# How to Use Auto-Unlock for iOS > January, 27, 2022 UPDATE: If you have experienced Auto-Unlock issues since the last iOS 15 release, please update your iPhone to iOS 15.3 (released Ja... Source: https://support.august.com/en_us/auto-unlock-for-ios-BkKgyDUkC_M Last updated: 2023-11-07T20:36:04.950Z Auto-Unlock is a feature that automatically unlocks your door when you arrive home, without having to reach for your phone or your keys. If you're an Android user, [this article](https://support.august.com/auto-unlock-for-android-ryNkvLkR_f) has more information about the Auto-Unlock feature. ## How does Auto-Unlock work? August uses two states to enable Auto-Unlock to function: **Home mode**, and **Away mode**. These modes indicate where Auto-Unlock thinks you are: at home, or away from home. When you are at home (in **Home mode**), Auto-Unlock is not actively doing anything. It is waiting until you leave home. ![at home](https://cdn.prod2.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f6cab56313fd9001af97923/9ab2f283440509049b0927c0ed73d386.png) When you approach your door, Auto-Unlock will unlock your door via Bluetooth. This means Auto-Unlock cannot operate your lock when you are away from home. ![leaving neighborhood](https://cdn.prod2.kustomerhostedcontent.com/media/5f6cab56313fd9001af97923/34e0a5544ad9cdf26c44c4444948e831.png) You are considered away from home when you leave your immediate neighborhood, which is about 200 meters, or a couple city blocks. It is only active when you return to your home area. ## How do I enable Auto-Unlock? To enabled Auto-Unlock: 1. Open the **August App** 2. From the Keychain, select the Home the lock is associated with 3. Navigate to **Settings**   and select the Lock from the **House Settings** 4. Go to **Auto-Unlock** 5. Toggle **Enabled Auto-Unlock** to **ON** PLEASE NOTE: You need to be within Bluetooth range of your lock to enable this feature. ## How do I optimize Auto-Unlock performance? **Leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned ON.** * Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be enabled to use the Auto-Unlock feature. Your phone uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to determine your location. If your location is not accurate, Auto-Unlock will not work correctly or at all. **Take advantage of the notifications.** * By default, Auto-Unlock will notify you when you enter Home and Away modes. This helps you to reliably predict Auto-Unlock’s behavior. It is recommended to leave these notifications enabled. * You will also be notified if there are any errors that would prevent Auto-Unlock from working properly. **For best results: Enter and exit your home through the door where your August Smart Lock is installed.** * If you enter through a door without Auto-Unlock enabled, the Auto-Unlock feature will still attempt to unlock the Smart Lock enabled door the next time it sees it. If you have a large house, this could be minutes or hours later. * If you have multiple August Smart Locks within your home in the August app, you will only have the option to enable Auto-Unlock for 1 Smart Lock. **Leave the August App running in the background - Do not force-quit it.** * Force quitting the August App will cause it to lose track of your Home or Away status. If this happens, the app will **not** try to Auto-Unlock your door as a safety precaution. **Do not power off your phone when you are away from home.** * Powering off your phone will cause the August App to lose track of your Home or Away status. If this happens, the app will **not** try to Auto-Unlock your door as a safety precaution. ## What is Home mode? Home mode Nothing happens automatically. ##### What does it mean? You are assumed to be at home, and Auto-Unlock is not actively doing anything. ##### How is it activated? **Automatically** You are placed in Home mode after Auto-Unlock successfully unlocks your door when returning home. **Manually** You can place yourself in Home mode by visiting Auto-Unlock Settings > Advanced Settings, and switching from Away mode to Home mode. **Errors** In cases where your state cannot be determined, Auto-Unlock may default back to Home mode. These cases include: * Your phone restarts * The August App was force-quit ## What is Away mode? Away mode Your phone will attempt to unlock your lock the next time you are near it. ##### What does it mean? You are assumed to have left home, as well as the area around your home. Auto-Unlock will listen for your lock’s Bluetooth signal, and attempt to unlock your door the next time you are within 10 – 15 feet (5 meters) of your lock. This listening does not use significant battery power. ##### How is it activated? **Automatically** You are placed in Away mode when your phone leaves the area around your home. This is typically about 200 meters away from your August Smart Lock, or a couple city blocks. **Manually** You can place yourself in Away mode by visiting Auto-Unlock Settings > Advanced Settings, and switching from Home mode to Away mode. * **PLEASE NOTE:** If you are standing near your August Smart Lock when manually entering Away mode, your lock should unlock within a few seconds. This is expected behavior, and will only happen because you are physically near your lock. This will not happen when you are away from home. **Errors** If you are automatically placed in Home mode because of an error, you will usually be given an option to re-enter Away mode. ## Troubleshooting Auto-Unlock ##### My door didn’t unlock when I expected it to **You may not have gone far enough away from home** * To enter Away mode, you must go further than 200 meters or a couple city blocks. Only then will Auto-Unlock attempt to unlock your door when you arrive home. * You can make sure Auto-Unlock tells you when you’re far enough away by enabling the notification. Auto-Unlock notification settings can be found in Lock Settings > Auto-Unlock. **Auto-Unlock may have reverted to Home mode because of an error** Most of these cases will send you a notification, with an option to correct the issue before you arrive home.  Causes include: * Your phone was restarted * The August app was force-quit * A communication error with your lock (e.g., Auto-Unlock timed out before you were able to enter the door) ##### My door unlocked when I didn’t expect it to * Auto-Unlock incorrectly thought you left home * If you have very poor Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. Your phone uses these to determine your current location. * The location of your lock is set incorrectly. You can change this in Auto-Unlock Settings > Advanced Settings. * Auto-Unlock didn’t see your lock when you came home * You entered through a door other than your Auto-Unlock enabled one. * Bluetooth on your phone was turned off when you came home. * Your lock’s batteries were very low. ### How does August use my location data? Your location data is only stored on your phone within the August App. August does not collect or store your data remotely, and has no way of looking at your location data. For more information, please see our [Privacy Policy](http://august.com/legal/privacy-policy/). ##### Related Products: * [Wi-Fi Smart Lock](https://august.com/products/august-wifi-smart-lock) * [Smart Lock Pro](https://august.com/products/august-smart-lock-pro-connect) * [August Smart Lock](https://august.com/products/august-smart-lock-connect) ## Related Articles ##### How Does Auto-Unlock Work? Auto-Unlock is one of the most popular and unique features for August Smart Lock users. Having your door automatically unlock without having to reach for...  [View more](https://support.august.com/how-does-auto-unlock-work--HJELxRwlB)   ##### How to Enable Auto-Lock The Auto-Lock feature enables your door to lock automatically after a predetermined amount of time (up to 30 minutes) has passed...  [View more](https://support.august.com/how-do-i-enable-auto-lock-BkICUL1ROG)   ##### How to Create, Modify, and Delete Smart Alerts Smart Alerts are sent as notifications and let you know about the activity of your Smart Lock. Many Smart Alerts appear in the Activity Feed...  [View more](https://support.august.com/smart-alerts-rJ8lkP81ROM)