Why Is My August Keypad Battery Draining So Fast?

Problem Description

Your August Keypad batteries are draining much faster than the expected 6+ months. The keypad uses Bluetooth to communicate with the August lock, and failed or repeated connection attempts drain the battery. If the keypad is mounted too far from the lock (beyond 5 feet through a door), Bluetooth signal issues cause excessive retries.

Why This Happens in Real Homes

The August Smart Keypad is a wireless outdoor unit that talks to the lock over Bluetooth, and the number-one reason its batteries drain fast is distance: if the keypad is mounted too far from the lock or the link is weak, it constantly retries to reach the lock, burning through cells. Cold outdoor exposure compounds it.

Mount the keypad within solid Bluetooth range of the lock (a strong, close link means far fewer power-hungry retries), and use fresh quality alkaline AAA batteries, replacing them as a matched set. Expect somewhat shorter life in cold climates since the keypad lives outside. Clean the contacts and keep firmware current to rule out the remaining causes of premature drain.

Symptoms

• Keypad batteries drain fast
• Frequent keypad low-battery warnings
• Batteries die in weeks
• Keypad goes dead quickly
• Short life vs expected
• New batteries deplete fast
• Keypad unresponsive as batteries fade
• Cold-weather rapid drain

Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.

Common Causes

• Keypad far from the lock (constant Bluetooth retries)
• Weak Bluetooth link between keypad and lock
• Cold temperatures (outdoor keypad)
• Cheap or old AAA batteries
• Very high daily code entry
• Battery contacts dirty
• Firmware needing an update
• Heavy keypad wake/backlight activity

Tools & Requirements

Step-by-Step Solution

1

Check for failed Bluetooth connections

The August keypad connects to the lock via Bluetooth. If the keypad is at the edge of Bluetooth range, it repeatedly tries and fails to connect — each attempt drains the batteries. Move the keypad closer to the lock or remove obstructions (thick doors, metal frames) between them. The keypad should be within 5-10 feet of the lock with a clear path through the door. If the door is solid metal, Bluetooth may not penetrate it.

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2

Check the battery type

The August keypad uses two CR123A lithium batteries. Use high-quality branded batteries (Energizer, Panasonic, Duracell) — cheap no-name CR123A batteries have significantly lower capacity and voltage stability. Do not use rechargeable CR123A batteries, as they output 3.7V instead of the 3.0V the keypad expects, which can damage the electronics. Fresh CR123A batteries should last 6-12 months under normal use.

3

Reduce false activations

The keypad has a proximity sensor that wakes it when a hand approaches. If the keypad is mounted where wind, passing people, or animals frequently trigger this sensor, the backlight and Bluetooth radio activate unnecessarily, draining batteries. Reposition the keypad away from high-traffic paths where people walk by without using it. Some users mount the keypad inside a recessed box to reduce false wake-ups from ambient movement.

4

Check for firmware issues

Some firmware versions cause the keypad to stay in an active state longer than necessary after each use. Open the August app and check for keypad firmware updates. If an update is available, install it — the keypad updates through the lock via Bluetooth. After updating, monitor battery drain over the next 2-3 weeks to see if it improves.

5

Replace batteries before they are fully dead

Running CR123A batteries until they are completely dead can cause the keypad to enter a low-power error loop that drains the last bit of power quickly. Replace batteries when the August app warns of low keypad battery, not when the keypad stops working entirely. If the keypad is completely dead, it may take a minute to reconnect to the lock after inserting fresh batteries — this is normal startup behaviour.

Quick Solutions

Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.

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.

How Does August Home Compare?

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