for one day but after approximately 50 tries the success rate is well below 20%.

I am returning the product to Amazon and will exchange it for the KwikSet SmartCode lock which, like the ScanCode lock, has the SmartKey feature which allows the end user to rekey the lock. This is a good feature and it seems to work quite well.

I hope this review helps you avoid the problems that we are having. The concept is a good one but the technology seems to lag behind the hype.
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Great outdoor lock
by M. Stewart (4 out of 5 stars)
December 30, 2008

I bought this for my entry gate, I called and made sure it could be used outside and was weather resistant. I did have to program it at least three times for it to accept my prints but it works well and makes it easy for me to come in when I'm holding groceries and such.. It doesnt automatically lock, you need to tap it three times to lock it from outside, but I am satisfied.
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Space-age lockdown (but keep your keys on hand)
by Natter (1 out of 5 stars)
June 7, 2008

Initial impressions:
* Installation is fairly straightforward. If you're replacing a deadbolt, this shouldn't take much time at all (maybe half an hour). Kwikset even has an online tutorial to help out. If this is a new installation, as it was for me, having a 1" wood bit really helps (rather than using a 5/8" twice and boring those snowman-lookin' holes that you need to chisel out). Even with new installation, it's easier than installing a double-cylinder deadbolt.
* Once installed, this thing is fun to mess around with. When your fingerprint is recognized, it sounds like a coffee burr grinder for about a second, as it locks or unlocks the door.
* Because this unit scans deeply, if your finger is cut or dirty, you will still be recognized. Because of the deep scan, a photocopy of your fingerprint will not be recognized.
* "Swiping" technique is a learned trait. It took me 5 tries before it learned my fingerprint. It took my wife 7 tries (Ha! I win!). Our 4-year-old son still hasn't been able to do it. The device needs 3 good scans, with all of your finger "swipes" at relatively the same speed. Once recognized, you need to be able to replicate that motion to get the door to unlock. This can be troubling at first (even though the key will let you in, should you get sick of trying). On the first day of operation, getting this thing to work was sort of a grab bag. Today (1 day after installation), neither my wife nor I have had failures. Our son doesn't want to try anymore (he's still not recognized in the system).
* If you are installing this on an exterior door that has windows, you might want to consider a double-cylinder lock instead. A thief could smash the window and easily open this lock, due to the interior lock being a turnbolt. Of course, that's why you have a big, angry dog in your house.
* The interior unit may be larger than most would like, although it accommodates the Intel chip and programming functions. Not too bad though. It looks very similar to one of those screwy little door-mounted doorbell ringers... the kind where you turn a twisty-knob on the outside, and the inside box makes a mournful, yak-choking-on-an-apple sound.
* The interior turnbolt is stiff. This is due to your turning not only the bolt, but the gears that drive the automated lock function. Our child, who is really strong, cannot turn the inside bolt to leave the house without a ton of grunting, leverage, and requests for a ball-peen hammer. In case of fire, this could preclude a smooth exit from the house for young ones.
* I've gone through the easy-to-follow menu on the lock, and can't wait to scan in friends/family who visit from out of town. They'll have access for as long as I want them to, then I'll disable their scan. Our babysitter is scanned in, and has access only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3PM to 9PM. You can modify each user's settings to give them the access you want (or don't want).
* This thing comes with SmartKey technology. It took me a while to figure out what this meant, but in about 6 seconds, I was able to key both of my new deadbolts to a Kwikset key that I already have on my key ring. The keys that came with these units are now worthless (by design). This turned out to be very handy.

Overall, a very techno-cool functional lock that offers ANSI-1 and bump-guard protection. The only modifications I would prefer to have would be to do away with the interior turnbolt altogether and use a scanner/key to throw the bolt from the inside.
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Follow-up (1 month after installation):
* Still a pretty cool lock, but I've deleted my fingerprint twice (on purpose) to load an image that is more in line with how I've been scanning my finger. My wife has little trouble getting these locks to recognize her imprint on the first or second go, but I sometimes try 4 or 5 times unsuccessfully, and then just use the key. When I rescan my finger, I tend to have better luck for a while thereafter.
* Based on the above, I wonder how quickly I could get into the house in an emergency. My wife could probably pop right in, but I'm slightly perturbed by either my inability to scan correctly, or the unit's inability to recognize my print. My finger is large and doesn't "fit" along the scanning window as well as her does, which *may* be related to success rates. Still, I know that the unit works well enough for my wife to be happy with it. I'll keep trying.
* All in all, I'm still happy with the purchase.
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Follow-up (>1 year after installation):
* Still having difficulty getting the lock to recognize my finger swipe, and still carry keys whenever I leave the house (I have one unit on the house and one on my office/studio, 50' from the house). I find that when I reprogram the unit with a new finger swipe, all goes very well for a month or two, but then need to reprogram again. Also, if my hands are damp (even slightly) it will not recognize my scan, and will sometimes not engage the lock (unless I use a dry finger after wiping off the "eye" of the unit), which is something that anyone can do, regardless of whether their scan is in the unit (3 taps on the eye engages the lock).
* I am no longer enthusiastic about the unit, although I will say that there have been many times where I've been very happy with its functionality, especially when I'm carrying packages and can't dig around for my keys. Conversely, when it refuses to unlock the door, I cuss it up and down.
* I am happiest about the general ease of locking the door with a series of taps, but grow tired of trying to unlock the door with my fingerprint.
* Initially, I couldn't help but think that I was doing something wrong, but after a year of use, I can only conclude that the unit needs improvement.
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Follow-up (>2 years after installation):

This lock is not my friend. My success rate is 10 - 15%, and I only use its features to lock the door. I cannot recommend this lock.
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Works for me
by Olivia (4 out of 5 stars)
February 11, 2009

Ok, I have to admit that I bought this product about 3 months ago. Since my husband was away, I installed it myself. I've only installed 1 regular deadbolt before. It was fairly simple to install(especially if you're just replacing). For me, it works fine. I usually get it unlocked in the first 2 trys. My husband on the other hand....almost took the thing out:) It did take a while to program my finger-but I hung in there. Although it does hold about 50 fingerprints, it would be nice if you could add 2 scans under one person instead of adding a person twice. You can only have 1 fingerprint under one name. So if you want to scan both your left and right index finger, you have to enter your name twice. Other than that I like it.
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Do not Buy it...It does not work
by Sophie's dad (1 out of 5 stars)
December 21, 2008

The folks who gave this product a positive review must all work for the company that makes it. They cannot possibly have this product installed on their doors because it does not work. You program the lock to recognize your fingerprint. This may take several tries because you swiped too slowly or to fast, but eventually it says that it recognizes you. The instructions suggest that you enter yourself again, under a different ID with a second set of swipes, the idea being that you may swipe your finger somewhat differently when you actually try to enter the house. I entered myself 4 times under different ID's, presumably covering all the bases in terms of variations in the way I swipe. They also suggest lowering the sensitivity so that it will allow a print that looks somewhat like yours as opposed to a more exacting match. I did this as well.

Here is what happens...you swipe and get a red light indicating that it did not recognize your print. You swipe again and again until you finally get a green light, meaning that it recognized you, and then it unlocks the deadbolt. But very soon after that event you try to get in, get a red light a few times, but then finally get a green light meaning it recognized you, but inexplicably it does not unlock the deadbolt. There have been occassions when I have gotten a green light four times in a row, meaning that it recognizes me, but it refuses to unlock the door.

I reported this problem to the manufacturer and they cheerfully sent me a replacement product which I installed, but soon experienced the same problem...green lights but no unlocking of the door. I reported the problem to the manufacturer and again they offered to send a replacement. I asked that before they send this third replacement to me, that they test it to make sure that green lights resulted in an open door. I installed the third product they sent and guess what...same exact problem. What I thought was a manufacturing glitch in the first, and maybe the second product I received, was actually the way the product works...or more accurately does not work. This product should never have been brought to market in its current condition. If any of the executives of this company had this product installed on their door it would be taken off the market immediately...it does not work!!!
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Wooooooooooowwwwwww!!!!!!!
by Uriel Jasso (5 out of 5 stars)
August 12, 2009

This is a great invention....everyone visiting says woooowwwwww!!!!

Sometimes you have to scan your finger more than once but it always works. Be very careful with the instalation.

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