The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock replaces only the inside thumb-turn of your deadbolt, so the outside of the door and your current keys stay exactly as they are. We check that your deadbolt is compatible and throws freely, fit the lock, set up Wi-Fi, DoorSense and auto-lock, add the keypad if you want codes, and can rekey the deadbolt in the same visit. Same day in most cases, countywide.
What you get
- Exterior hardware and existing keys unchanged, so HOA rules are satisfied
- Deadbolt compatibility and bolt alignment checked before we open the box
- Wi-Fi, DoorSense, auto-lock and guest access configured
- August Smart Keypad added for code entry on request
- Existing deadbolt rekeyed in the same visit
How the August retrofit works
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, now in its fourth generation, replaces only the thumb-turn on the inside of a single-cylinder deadbolt. We remove the interior turn piece, fit a mounting plate over the existing deadbolt tailpiece using one of the adapters in the box, and clip the August onto that plate. From the street, nothing changed: same deadbolt, same finish, same keys.
Inside, a motor now turns the bolt on command from the app, a schedule, auto-lock or the optional keypad, and you can still turn it by hand. Wi-Fi is built in, so there is no bridge to plug in, and it runs on two CR123 batteries. If you own the older third-generation August Smart Lock, it is Bluetooth only and needs the August Connect bridge for remote access; we install and pair that as well.
Will August fit your deadbolt?
August ships with adapters for the common tailpieces, so most standard single-cylinder deadbolts are fine.
| Works with | Needs a look first | Not compatible |
|---|---|---|
| Single-cylinder deadbolts from Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, Baldwin and most others | Unusually thick or thin doors | Double-cylinder deadbolts (key on both sides) |
| Wood, fiberglass and steel doors with the standard bore | A deadbolt so close to the knob that the August body may not clear it | Most mortise locks, common on older condo doors |
| Doors where the bolt already throws freely when closed | Oversized interior trim or an odd tailpiece | Doors with only a knob or lever latch and no deadbolt; single-sided, Medeco and Mul-T-Lock deadbolts |
Send a photo of both sides of the lock with your quote request and we will tell you which column you are in. In the last column, a full-replacement lock is the route; Schlage Encode vs Yale Assure vs Kwikset Halo compares the three we install most.
Need an August smart lock installed today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Alignment: the part that decides whether August works
Here is the test. Close the door and lock the deadbolt by hand. If you have to lift, push or pull the door to get the bolt home, an August on that door will jam, drain batteries and report itself as unlocked. A motor cannot muscle a rubbing bolt the way a hand can.
So every August install starts at the strike plate. We adjust or move the strike, deepen a shallow bolt pocket, replace short hinge screws with 3-inch ones on a sagging door, and trim weatherstripping that pushes the door out of line. Then the bolt glides, the August calibrates cleanly and the batteries last the way they should. Older wood doors in Hillcrest and Point Loma need this more often than newer condo doors, but we check every one. A lock already misbehaving gets the same treatment through our smart lock repair service.
The standard answer for HOA condos and renters
Most condo associations restrict changes to the exterior of the entry door, and many buildings want the building keyway left alone. August sidesteps all of that because the outside of the door is untouched. It is our usual recommendation in the towers of Downtown, the condo complexes of University City and buildings like the Coronado Shores in Coronado. Still check your association rules first; our HOA and condo lock rules guide explains what boards usually care about. If you want nothing visible on the inside either, the Level Bolt hides inside the door.
Renters get the same benefit. The landlord's deadbolt and key are unchanged, and when you move out we unclip the August, put the original thumb-turn back and you take the lock with you. More options are in renter-friendly smart locks in San Diego.
Setup: Wi-Fi, DoorSense, auto-unlock and the keypad
The install takes about twenty minutes; the setup is what makes it useful.
- Calibration. The lock learns how far the bolt travels on your door.
- Wi-Fi. August joins the 2.4 GHz band from the app. We check signal at the door, since a distant router is the usual reason a lock drops offline.
- DoorSense. A small sensor on the frame tells the lock whether the door is open or closed, so auto-lock never throws the bolt into open air.
- Auto-lock and auto-unlock. Delay set for your door, auto-unlock tested on your phone.
- Guests and assistants. Owner, family and guest access in the app, then Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home or SmartThings if you use them.
- August Smart Keypad. A separate Bluetooth keypad beside the door, so cleaners and guests use a code instead of a phone, our usual add-on for condo vacation rentals.
Rekey the deadbolt at the same visit
Because August leaves the deadbolt in place, it also leaves every existing key working. If you just bought the place, inherited a tenant's keys or have no idea who has copies, that is the hole in your new smart lock. The fix is a plain rekey of that deadbolt, which we do in the same visit while the interior side is already off.
Rekeying an August door is exactly what our smart lock rekey and reset service covers, and if the rest of the home is on the same keyway we can key everything alike at the same time. Kwikset SmartKey deadbolts are the quick version; Schlage and the others get new pins. Which locks can be rekeyed, brand by brand, is in can a smart lock be rekeyed.
August lock not working: the usual fixes
August problems sort into a short list.
- Jams or reports the wrong state. The bolt is rubbing. Test with the door open; if it works there, the door needs alignment, then a recalibration.
- Batteries draining fast. Same cause most of the time, or a lock at the edge of Wi-Fi range reconnecting all day. Use fresh CR123 cells.
- Lock turns without moving the bolt. The mounting plate has loosened or the tailpiece adapter is the wrong one. We reseat it.
- DoorSense says the door is ajar when it is closed. The sensor has shifted or needs recalibration.
- Offline. Router changed, 2.4 GHz band hidden, or a third-generation lock whose Connect bridge got unplugged.
Past that, book smart lock repair. Locked out with dead batteries? Your key still works, which is the quiet advantage of a retrofit, and what to do when a smart lock battery dies covers the rest.
August Smart Locks: common questions
Does the August Smart Lock replace my deadbolt?
No. It replaces only the thumb-turn on the inside of your existing single-cylinder deadbolt. The outside of the door, the cylinder and your keys stay exactly as they are. That is why it suits HOA condos and rentals, and why rekeying an August door means rekeying the deadbolt underneath it.
Is the August lock compatible with my Kwikset or Schlage deadbolt?
Almost certainly, yes. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock ships with adapters for Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, Baldwin and most other common deadbolt tailpieces. What it will not fit is a double-cylinder deadbolt with a key on both sides, most mortise locks, or a door with only a knob latch and no deadbolt.
Can I put an August lock on my HOA condo door?
Usually, because the exterior hardware does not change and the building key still works. Most HOA rules are about the outside appearance of the door and the common keyway, and August touches neither. Check your association rules anyway, and add the August keypad if you want code entry without changing the outside.
Can an August smart lock be rekeyed?
The August unit has no cylinder of its own, so what gets rekeyed is the deadbolt it sits on. We rekey that deadbolt like any other lock, which makes the old keys stop working, and we can match it to your other doors. Do it at install if you do not control every copy of the current key.
Does August have a keypad?
Yes, as a separate accessory. The August Smart Keypad is a small Bluetooth keypad mounted beside the door that lets guests, cleaners and kids enter a code instead of using a phone. We install and pair it with the lock in the same visit. Without it, entry is by phone, auto-unlock, voice assistant or your regular key.
Why does my August lock keep jamming or say the door is open?
A jam means the motor met resistance, which is nearly always a bolt rubbing the strike plate. Fix the door alignment, then recalibrate the lock. A false door-open reading is the DoorSense sensor out of position or out of calibration, which is a quick adjustment. Both are common after a wood door swells in the rainy season.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- HOA and Condo Lock Rules in San Diego: What You Can Change – Which locks a San Diego condo owner controls, what the HOA can restrict, how to get a smart lock approved, and what fire-rated doors mean for your options.
- Renter-Friendly Smart Locks That Keep Your Landlord's Key – Smart locks renters can install without changing the landlord's lock or key, how to get the landlord's yes, apartment install gotchas and a move-out plan.
- Can a Smart Lock Be Rekeyed? Brand-by-Brand Answer – Most smart locks have a key override that can be rekeyed like any lock. The answer for Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly.
- August vs Level Bolt: The Two Locks That Keep Your Keys – August Wi-Fi Smart Lock or Level Bolt? Both keep your exterior deadbolt and keys. How they differ on Wi-Fi, keypad, batteries, fit, HOA rules and price.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.