If your August Smart Lock shows "Unavailable," won't connect via Bluetooth or WiFi, or keeps going offline, this guide covers the most common causes and solutions from the community.
Understanding August Connectivity
August locks use two connection types:
- Bluetooth – Direct connection when you're within 5-7 feet of the lock. Always available.
- WiFi – For remote access from anywhere. Requires either a built-in WiFi radio (WiFi Smart Lock) or an August Connect bridge.
If you can control the lock when standing next to it but not remotely, the issue is WiFi/bridge related. If you can't connect at all, it's likely Bluetooth or battery related.
Check Battery Level First
Low batteries are the most common cause of connectivity problems. The lock may have enough power to turn the deadbolt but not enough to maintain a stable Bluetooth connection.
- Replace batteries every 6-12 months, even if they seem fine
- Use fresh alkaline AA batteries (not rechargeable)
- Don't mix old and new batteries
- Voltage sag under load can cause odd behavior even when batteries show "OK"
Bluetooth Connection Issues
Lock shows "Connecting..." indefinitely:
- Make sure you're within 5-7 feet of the lock
- Toggle Bluetooth off and on in your phone settings
- Force close the August app and reopen it
- Power cycle the lock by removing one battery for 10 seconds
Check app permissions:
- Ensure the August app has Bluetooth permission
- Enable Location Services for the August app (required for Bluetooth on most phones)
- On iPhone: Settings → August → Location → "Always" or "While Using"
- On Android: Settings → Apps → August → Permissions
Bluetooth interference:
Other Bluetooth devices, WiFi routers, or even USB 3.0 devices near the lock can cause interference. One user on the Ubiquiti Community reported "channel/frequency overlap interference between the lock, bridge, Bluetooth LE, and the WiFi" causing connection issues.
WiFi and Bridge Issues
August Connect Bridge offline:
If you use the August Connect bridge for remote access:
- Check the LED on the bridge:
- Solid green: Connected and working
- Blinking green: Connecting to WiFi
- Solid/blinking red: No connection or error
- Unplug the bridge, wait 10 seconds, plug back in
- Ensure the bridge is within 15-30 feet of both your router AND the lock
- The bridge only works on 2.4GHz WiFi (not 5GHz)
WiFi Smart Lock (built-in WiFi) offline:
- Check WiFi signal strength at the lock location
- The lock only supports 2.4GHz networks
- Power cycle by removing batteries for 30 seconds
- In the August app, try "Reconnect to WiFi" in lock settings
2.4GHz WiFi Requirement
August devices only work on 2.4GHz WiFi. If your router uses a combined SSID (same name for 2.4GHz and 5GHz), the lock may struggle to connect.
Solutions:
- Create a separate 2.4GHz-only SSID
- Disable band steering on your router
- If using mesh WiFi, ensure 2.4GHz is available at the lock's location
Mesh WiFi and UniFi Issues
Users with mesh networks (Eero, UniFi, Google WiFi) report more connectivity issues with August locks. The lock may struggle when roaming between access points.
One UniFi user reported their August Smart Lock (Gen 4) was "unable to keep a connection" due to mesh networking behavior.
Solutions for mesh networks:
- Lock the device to a single access point (if your mesh system supports this)
- Assign a static IP or DHCP reservation
- Place an access point near the door
- Disable client steering or fast roaming features
Firmware Updates
Outdated firmware can cause connectivity issues. The August app should update firmware automatically when connected via Bluetooth.
- Open the August app and connect to the lock via Bluetooth
- Go to Lock Settings → Firmware
- If an update is available, install it
- Stay near the lock during the update (can take 5-10 minutes)
Recalibrate the Lock
If the lock shows incorrect status (says locked when unlocked, or vice versa), recalibration may help:
- In the August app, go to Lock Settings
- Select "Calibrate Lock"
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing else works, a factory reset may resolve the issue:
- Remove the lock from your August app first
- Remove the batteries from the lock
- Press and hold the lock button while reinserting the batteries
- Continue holding for 10 seconds until the light flashes
- Set up the lock again as a new device
Auto-Unlock Not Working
If Auto-Unlock specifically isn't working:
- Ensure Location Services is set to "Always" for the August app
- Check that Auto-Unlock is enabled in lock settings
- You must leave the geofence area before Auto-Unlock will trigger on return
- Auto-Unlock has a cooldown period—it won't trigger multiple times in quick succession
Community Discussions
- Trouble Connecting to Lock – August Support
- August Smart Lock (Gen 4) unable to keep a connection – Ubiquiti Community
- August Connect is Offline – August Support
- August Smart Lock Troubleshooting – iFixit