August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro - Built-In Wi-Fi, No Bridge Required

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro -- Overview

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro is a retrofit smart deadbolt that mounts on the interior side of your existing door, replacing the thumb turn on your current deadbolt. Your existing exterior hardware -- keys, cylinder, strike plate -- stays in place. The upgrade is entirely interior, which means your door's exterior looks unchanged and standard keys continue to work.

This review covers the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro (ASL-05), the model with Wi-Fi built in. August also makes Wi-Fi-less versions that require the separate August Connect bridge for remote access. If you're buying new, the Pro with built-in Wi-Fi is the version worth getting.

What Makes the Pro Different

The built-in Wi-Fi is the core feature that separates the Smart Lock Pro from earlier August models. Previous generations required the August Connect bridge -- a separate $40-70 device plugged into a wall outlet near the door. The Pro eliminates that requirement. Wi-Fi connects directly on 2.4 GHz, and remote access works out of the box through the August app.

DoorSense is included. The small magnetic sensor attaches to the door frame and detects whether the door is physically closed. This is independent of deadbolt position -- a door can be closed and unlocked, or a door can have the deadbolt thrown while slightly ajar. DoorSense tracks actual door position and shows it in the app.

Key Specs at a Glance

• Retrofit design: fits over existing deadbolt thumb turn, no door modification required
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz built in, plus Bluetooth for proximity use
• Voice control: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri via HomeKit
• Platform support: Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Google Home, Alexa
• Battery: 4x AA (approximately 6 months typical use)
• DoorSense: door open/closed detection included
• Price: around $149-229 USD

Installation

August's retrofit approach fits most standard American deadbolts -- the lock clamps over the existing interior thumb turn using included adapters. August ships adapters for the most common thumb turn sizes, and the August app walks through the process step by step. Most installations finish in 10-15 minutes with a screwdriver.

The Wi-Fi setup runs through the August app during installation. The lock pairs via Bluetooth first for proximity setup, then connects to your 2.4 GHz network. 5 GHz is not supported, which is standard for battery-powered smart home devices.

Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock

Auto-Lock engages the deadbolt after a configurable delay -- 30 seconds to 30 minutes. Combined with DoorSense, the lock only auto-locks when the door is fully closed. This is a practical safety detail: a door left cracked open won't throw the deadbolt partway.

Auto-Unlock uses your phone's location to unlock the door as you arrive home. It works on geofencing, not continuous GPS tracking -- the app detects when your phone crosses the boundary and prepares to unlock. The actual unlock happens when the lock detects your phone via Bluetooth at close range. This two-step approach reduces false unlocks from driving past your house.

App and Access Management

The August app handles all lock management: lock and unlock remotely, view access history, create virtual keys for guests, and set auto-lock schedules. Guest access is time-limited -- you can send keys valid for specific days and hours, which expire automatically. Access logs show every lock and unlock event with timestamp and who triggered it.

Alexa and Google Home control works for basic locking, unlocking, and status checks. Apple HomeKit provides the deepest integration for iOS households -- lock status in the Home app, Siri voice commands, and HomeKit automations that include the lock as a trigger or action. SmartThings integration allows the August lock to participate in SmartThings routines, connecting lock behavior to other compatible devices.

August Smart Lock Pro vs Other Retrofit Locks

The August Smart Lock Pro competes with Schlage Encode Plus (replaces the full deadbolt, built-in keypad), Yale Assure 2 (full replacement, keypad), and Kwikset Halo Touch (full replacement, fingerprint reader). August's advantage is the pure retrofit approach -- no exterior hardware change, existing keys always work, and renters can install and remove it without modifications.

The trade-off is that August adds smart features to whatever deadbolt you already have. If your existing deadbolt is a basic Grade 3 unit, you're adding Wi-Fi control to a basic lock. The full-replacement options from Schlage and Yale include higher-grade cylinders as part of the package.

Battery and Matter Support

The 4x AA battery configuration gives 6-12 months of life depending on how many events the lock processes and whether Bluetooth or Wi-Fi handles most communication. The lock defaults to Bluetooth for nearby operations, which uses less power than Wi-Fi requests.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro does not have Matter support in current firmware as of 2026. August has not published a Matter certification timeline for this model.

Summary

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro is a reliable retrofit smart lock for households that want remote access and smart home integration without replacing exterior door hardware. Built-in Wi-Fi removes the need for a separate bridge, DoorSense adds real door position awareness, and HomeKit plus Alexa support covers the main smart home ecosystems. At $149-229, it's a solid mid-tier choice for renters and homeowners who want smart lock features without drilling new holes or changing exterior appearance.