This august smart lock homekit turns your phone into a smart key

Product Description

No more fumbling for keys. Control access to your home with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit or your smartphone. Auto-unlocks your door as you approach and automatically locks your door after you enter. No more hiding keys under the mat with virtual keys, and the 24/7 activity log lets you know who opens you door and when. Your exterior door hardware stays the same. August Smart Lock replaces only the the interior of your standard deadbolt. Install yourself in minutes.

Disclaimer
Warranty is only effective for US and Canada customers.

Features

• Works with Alexa for voice control (hub required, Alexa device and hub sold separately).
• Requires 110-240 volt
• Connect your August smart lock to Alexa to Lock, unlock and check lock status. Alexa can also provide notifications when your battery is running low so you can proactively replace them. Set up smart reorders through dash replenishment to make sure you always have replacement batteries when you need them.

Top Reviews

I LOVE my August, I hate its lack of low battery warnings
by Chris Giddings (3 out of 5 stars)
December 21, 2017

I truly love my smart home tools. I have a Nest Learning Thermostat and three Nest Protect units. I have a Furbo for the dogs. I have an Amazon Echo (1st gen) and an Echo Dot (2nd Gen), plus an Apple TV (4th gen) with HomeKit integration, an Await air quality sensor, a Dyson Hot+Cool Link air purifying fan/space-heater and this 2nd generation August Smart Lock.

I happen to =LOVE= this smart lock. It works well, and it easy to pair with and manage. It auto locks and unlocks in a timely fashion with my geofencing configuration, and I can easily tell when someone comes and goes from my home.

However, I must echo a concern which is the sole reason this unit did not receive a full five stars.

The batters on the unit will die every few months and lock me out of my home. The original deadbolt becomes far too difficult to turn with the August smart lock attached. This added up a couple months ago to having to call a locksmith to open my front door. My key worked, it was just too difficult to turn, so he used a pair of pliers to force the movement of a key copy. I now keep a pair of pliers in both my cars.

This would not be a problem is the August Smart Lock provided both an LED indicator of battery life on the unit which would light up as the batteries get low. This obviously can't be added to existing units though. So, I would easily settle with the ability to see a battery life indicator in the mobile app and push notifications when the batteries are at 25%, 15%, 10% and 5%.
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Great concept, just doesn't live up to the advertising.
by TBLong (2 out of 5 stars)
September 2, 2016

Great concept, love having the door unlock when I arrive, but there are unpardonable issues with it at least when using the IOS app. In addition, the customer support phone number is available *nowhere* on their website. Fortunately if you send an email, the autoresponder sends the number to you. I did not get an answer by holding, but they have an option to press 2 to have someone call you. When you do that, it tells you to keep holding or press 2 to leave a message. It doesn't listen, and after the brief message, it hangs up. Eventually I received a callback,and support walked me through a factory reset, then while trying to set up the August connect again, they determined that the connect device is defective and are expediting a replacement (kudos for that).

Here are the issues with the app... and these are known issues that they are working on. The solution at the time of this writing is to do a factory reset and set the whole thing up from scratch.
1. Once an invitation is sent, the delete functionality DOES NOT WORK, and neither does the update. So be super careful when you issue an invitation. Once you send it, you can't delete the user until they accept. This is a security risk. Suppose you invite someone and give them anytime access. Between then and the time they accept, you decide you do not want them in your house. Sorry, dude...you can't keep them from accepting and using it.
2. When a user puts a comment on your guestbook, you cannot delete it. There is a delete link, but it DOES NOT WORK.

Hoping that these issues can be resolved...because I love the concept. However, right now it looks like the only option is a factory reset. When I did that, it did in fact remove the guestbook comments and invitations.
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Sooo... after having this for nearly two years now, I've come to really dislike it from the auto unlock perspective. It works about 30% of the time. Being able to unlock it remotely is great ... again, when it works, and be prepared to wait several minutes for it to connect when you're attempting remote operations.
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I really wanted to like this - BUT it is not safe
by CTOESITE (1 out of 5 stars)
September 16, 2016

I have given August a solid try for nearly 6 months and I have to say I am very disappointed. I wanted to post this review to hopefully save someone money and time:

Pros:
1. Installation pretty easy done within 15-20 mins
2. Didn't have to replace my entire lock
3. App .. ok not great
4. Assigning access .. no problem

Cons:
1. When using the lock manually to lock the door, the back face plate falls off nearly every time, and it is hard to put back on - we use tape to hold it now
2. THIS IS A BIG ONE - if your door isn't perfectly aligned, the lock will fail. I have a newer home that is currently settling into its foundation - the doors are a fraction off here and there which can happen, and the lock will not lock or ulock
3. I have been locked out of my house 2 times and had to wait for my wife to come home with a key (she gives me @#it every time too because she hates the lock and didnt want me to install it). The lock just would not open the door and the app said there was a calibration issue
4. The remote add on, which I purchased separately is a JOKE. It took forever to get it connected to my wifi (and I am an IT professional) and post that it never stayed connected. So remote open and close is non existent
5. And last but not least and probably the worst deal, the app will say the door is locked but 50% of the time it wasnt. So every time we used the APP to lock the door, we had to double check it actually locked. After trying 3-4 times, we ended up using the damn key. UGH .. whats the point then

I really wanted this to work. Great concept, but man it just doesn't work. I am now in the process of changing out my lock all together and I am out the money for this crappy thing. Please save your money folks!
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Solved all my problems
by David S. (5 out of 5 stars)
April 25, 2017

I've had the August for about a month and have put it through all the tests. I was very worried both after reading through reviews on Amazon and the Google Play Store. I'd eyed this device for a year or more and wanted one but decided to hold off given the reviews. Reviews are mixed, and now that I have one I can see why really. Bluetooth and Wifi are such awfully unstable and inconsistent technologies... how well it works is really going to come down to your house, your devices, the interference and your network.

Bluetooth sucks. It really does... so the fact that this thing is entirely dependent on Bluetooth, and works, is kind of amazing. That said, it works better with some things than with others.

I bought this for one single reason, though I'd hoped the other features would work as well. My husband just will not lock the door behind him when he comes home. After years, and years, of asking him to do so, he just won't. He's in and out many times per day so I've just gotten in the habit of going to lock the front door every time I walk by it. Thanks to this gadget, it's a habit I'm now trying to break. This lock locks itself after a time you specify, and that's just solved all my problems. I'm really happy with it! I have it set to lock the door after 30 seconds and it's never failed. It works every time.

The other features this thing has are just gravy to me. I'm really happy with them, but they were an unexpected bonus.

The auto unlock feature is fantastic if you have an iPhone. It's useless if you have an Android. For my husband (iPhone), the door unlocks every single time he comes home, it's unlocked by the time he gets to the door and then locks behind him. I've never had it work once for me on Android, and I've tried 3 phones. That explains the horrible reviews in the Google Play Store... hopefully, they can sort that out at some point but I'm not holding my breath considering how long they've had to solve the issue. That said the app for Android is fine and works the same as iPhone. Manually unlocking the door via the app etc all works the same and just as well on both platforms - just not the auto-unlock feature.

Given how the auto-unlock feature doesn't work on Android I bought the keypad - and that works perfectly. It's a shame that I have to use that and pay more money for hardware because I have Android... but, oh well. It works. I wish August would sell a keyfab instead.

I also bought the Wifi connection thing... which is pretty useless. I've decided not to return it in case it does something useful in the future, but for now, it doesn't serve many purposes. It connects your lock to your Wifi which allows you to do exactly two things - lock/unlock your door when you're away from home (do you really need this?) or to ask Alexa or Google Home if your door is locked. Wisely, you cannot tell Alexa or Google to unlock your door by voice.

I'm really happy with this gadget. It does what I bought it for and does a few other tricks I wasn't expecting. In a month or so of use, it has never failed (not including the Android auto-unlock). I think we probably unlock/lock our door more than most as we both work from home and are in and out of the house 10-20 times a day each... so after 30 days, that's probably 500+ uses in a month. Given that, it hasn't failed once.

Pros:

Auto-lock works perfectly

Super easy to install

Nice/cool looking

Auto-unlock works perfectly with iPhone

Keypad accessory works great

Cons:

Auto-unlock doesn't work with Android, at all

You have to pay extra to connect it to Wifi

Battey life? No idea! There's no way to check it.

Probably pretty hackable
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Would not buy again or Recommend - Significant Design Flaws and poor customer service
by T. Igo (1 out of 5 stars)
June 12, 2017

I do not write reviews often however I felt compelled to write one for this product based on my poor experience (with both the product and August customer services) and in the hope to guide other people considering this product to look at other products more seriously before purchasing the August lock.

There are some significant design flaws with this product and there are a couple good features. I am giving it 1 star because of the issues and the horrible customer service when I reach out to August for support and to give them feedback on the product.

Positives:
- Installs right with your existing deadbolt, you just need to remove the inside knob.
- Installs in a few minutes
- Apple Homekit compatible (with Apple TV Gen 3 or 4 you can lock/unlock from the app from anywhere)

Negatives:
- Customer support - when I reach out to August I really did not feel like they cared about me as a customer. In this day an age where it is possible for consumers to review products online companies need to realize that when something goes wrong they should do everything to make it right for the customer. Reputation can be hurt quickly by poor customer service.
- Design Issue - The lock works by having a small motor turn your existing deadbolt. The motor is powered by a couple of AA batteries in the lock. The motor does not have much torque. This is the root of the design flaws on this lock. The front door of the house should be designed so that it closes tight with the weather stripping. The tightness of the door helps manage heating and cooling in the house to be more efficient. When I installed the lock there was a little drag between my deadbolt and the plate on the door. I used a file to remove some of the material on the door plate to provide extra clearance to help the door close. The issue is that sometimes heat and humidity change the door with expansion and contraction. I have a new house and a high quality door but changes and temperature and humidity are going to make the house expand and contract. As a result I have had issues where this lock will partially turn but do to the friction and tightness in the door the deadbolt will not go fully into the door frame despite the fact I filled away some extra material. I have had issues where he lock will say that it is closed on the App on my phone yet it is not really locked - this is a big issue since a lock should be 100% rock solid as a security device and there should be no margin for error or doubt as to weather it is locked.
- Design/Software issue -Lock sometimes doesnt lock but it tells you on the app that it does.

Would Not Recommend:
- I would not buy this product again and I would not recommend it to anyone else. I would probably suggest going with a more mature and proven company that has been manufacturing locks for years and cares about customers and security and their reputation.
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GREAT - WHILE IT LASTS - Horrible customer service and limited warranty for the price of this lock
by Ken (1 out of 5 stars)
December 22, 2017

I am VERY disappointed with August's customer service. I have been on the phone with them all morning and was basically told that there is nothing they will do about my broken lock. They admitted that the lock was defective and that I had done all the possible troubleshooting to repair it. The lock, for which I paid the full price of $229, stopped working after a year and a half - the motor no longer has the ability to turn the deadbolt. It is now a standard clunky, turn by hand lock. Because August ONLY guarantees the quality of their product for one year, the supervisor told me that there was nothing they could do. They offered me a $20 dollar upgrade coupon if I went with their newest model. This is all they could offer me. If you only plan on using this lock for 12-18 months, go for it. I REALLY REALLY wanted to love this lock - I did, while it worked.... Now I am saddened and disappointed with August, their product, and especially their customer service team. Here is their warranty just so you all know:

August warrants the Device against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase ("Warranty Period"). If a Device is returned to August during the Warranty Period as provided below, and August determines that the Device is defective, August will either repair or replace the unit with either a new or a refurbished August Smart Lock, or refund the original purchase price in return for the Device, at its option. If the Warranty Period has expired or is otherwise not applicable as per the Scope and Limitation on Warranty (below), we will return the Device to you.

Hopefully you kept your spare lock so that your home can be secure while you wait for August to determine if the device is defective. (If it breaks within 1 year that is).
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Fresh set of 4 batteries too lasted only 1 day
by Yes Dixit (1 out of 5 stars)
January 10, 2017

Just received the latest version of August lock and installed it. Installing was a breeze. It upgraded the firmware by downloading and it took about 25 minutes.

Soon after it started working, the battery indicator on the August App showed 20% capacity. By morning it showed 5% battery level and asked me to change the battery. I replaced with 4 new batteries. It started working well. But, next morning, it showed 20% battery capacity. The new set of 4 batteries also lasted only 1+ day.

I have to remove and return this device. Am I the only one having this problem?
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So glad to throw this in the trash
by Pangean (1 out of 5 stars)
January 27, 2019

I bought two of these smart locks and have been using them for 3 years. The first year I thought it was fun to open and close the door with an app on my phone or have Alexa tell me the status of the doors. But then the batteries started running down very quickly. Seems like every 3 months the locks would not work because the battery was low. And when the lock doesn't work, you better hope you didn't have any other way to get into your house but that door. For that reason, I had to carry a key with me just in case the lock wasn't responding. So then whats the point? I carry a key and end up using it in those emergency cases when the batteries aren't working. And the same for getting locked inside the house. The calibrating system on the lock is very faulty and I find myself locked inside my house. I have to exit from another door, using a key, to unlock the door with the smart lock (not so smart). I have small children and if there was a emergency and no one can get out of the house because of the august lock not turning properly or jammed...... not good! So I finally got fed up with the constant re-calibrating and battery changing and tossed it in the trash. I would rather try another brand and something with a safer access in case the technology fails... and it does!
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Fortunately, the online guide is very well put together
by Roymus (4 out of 5 stars)
May 25, 2016

I rarely post reviews, but I feel as a longtime Android user my feedback on this product would be helpful. I've had this lock for a little less than a week, here are my impressions:
1. Packaging - As others have noted here, the packaging is outstanding...however, I was a bit confused by the lack of a detailed installation guide. Fortunately, the online guide is very well put together, but definitely go there first!
2. Lock Installation - It really is pretty easy to install, with a few caveats. First, my original door lock was of the double cylinder type (key on both sides of the deadbolt. These are better than the thumb latch type of locks you usually see; however THIS TYPE OF LOCK WILL NOT WORK with August. You have to have the thumb latch type of lock (key on only one side). Fortunately I had to replace my old lock anyway, and the KwikSet thumb latch locks are only $12 at Home Depot. Once I got that straightened out, installation was really pretty simple...just attach the provided mounting plate with the thumb latch lock long screws, then detach the "wings" on either side of the August smartlock, fit it around the mounting plate, and you're ready to install the app.
3. App Installation - This is also simple but a little tricky. You download the app from the App Store as usual, but the first thing mine did was try to apply a firmware update. This took about 15 min, and eventually timed out. When I called customer support, they said it was already up to date. Normally, a well designed app will tell you it has all relevant updates applied before it starts to download a new one, but ok...I have the most recent update. You may want to check your version before you start...as of 5/25/16, the newest app version is 4.4.50, and the firmware version (available under Lock Settings) is 7147e875-2.1..103-2.1.103.
4. Calibration and Use - I found that before you use the lock, you have to calibrate it...basically let the lock know what the open and closed position is relative to its own gearing. You do this from the Lock Settings menu, and it worked fine the first time.

Remote lock and unlock can be spotty. I find I generally get pretty wide Bluetooth coverage in the house, but occasionally I find I have to reconnect it. The auto unlock functionality in particular is hard to get right. It works on a geofencing principle...when you get outside a certain radius from the lock, it sets a flag. When you return inside that perimeter, it resets that flag and prepares to let the lock know you're coming in. When you approach the door, the lock will then unlock...pretty cool when it works. I spent a little time with August customer service and was advised to set the geofence area to Large (800 meters) for Android...that seems to make it work (not sure what the best setting is for Apple). One other tip if you're having trouble: set the auto unlock notifications on, that way you'll get a notification in the notification shade that you've left (and re-entered) the geofence area.
5. August Connect - I bought one of these ($80 on Amazon, a bit overpriced I thought) to enable me to open and close the lock remotely via the Internet. Basically it's just a simple dongle that you plug into an outlet near the lock...you then connect it to your wireless via the August setup app. It basically emulates the Bluetooth functionality, except you'll see a little wireless icon on the main screen...hit that to fetch the lock status and lock/unlock. I've found it works pretty well...occasionally you'll get an "unable to fetch status" message, but I'm getting a pretty good hit rate.

Finally, a word about their customer service: I found it outstanding. One thing I love that is rare in this day and age: when you call, you get connected to a live person immediately (no voicemail menus), and it's obviously onshore support. They are also pretty knowledgeable about their product (no Tier 1 and Tier 2...the person you talk to first can solve your problem). Hope they can keep that up...it's probably a pricier structure than your average shop.

Overall: Outstanding, novel product, a bit overpriced but it does what it says. I love walking up to my door with an armful of groceries and having the door unlock for me...that's what automation is supposed to be about!

One other note: I'm not being paid to do this review, and I paid full price (and then some) for this product!
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Great "when" it works, but......
by Bill in VA (3 out of 5 stars)
July 30, 2016

Great idea, when it works it is awesome but...This thing was a pain to set up. Talk about finicky. All 3 cell phones in our house are on their list of "test and verified compatible" phones, but my wife's Galaxy Note 5 will not work with the automatic unlock The Note works fine with other Bluetooth devices,finds the lock just fine, but will not unlock the door automatically. Spent 3 days troubleshooting resetting, verifying settings, changing settings, reading online troubleshooting guides and blogs, and uninstalling and reinstalling the app. My son's phone and mine work flawlessly. Finally gave up on my wife's phone and got the keypad for her. Also, installing required some adjustments to the position of the latch holes on the door. The lock is extremely finicky (i am assuming to prevent damage to the lock) so if your deadbolt latch is not EXACTLY aligned with the latch hole, the lock will keep trying to close, error out, reopen, and try again over and over killing the battery.

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