Schlage Sense lock not responding on Homekit

I've got some good news for everyone hopefully. I had all the same problems reported by everyone on this issue. I've got an iPhone 6s Plus, and even installed the latest iOS 12.0.1 update. However, this didn't resolve the issue.

The resolution to the problem was to do a factory reset on the Schlage lock, and then reinstall the lock. This will take you about 60 minutes to complete from start to finish. You'll find the procedure for a factory reset from the Schlage site, specific to your model. My model was Schlage Sense SMART DEADBOLT.

Before you do a factory reset, you'll need the factory default codes for programming/activating the lock again. These codes are on the front of your Schlage Sense manual. If you don't have the manual, I believe they are also on the inside of the lock on a sticker; check the battery case that slips out. You'll need the:

• Programming code
• and either User Code A, or User Code B (default unlock codes)
• and the Setup Code

Steps to get things working again: (60 mins.)

1. Removed (deleted) the lock accessory from the Home app on my iPhone.
2. Check the Schlage Sense app; you shouldn't see a lock in the app anymore.
3. Close the Home app, and the Schlage Sense app.
4. Remove the cover from the lock, and disconnect the battery connection.
5. From the outside side of the door, hold down the Schlage button on the keypad, and connect the battery again. This will perform the reset.
6. You'll need to enter that factory default "programming code" now to activate the lock. It'll do it's lock/unlock thing, once or twice, and then stop - should be ready to connect to now.
7. Ok, now open your Schlage Sense app again, and click on the lock icon to connect to your lock. Select the Apple HomeKit option, and the Schlage Sense app will launch the iOS Home app for you to scan your Setup code from your manual (it's the sticker on the front of your manual with a little home icon and bar code)
8. After successfully connecting via the Home app, try locking and unlocking from your iPhone; hopefully this is working well - mine is working with no problems whatsoever (no more "not responding" status messages).
9. If you've made it successfully this far, you can go in and enter all your personal pin codes for the lock again, using the Schlage Sense app: click on the people icon, and you can enter your codes and descriptions for each.

Everything was working after this.

• I had to (there was a red badge notification) confirm the time zone setting in the Schlage Sense app.
• I also had to re-apply personal preferences again (such as auto-lock after 4 minutes).
• And I after I closed and re-opened the Schlage Sense app again (one more time, just to be sure), I was prompted to do a firmware update - which I decided to chance, and install - and everything is still working fine (this took another 20 minutes though).

Hope this helps most people out. Good luck everyone! If this fails to work, you're no worse off than you were, not being able to lock/unlock from your phone. You could still programmatically set your personal codes on the keypad - and continue to use your keypad to lock/unlock the door. But hopefully this helps most people, and saves some of you from thinking you'll need to buy a replacement lock.

I decided to get in touch with Apple care. Had an appointment for them to call me tonight, so over the last days I’ve been doing lots of troubleshooting to ensure I had an accurate picture of exactly how to reproduce the problem (i.e. out of BT range with iPhone, BT disabled on iPhone, measure BT signal around the house). After all my testing my best guess is that the iOS 12 update either turned down the gain on the BT antenna and it wasn’t as sensitive or removed some retries in the connectivity or more aggressively ignored weak signals for lock accessories.

in any case, before getting home today I updated my iPhone to 12.1.1 but that did not work. Before the Apple support people called, I had not yet updated AppleTV and verified the problem again. While speaking to Apple support I updated the ATV and promised to update them afterwards.

So, with tvOS 12.1.1 it seems like Apple has fixed the bug. After updating, I can access and control my Schlage Sense from anywhere in the house, with BT turned off on the iPhone and from 1KM away on cellular.

its not perfect, but it never was for me. My the signal from the Sense Is very weak near my ATV, so sometimes over the last 2 years it might not respond but it was intermittent. The bug in tvOS 12 completely shut down functionality and forced reliance on the iPhone being in BT range.

Now that Apple has corrected this I might also enable Home Hub on my iPads to improve the connectivity.

It’s working for me after I updated both of my Apple TVs to TV OS 12.1.1

As is my August lock, which I only realized after my Schlage locks weren’t working, was also not working in similar fashion.

This is also the email I got from Schlage today:

I’m so sorry you are having an issue with your Schlage product. Here is what I can tell you about the IOS update and your Sense lock. The IOS/tvOS 12.11 release from APPLE fixed the issue. Unfortunately we weren’t the only lock manufacturer impacted by this, however rest assured that it was corrected with the new iOS/tvOS release.

Schlage will continue to ensure that we put our resources working with Apple when they do have an issue upon release of their operating systems. While we can ensure our app works with upcoming Os’s we aren’t able to know ahead of time if there are bugs in the Apple Operating systems. With that said, this problem did not affect Schlage locks not paired to HomeKit.

From my experience, this is a Bluetooth issue and has nothing to do with Homekit. The Schlage Sense has a very short bluetooth range and if your AppleTv is too far away, you will experience connectivity issues. Take this test to confirm. Using your iPhone or iPad, turn off WiFi and cellular. Using Bluetooth alone stand 3 feet from your Schlage lock and confirm you can lock and unlock the door using the Schlage App. Walk 5 feet further and try again. If it works, walk 5 feet more and try again. Keep trying this until you can no longer connect to the Schlage app. This will determine the limit of your Bluetooth range. If your Apple TV is further than your known Bluetooth range, then you will have problems as your Schlage lock won’t be able to connect to your AppleTv. My solution was to move my Apple TV within my established Bluetooth range. It’s worked flawlessly ever since.

My Schlage Smart Sense lock stopped responding via wifi too, but after resetting (detach battery cap for 15sec), and rebooting iPhone X and iPad Air (hub) -- OK now. I am running thru ...

1. 4th Gen ATV on tvOS 12.1
2. iPhone X on ios 12.0.1 (wants me to upgrade to 12.1 now)
3. iPad Air on ios 11.4.1 (wants me to upgrade to 12)

Now I'm terrified to upgrade any device further, and risk losing my wifi connection to Smart Lock

I have experienced the same issue over the past several months finally decided to tackle this this morning! I am using an Apple 4th generation and a Schlage Sense Lock primarily using the Schlage Sense App to manage users and see the history. For the past 6 or more months I seemed to lose all remote accessibility to my lock and had to stand within 10 feet or so to control the lock. After looking at several posts I believe this has something to do with Apple's updates to iOS and/or tvOS on the AppleTV.

What I noticed on my iPhone was that within settings under my Apple ID I noticed that my Apple tV was listed. I deleted this and my Schlage Sense app started working again and was able to connect even though I was out of BlueTooth range. However if I tried to cast anything from my phone back to my appletv it added the AppleTV back in on my list of devices on my iphone under Apple ID.

What I wound up doing on my AppleTV to fix this issue (really a work around for now) was logging out of icloud, itunes and game center. All three of these use your Apple ID. I believe that iCloud is the culprit here.

1. Go to Settings>Accounts>
2. iCloud>logout
3. iTunes and App Store>Logout
4. Game Center>Logout

Once I did that my Schlage Sense magically reconnected. I just did this this morning so time will tell if this will continue to work but I believe Apple needs to address this issue and I believe it is tied to the iCloud account! I know this will not be ideal for everyone but in my situation it works.....

Good Luck

They absolutely fixed a problem with HomeKit, but that doesn't mean they fixed all of the problems. I would suggest that you try this:

1) Standing close to the lock, open the Schlage app on your iphone and allow it to connect.

2) Open your Home app and verify it shows the status of the lock and that you can control it.

3) Disable Bluetooth on your phone

4) verify whether lock status is still correctly show in Home app and whether you can control it.

If that fails, try temporarily moving the ATV to a closer outlet and testing again. Obviously moving it isn't a solution but it can tell you whether distance is the main problem.

Keep in mind that 10m is roughly 30 ft and Schlage claims 40ft as the approximate max range. My ATV is about the same distance away and at the best of times, they are periodically not reachable. The difference is that with the recently fixed bug, they would _never_ connect. With the tvOS 12.1.1 update, it's back to being _mostly_ reliably connected.

I have the Schalge lock in two locations each connected to HomeKit through AppleTv4. One works perfectly, while the other only works when I’m in Bluetooth range of the door lock. Tried everything suggested on this site but finally decided to move my Apple TV to within 6 feet of the door lock. Problem solved. I don’t think the Schlage Sense can achieve the advertised Bluetooth range. Shortening the range by moving the Apple TV did the trick.

Hi - Just had an update from Schlage Support:

Thanks for reaching out to Schlage Support! I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing problems with your remote use and for the delay in response. Apple has confirmed this is a known issue and are working to fix it. They are beta testing iOS 12.1.1 right now, and so far the results look promising. I'll let you know as soon as we hear more from them!

So looks like the fix will be sorted as soon as iSO 12.1.1 is passed beta testing.

Best
Tony

So when you ask Siri on your phone to “unlock” the door. The request is sent to your “hub”. The hub could be an Apple TV, an iPad (connected to power), or a HomePod.

The hub will then request the lock to perform the unlock operation.

If you could try to update your hub to 12.1.1 and let us know if that fixed the lock issue.

The phone being on 12.1.1 should have no impact on your lock.

I had the same exact issue, everything stated in these replies are temporary workarounds and not guaranteed to work. With the release of 12.1.2 my lock is fully functioning again. Not sure if a Schlage fix, an iOS update, or coincidence, but back to 100% reliable.

After downgrading Apple TV to TVos11, my schlage locks have been rock solid for the past few weeks. Turned off auto updates on Apple TV. Don’t plan on updating ever!

I solved the issue by updating the firmware of the Schlage Sense Lock. It seems they fixed now!

ATV was too far away to reach LOCK, so put the iPad in between (kitchen) and seemed to solve the issue to the back basement door lock used for Airbnb Apt entrance. Also nice to have the iPad screen for monitoring in kitchen.

I also have problem to command Siri on Apple Watch series 4 and iPhone to unlock or lock Schlage Sense. And here what I did try to work around it with Homekit Automation . My Philips Hue Light is installed at Entry Hall. I set 2 Automations as follows:

1- When the Entry Light turn on, Unlock Front Door

2- When the Front Door Unlocked, turn off Entry Light

So if I want to unlock the door, just say to Siri " Turn on Entry " and then right away, the Schalge Sense will unlock and the Entry light will turn on then off. Schalge Sense will automatic unlock after 30 seconds or more, depend on how you set.

If we try to tell Siri directly to unlock or lock the door, almost 80% it will fail .