How to Fix August Smart Lock Not Connecting to WiFi?

How to Fix August Smart Lock Not Connecting to WiFi

The August Smart Lock relies on the August Connect WiFi Bridge to maintain a WiFi connection since the lock itself communicates only through Bluetooth. When your August Smart Lock stops connecting to WiFi, you lose remote access, auto-lock and unlock features, and the ability to check lock status from outside your home. The good news is that most WiFi connectivity issues are easy to fix.

1. Check the August Connect WiFi Bridge

The August Smart Lock does not connect to WiFi directly. It uses the August Connect WiFi Bridge as a middleman. If the bridge has issues, the lock appears offline.

Step 1: Locate your August Connect WiFi Bridge which should be plugged into a power outlet within 5 feet of the lock.

Step 2: Check the LED light on the bridge. A solid green light means it is connected and working. A blinking or yellow light means it has lost connection.

Step 3: Unplug the bridge from the power outlet, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait 2 minutes for it to fully reconnect. The LED should turn solid green.

2. Restart the August Smart Lock

A simple restart of the lock can fix temporary Bluetooth communication issues between the lock and the WiFi bridge.

Step 1: Open the August app on your phone and go to the lock settings.

Step 2: Tap Restart Lock. The lock will cycle its motor and reboot its Bluetooth module.

Step 3: If you cannot access the lock through the app, remove the batteries from the lock for 10 seconds and reinsert them. This forces a hard restart.

3. Move the WiFi Bridge Closer to the Lock

The August Connect WiFi Bridge needs to be within Bluetooth range of the lock to relay data to your WiFi network. Bluetooth range is limited to about 10 to 15 feet through walls.

Step 1: Make sure the bridge is plugged into an outlet within 5 feet of the lock with no thick walls or metal doors between them.

Step 2: Avoid placing the bridge behind furniture or inside cabinets as this blocks the Bluetooth signal.

Step 3: The bridge also needs strong WiFi signal at its location. If it is too far from your router, the bridge may connect to the lock fine but fail to reach your WiFi network.

4. Check Your WiFi Router Settings

The August Connect WiFi Bridge only supports 2.4GHz WiFi networks. If your router settings are not compatible, the bridge will fail to connect.

Step 1: Log into your router admin panel and make sure the 2.4GHz band is enabled. If your router combines 2.4GHz and 5GHz under one network name, the bridge may accidentally try to connect to 5GHz and fail.

Step 2: Create a separate 2.4GHz network with a distinct name and connect the August bridge to that network specifically.

Step 3: Check that your router does not have MAC address filtering enabled. If it does, add the August bridge MAC address to the allowed list.

Step 4: Disable AP isolation or Client isolation on your router as this prevents devices on the same network from communicating with each other.

5. Update August Lock Firmware

Outdated firmware on the lock or bridge can cause connectivity issues that August has already fixed in newer versions.

Step 1: Open the August app and go to Lock Settings then Firmware Update.

Step 2: If an update is available, tap Update Now. Stay within Bluetooth range of the lock during the update which can take 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3: Also check if the August Connect bridge has a firmware update available in the app under Bridge Settings.

6. Re-setup the WiFi Bridge

If the bridge keeps losing connection, removing it from your account and setting it up again can fix persistent pairing issues.

Step 1: In the August app, go to Lock Settings then August Connect then Remove Bridge.

Step 2: Unplug the bridge and wait 30 seconds.

Step 3: Plug it back in and go to Set Up Device in the August app. Follow the guided setup to pair the bridge with your lock and connect it to your WiFi network.

7. Replace the Lock Batteries

Low battery power is a common but often overlooked cause of WiFi connectivity issues. When the batteries are low, the lock reduces its Bluetooth transmission power to conserve energy, which can break the connection with the WiFi bridge.

Step 1: Check the battery level in the August app under Lock Settings.

Step 2: If the battery is below 30 percent, replace all four AA batteries with fresh ones. Use quality alkaline or lithium batteries for best performance.

Step 3: After replacing batteries, wait a minute for the lock to reconnect to the bridge and test the WiFi connection by locking and unlocking from outside Bluetooth range using the app.

August Smart Lock WiFi FAQ

Q1. Does the August Smart Lock work without WiFi?

Ans: Yes, the August Smart Lock works without WiFi but with limited functionality. Without WiFi you can still lock and unlock the door using Bluetooth from your phone when you are within 10 to 15 feet of the lock. You can also use the physical key or the auto-lock feature. However, you lose remote access from outside your home, remote lock and unlock, guest access management from a distance, activity log syncing, and integration with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home. The WiFi connection through the August Connect bridge is what enables all remote features.

Q2. How far can the August Connect WiFi Bridge be from the lock?

Ans: The August Connect WiFi Bridge should be within 5 to 10 feet of the lock for the most reliable Bluetooth connection. The maximum theoretical Bluetooth range is about 30 feet in open air, but walls, doors, and other obstacles reduce this significantly. Metal doors and concrete walls can cut the range to just 5 feet. For best results, plug the bridge into the closest power outlet to your front door. If the nearest outlet is more than 10 feet away, use a short extension cord to position the bridge closer to the lock.

Q3. Can I use a WiFi extender to improve August Smart Lock connectivity?

Ans: A WiFi extender can help if the problem is weak WiFi signal at the bridge location, but it will not help if the issue is Bluetooth range between the lock and bridge. The August Connect bridge needs both strong Bluetooth connection to the lock and strong WiFi signal to your router. If your router is far from the front door, placing a WiFi extender near the bridge can improve the WiFi side of the connection. Make sure the extender broadcasts on 2.4GHz since the bridge does not support 5GHz. However, extenders can add latency so a mesh WiFi system is a better long-term solution if you have WiFi dead zones near your front door.