Why Does My August DoorSense Show the Wrong Door Status?
- DoorSense magnet misaligned with the sensor
- Gap too large between magnet and lock
- Magnet mounted at the wrong height/position
Problem Description
Your August DoorSense is showing the wrong door status (open when closed or vice versa). DoorSense uses a magnetic sensor built into the lock to detect if the door is open or closed. If the sensor drifts out of calibration or the DoorSense magnet on the door frame moves, it reports incorrectly. Recalibration fixes this.
Why This Happens in Real Homes
DoorSense reports open or closed by sensing a small magnet mounted on the door jamb against the sensor in the lock — so a wrong status is almost always a physical alignment issue: the magnet has shifted, sits too far from the lock, or was mounted at the wrong height, so the sensor can't reliably tell they're together.
Line the DoorSense magnet up directly opposite the lock's sensor with a small, consistent gap, re-securing it if it's loosened or drifted, then recalibrate DoorSense in the app so it relearns open and closed. Metal doors or frames can interfere, so adjust placement if needed. Seasonal expansion that shifts the door is a common reason a once-accurate DoorSense starts reading wrong.
Symptoms
- Shows open when closed (or vice versa)
- Door status stuck
- Wrong open/closed reading
- Status flips randomly
- Doesn't update on open/close
- Auto-lock misfires from bad status
- DoorSense unreliable
- Calibration seems off
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- DoorSense magnet misaligned with the sensor
- Gap too large between magnet and lock
- Magnet mounted at the wrong height/position
- DoorSense not calibrated
- Magnet came loose or shifted
- Metal door/frame interfering
- Firmware issue
- Door/frame moved (seasonal)
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
Place the magnet on the hinge side of the door frame, aligned with the DoorSense indicator on the lock.
Tools & Requirements
These tools will help you complete this fix.
Level
9 Inch Torpedo Level Magnetic, Shock-Proof Small Lev...
Replacement batteries
Duracell Coppertop Double AA Batteries with Power Bo...
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Step-by-Step Solution
Recalibrate DoorSense
DoorSense reports the wrong status when its calibration drifts. Open the August app, go to your lock settings, and select DoorSense. Tap Recalibrate and follow the prompts — close the door fully, tap Next, open the door, tap Next. The lock re-learns what open and closed positions feel like magnetically. After calibrating, test by opening and closing the door 5 times and checking the app each time.
Check the magnet and sensor alignment
DoorSense uses a small magnet on the door frame and a sensor in the lock. The magnet must be within 1-1.5 inches of the sensor when the door is closed. If the magnet has shifted (vibration, loose adhesive), the sensor cannot detect it properly. Check that the magnet is firmly attached and aligned with the DoorSense sensor on the lock body. The magnet should be at the same height as the sensor — not above or below it.
Surface mount instead of flush mount
Flush-mounting the DoorSense magnet inside the door frame often causes problems. The door frame material and the door itself can interfere with the magnetic signal when the magnet is recessed. Surface-mounting on the frame face (using the adhesive pad) provides a more reliable reading and is less likely to shift over time. If you flush-mounted and the status is unreliable, switch to surface mounting.
Check for magnetic interference
Other magnets near the lock — magnetic door stops, magnetic catches, steel door frames, or metal weather stripping — can confuse the DoorSense sensor. If the sensor reads as closed even when the door is open, a nearby magnet is creating a false reading. Move the DoorSense magnet to a position farther from any other magnetic source, or remove the interfering magnet.
Check firmware version
A firmware update (notably version 1.61.0 on the Smart Lock Pro) broke DoorSense calibration for many users. Open the August app, go to lock settings, and check the firmware version. If DoorSense stopped working after an update, recalibrate it. If recalibration still fails, contact August support — some firmware versions have known DoorSense bugs that require a server-side fix or a follow-up firmware patch.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
If this comes back after following these steps, check whether a recent app or firmware update reset a default setting — the fix works, but the setting gets reverted silently.
DoorSense enables auto-lock when door closes - very convenient but requires accurate sensing.
This issue almost always looks more complex than it is — the majority of cases trace back to a single setting, a stale credential, or a default that shipped wrong.
- DoorSense magnet misaligned with the sensor
- Gap too large between magnet and lock
- Magnet mounted at the wrong height/position
- DoorSense not calibrated
- Magnet came loose or shifted
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
Most popular upgrades chosen by August Smart Lock owners.
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Official Manufacturer Manual
August Home provides official product documentation through their online manual rather than downloadable PDF. Access setup guides, troubleshooting steps, and product specifications for your August Smart Lock.
Source: august.com
Need More Help? August Home Support
Note: The contact information below connects you directly to August Home's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.
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