If your August Smart Lock notifications are not working, the problem is usually a setting, connection issue, or app permission rather than a dead lock.
This guide shows the most common causes and the exact checks that restore alerts.
What August Smart Lock notifications should do
August Smart Lock notifications typically alert you when the lock is unlocked, locked, jammed, low on battery, or disconnected.
Depending on your setup, these alerts may come through the August app, your phone’s push notification system, or a connected platform such as Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa.
When alerts stop, the issue can affect one event or all event types.
That distinction matters because a missing “unlocked” alert often points to permission or automation settings, while all missing alerts can point to connectivity or account sync problems.
Why August smart lock notifications stop working
The most common causes are straightforward and often overlap.
In many cases, more than one setting is blocking notifications at the same time.
- Push notifications are disabled for the August app.
- Phone-level notification permissions are off.
- Battery saver or Focus modes are suppressing alerts.
- The lock has weak Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or bridge connectivity.
- The August app is signed into the wrong account or has stale data.
- Firmware or app updates are pending.
- Smart home integrations are not synced properly.
- Notification rules were changed inside the app.
Check notification permissions on your phone
Start with the operating system, because the app cannot send alerts if the phone blocks them.
This is the fastest fix for many users experiencing August smart lock notifications not working.
On iPhone
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Select the August app.
- Turn on Allow Notifications.
- Enable Lock Screen, Notification Center, and Banners.
- Make sure Sounds is enabled if you want audible alerts.
Also check Focus modes, including Do Not Disturb, Sleep, and Work.
These can quietly suppress push notifications even when everything else is correct.
On Android
- Go to Settings and open Apps.
- Find August and tap Notifications.
- Make sure notifications are allowed for all relevant categories.
- Check Battery or App battery usage settings and remove restrictions if needed.
Some Android devices from Samsung, Google, and OnePlus apply aggressive battery optimization by default.
If the August app is restricted, notifications may arrive late or not at all.
Review in-app notification settings
Inside the August app, notification options may be disabled for specific events or devices.
If your phone permissions are correct, open the app and inspect the alert settings carefully.
- Confirm notifications are enabled for the specific lock.
- Check whether lock activity alerts are turned off.
- Review user-specific settings if multiple people share the lock.
- Look for automation or smart alerts that may have been paused.
If you have more than one August device, test each lock separately.
One lock may be configured correctly while another has notification rules turned off.
Confirm the lock is online and communicating
Notifications depend on the lock reaching August’s servers or your connected hub.
If the lock cannot communicate reliably, alerts may fail even if the phone settings are perfect.
Bluetooth connection issues
August smart locks use Bluetooth for nearby control.
If the owner phone is too far away or Bluetooth is disabled, app behavior can become inconsistent, especially for local events and status updates.
- Turn Bluetooth off and back on.
- Move closer to the lock and retest.
- Remove and re-add the lock in the app if pairing seems unstable.
Wi-Fi bridge or Connect issues
If you use an August Connect bridge or a built-in Wi-Fi feature, confirm the bridge is powered on and connected to the network.
A bridge that is offline can stop remote notifications, especially when you are away from home.
- Check the bridge LEDs or status in the app.
- Restart the router and the bridge.
- Move the bridge closer to the lock if signal quality is poor.
- Verify your home network is on a stable 2.4 GHz band if the bridge requires it.
Update the August app and lock firmware
Old app versions or outdated firmware can cause notification failures, sync errors, and unstable behavior.
Update both the phone app and the lock software before trying more advanced troubleshooting.
- Open the App Store or Google Play and install the latest August app version.
- In the August app, check for lock firmware updates.
- Keep the phone OS updated as well, since notification systems change with iOS and Android releases.
After updating, force close the app and reopen it.
This refreshes the notification token and can restore push delivery.
Sign out and sign back in to refresh account sync
Account sync issues can interrupt push delivery, especially after a password change, phone migration, or app reinstall.
Signing out and back in often clears stale session data.
- Note your login details before you sign out.
- Log out of the August app.
- Restart the phone.
- Sign back in and verify the lock appears normally.
If you share access with family members or renters, confirm the correct user account is receiving alerts.
A secondary account may have a different notification profile or no alert permissions at all.
Check smart home integrations
If you rely on Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, or IFTTT, the issue may not be August itself.
Integration layers can break notification routing if permissions expire or the service loses sync.
- Reauthorize the August skill or integration.
- Check whether the automation trigger is still active.
- Verify the correct home, room, or device group is selected.
- Look for duplicate automations that conflict with one another.
For example, if you created a routine that only sends alerts when the lock is accessed by a specific user, other unlock events may be intentionally silent.
Rule out battery and hardware problems
Low battery does not always stop notifications immediately, but it can cause the lock to disconnect, delay updates, or behave erratically.
If you have not changed the batteries recently, replace them with fresh high-quality alkaline batteries.
- Replace all batteries at the same time.
- Avoid mixing old and new batteries.
- Check whether the lock reports low battery warnings in the app.
- Inspect the lock for alignment issues or binding hardware.
A misaligned deadbolt or stiff door can create repeated lock and unlock events that look like notification failures when the real issue is mechanical instability.
Reset the app cache or reinstall if nothing else works
If notifications still fail after permissions, connectivity, and updates are checked, reinstalling the app can remove corrupted local data.
This is especially useful after a major iOS or Android update.
- Delete the August app.
- Restart the phone.
- Install the app again from the official store.
- Sign in and reconnect the lock if prompted.
On Android, clearing the app cache can help before a full reinstall.
On iPhone, reinstalling is usually the more effective option because iOS does not offer the same cache controls.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
- Turn on August app notifications in phone settings.
- Disable Focus, Do Not Disturb, or battery restrictions.
- Check in-app alert settings for each lock.
- Confirm Bluetooth, Wi-Fi bridge, or Connect status.
- Update the August app and lock firmware.
- Sign out and back in to refresh sync.
- Recheck integrations with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home.
- Replace weak batteries and inspect the lock hardware.
When to contact August support
If the app is updated, permissions are correct, the lock is online, and notifications still do not arrive, the issue may involve account-level provisioning or device-specific hardware failure.
Contact August support with the lock model, phone model, operating system version, and a list of steps already tried.
Include whether the problem affects one notification type or all of them, because that detail helps support determine whether the issue is app-related, integration-related, or tied to the lock itself.
