Why Won't My August Smart Lock Auto Unlock When I Get Home
- Phone revoked background location permission after OS update
- Bluetooth disabled or restricted in background
- Geofence zone too small for GPS accuracy
Problem Description
Your August auto-unlock stopped working. August blames phone settings but the real issue is usually GPS geofencing accuracy Bluetooth timing or background permissions your phone revoked after an OS update.
Symptoms
- Auto-unlock never triggers when arriving home
- Auto-unlock worked for months then stopped
- Lock unlocks hours after you arrived
- August app shows you as away when you are home
- Auto-unlock works on one phone but not the other
- Auto-unlock works sometimes but not consistently
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Phone revoked background location permission after OS update
- Bluetooth disabled or restricted in background
- Geofence zone too small for GPS accuracy
- August app killed by battery optimization
- Phone GPS accuracy poor near home
- Multiple phones causing geofence conflicts
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
Always-allow location means August tracks your location continuously using additional battery. Consider using auto-unlock on one household phone only.
Tools & Requirements
These tools will help you complete this fix.
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Screwdriver
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Step-by-Step Solution
Fix Location Permissions
On iPhone go to Settings then Privacy then Location Services then August and select Always. On Android go to Apps then August then Permissions then Location and select Allow All The Time. OS updates downgrade this to While Using breaking auto-unlock.
Disable Battery Optimization
On Android go to Battery then Battery Optimization then August and select Don't Optimize. On iPhone enable Background App Refresh for August. Samsung check Device Care then Battery then Background Usage Limits.
Check Bluetooth
Auto-unlock uses Bluetooth to confirm you are at the door. Ensure Bluetooth is always on. On iPhone check Settings then August then Bluetooth enabled. Some Android phones restrict background Bluetooth scanning.
Needed for this step
Door Latch Strike Plate, Stainless Steel Door L...
$7.49Recalibrate Geofence
In August app go to Lock Settings then Auto-Unlock then tap home address. Delete and re-add location. Walk 200 feet away then back to test. Geofence needs clear exit and re-entry to trigger.
Reinstall App
Delete and reinstall August app. Log in and set up auto-unlock fresh. Corrupted geofence data from months of use causes persistent failures no settings change fixes.
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.
Auto-unlock triggers once per departure-return cycle. Walking to mailbox may not trigger it because you never left the 200-meter geofence.
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.
- Phone revoked background location permission after OS update
- Bluetooth disabled or restricted in background
- Geofence zone too small for GPS accuracy
- August app killed by battery optimization
- Phone GPS accuracy poor near home
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
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.
