Quick Summary An August smart lock that locks and unlocks fine from the keypad but fails when controlled remotely from the app is almost always a Wi-Fi bridge…
Quick Summary
An August smart lock that locks and unlocks fine from the keypad but fails when controlled remotely from the app is almost always a Wi-Fi bridge issue, not a lock issue. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock has a built-in bridge; older August locks (Pro, 3rd Gen) require a separate August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. This guide covers both.
How August Remote Access Works
For locks without built-in Wi-Fi, the August Connect Bridge must be plugged in within Bluetooth range of the lock (typically the same room or adjacent room). The bridge acts as a relay between your Wi-Fi network and the lock’s Bluetooth radio.
Step 1: Check the August Connect Bridge (Older Locks)
If you have an August Pro or 3rd Gen lock, check the bridge first. Locate the August Connect Bridge (a small white plug that goes into a wall outlet). Check the LED on the bridge: solid green = connected and working; flashing green = connecting; amber = no internet; no light = no power. If the LED is amber or off: unplug the bridge, wait 10 seconds, plug back in. Wait 60 seconds for it to reconnect. Ensure the bridge is within 10 feet of the lock with no more than one wall between them. Bluetooth range is limited, especially through thick walls or metal doors. In the August app → Lock Settings → August Connect → check bridge status. If it shows "Not Connected", tap Reconnect.
Step 2: Check Wi-Fi for Built-In Wi-Fi Locks (4th Gen)
For the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen), the lock connects directly to your Wi-Fi router. August app → tap the lock → Lock Settings → Wi-Fi → check connection status. If disconnected: tap Reconnect to Wi-Fi and follow the prompts. You will need your Wi-Fi password. Ensure your router’s 2.4 GHz band is active. August Wi-Fi locks only support 2.4 GHz — they do not connect to 5 GHz networks. If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password or router: you must reconnect the lock to the new network via the app.
Step 3: Check the August App and Account
App and account issues can prevent remote commands from reaching the lock even when the bridge is online. Force-close the August app completely and reopen it. Pull down to refresh the lock status on the main screen. If the lock shows a grey icon or "Last seen X hours ago", it is offline. Log out of the August app (Account → Log Out) and log back in. This refreshes your authentication token. Check August’s service status at august.com/status for any active outages affecting remote access.
Step 4: Check Your Home Wi-Fi Network
The bridge (or the lock itself) must maintain a stable Wi-Fi connection for remote access to work. Restart your Wi-Fi router: unplug it for 30 seconds and plug back in. Wait 2 minutes for it to fully restart. Check that your router is not blocking IoT devices. Some routers have an "IoT isolation" or "AP isolation" setting that prevents devices from communicating with the internet. Disable this for the August bridge or lock. If your router uses MAC address filtering: ensure the August bridge’s MAC address is on the allowed list. The MAC address is printed on the bridge. Check that your internet connection is working. The August cloud requires internet access for remote commands.
Step 5: Re-pair the August Connect Bridge
If the bridge is online but remote access still fails, re-pair the bridge to the lock. August app → Lock Settings → August Connect → Remove August Connect. Unplug the bridge, wait 10 seconds, plug back in. August app → Lock Settings → August Connect → Add August Connect → follow the setup prompts. During setup, ensure your phone is within Bluetooth range of both the bridge and the lock.
Step 6: Check DoorSense and Lock Calibration
If the lock reports "door open" when it is closed, it may refuse to lock remotely as a safety feature. August app → Lock Settings → DoorSense → check if the door is reported as open or closed. If DoorSense shows open when the door is closed: the DoorSense magnet is misaligned. The magnet (on the door frame) must be within 1 cm of the DoorSense sensor (on the lock body). Adjust and recalibrate. To recalibrate DoorSense: Lock Settings → DoorSense → Calibrate.
Step 7: Factory Reset the Lock
If remote access still fails after all other steps, perform a factory reset. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: hold the setup button on the back of the lock for 10 seconds until the LED flashes red. August Smart Lock Pro: hold the setup button for 10 seconds. After reset, re-add the lock in the August app (+ → Set Up a Device → Locks) and reconnect the bridge. Note: a factory reset removes all access codes, users, and settings. You will need to re-invite any shared users.