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Smart lock (August / Schlage Encode / Yale) — A Plain-English Guide

Published August 2026 · Last verified August 2026

Two Kinds of Smart LockKeep your deadbolt, or swap it for a keypad.Retrofit — Augustkeeps your keymotormounts insideReplace — Encode / Yalekeypad replaces the deadboltAugust mounts inside and keeps your key; Encode and Yale swap the whole deadbolt.Illustration — check your door's thickness and backset before buying.
Retrofit locks keep your existing key; keypad locks replace the deadbolt entirely.
Five Ways to UnlockThe same door opens more than one way.YourlockPhone appPhysical keyKeypad codeAuto-unlockVoice assistantIllustration — which methods you get depends on the model you choose.
One lock, several ways in. Which methods you get depends on the model you choose.

Smart locks let customers unlock doors via app, keypad code, or auto-unlock when phone arrives. August retrofits the existing deadbolt (you keep your key); Schlage Encode and Yale replace the whole deadbolt with a keypad.

Bill Davis
Bill's Home Tech · Atwater, Ohio
Want the full deep-dive?
Download the printable Smart lock guide
PDF · plain English · no ads · made by Bill
Brand
August (Yale), Schlage, Yale
Category
locks
Helpful App
Varies
Typical Price
$170-$280

Smart locks let customers unlock doors via app, keypad code, or auto-unlock when phone arrives. August retrofits the existing deadbolt (you keep your key); Schlage Encode and Yale replace the whole deadbolt with a keypad.

What's inside this guide

The printable PDF walks through 22 short chapters, in plain language. It also includes at-a-glance pictures.

  1. Why this guide — and why "smart" doesn't mean complicated
  2. The three brands compared — Schlage, Yale, August
  3. Anatomy — keypad, deadbolt, interior, batteries
  4. Replacement vs retrofit — which install is yours
  5. The mechanical key backup — keep it findable
  6. Setting your master code (and what NOT to use)
  7. Keypad codes for caregivers — Meals on Wheels, daughter, cleaner
  8. Schedule-restricted codes — "only Mon–Fri 10–2"
  9. Reading the access log — who unlocked when
  10. Auto-lock & auto-unlock — the 30-second rule
  11. Door-open alerts — when to enable, when to skip
  12. Pairing the lock to your Wi-Fi
  13. Sharing the lock with family (without giving away the keys)
  14. Lock from anywhere — what really matters
  15. Battery warnings & how long they really last
  16. When the lock won't unlock — the lockout flowchart
  17. The 9V emergency boost trick (for some models)
  18. "It says jammed" — the strike-plate fix
  19. Wi-Fi issues & bridge devices
  20. Door-knock "tech support" scams targeting seniors
  21. Glossary & when to call Bill
  22. Warranty, contact, and your Support Plan

Get the printable guide

Everything above is a quick summary. The full, printable guide — the same words, laid out to read and keep by the computer — is a free PDF.

Download the printable PDF →

Last verified August 2026. Information accurate as of October 18, 2026.

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✍️ Every guide researched, written, and reviewed by Bill — your local Portage County tech.

Any prices or outside products mentioned in this guide can change over time — the details here were last checked August 2026 and this page is accurate as of October 18, 2026; please confirm current pricing before you buy. See how often we review our guides →