Why Does My August Smart Lock Keep Unlocking by Itself When I Walk Past
- Auto-unlock geofence too large
- Phone GPS drifting while inside home
- Multiple phones with auto-unlock enabled
Problem Description
Your August smart lock auto-unlocks when you walk past the door inside your home or when you are nearby but not approaching the door. The auto-unlock feature uses your phone Bluetooth and GPS to detect when you arrive home and unlocks the door. But the geofence detection is imprecise and triggers from inside the home or from the driveway when you are not going to the door.
Symptoms
- Door unlocks when walking past inside the house
- Auto-unlock triggers from backyard or garage
- Lock unlocks multiple times after arriving home
- Auto-unlock activates when phone GPS drifts
- Lock unlocks when you did not approach the door
- Neighbor or family member phones trigger unlock
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Auto-unlock geofence too large
- Phone GPS drifting while inside home
- Multiple phones with auto-unlock enabled
- Bluetooth range reaching through walls
- Auto-unlock re-triggering after brief GPS drift
- Phone background app refresh disabled preventing proper location tracking
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
False auto-unlocks are a real security risk. Your door could be unlocked for minutes or hours without you knowing. If you cannot resolve false triggers disable auto-unlock for safety.
Tools & Requirements
These tools will help you complete this fix.
Door alignment tool
Door Latch Strike Plate, Stainless Steel Door Lock P...
Replacement batteries
Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries, Long Lastin...
Screwdriver
STREBITO 155 in 1 Electric Screwdriver Set, Small El...
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Step-by-Step Solution
Recalibrate Auto-Unlock
In the August app go to lock settings then Auto-Unlock. Tap Recalibrate. Walk at least 200 feet away from your home then walk back toward the front door. This resets the geofence boundary. A properly calibrated geofence only triggers when you approach from outside the boundary not from inside your home.
Needed for this step
Door Latch Strike Plate, Stainless Steel Door L...
$7.49Check DoorSense
DoorSense tells the lock whether the door is open or closed. If DoorSense is not working the lock does not know the door is already closed and you are inside. It may auto-unlock thinking you are arriving. In lock settings check that DoorSense shows closed when the door is shut. Recalibrate DoorSense if it reads incorrectly.
Limit Auto-Unlock Users
In Auto-Unlock settings check which phones have auto-unlock enabled. Each phone with auto-unlock can trigger the lock independently. If a family member walks by the door with their phone the lock may unlock. Disable auto-unlock on phones that do not need it.
Enable Background App Refresh
Auto-unlock requires the August app to track your location in the background. On iPhone go to Settings then August then Location and set to Always. Also enable Background App Refresh. Without these permissions the app cannot properly track when you leave and return causing incorrect unlock triggers.
Consider Disabling Auto-Unlock
If false unlocks persist disable auto-unlock entirely. Use the August app manual unlock button the keypad or Apple Watch to unlock instead. Manual control is more reliable and eliminates all phantom unlock issues. Auto-unlock is convenient when it works but unreliable geofencing makes it a security concern.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
If the keypad rejects valid codes, a lockout timer may be running — five failed entries locks most keypads silently for 5–10 minutes.
If you keep auto-unlock enabled set your lock to auto-lock after 30 seconds. This way even if it falsely unlocks the door re-locks quickly minimizing the security gap.
Most smart lock failures people label as hardware issues turn out to be a code wiped during a sync, or a setting reset nobody remembers triggering.
- Auto-unlock geofence too large
- Phone GPS drifting while inside home
- Multiple phones with auto-unlock enabled
- Bluetooth range reaching through walls
- Auto-unlock re-triggering after brief GPS drift
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
Most popular upgrades chosen by August Smart Lock owners.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Official Manufacturer Manual
If you need the complete manufacturer documentation for advanced setup, wiring diagrams, or detailed specifications, you can download the official manual below. The manual includes full technical instructions directly from the manufacturer and may help if your issue requires deeper troubleshooting.
Download the Official August Smart Lock ManualSource: 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.
How Does August Home Compare?
Before replacing your August Home device, see how it stacks up against alternatives in our full comparison guides.
