In what ways can you open a smart door lock?

You can open every smart door lock with your smartphone. You can do this via the accompanying app. Connect your smartphone to the lock via Bluetooth or WiFi. Via Bluetooth, the lock only opens when you're close to it. The advantage of a smart lock with WiFi is that you can control it from anywhere. That way, you can let someone in when you're not home yet. Some door locks have built-in WiFi, but you usually need an extra internet bridge for this.

Some smart door locks have a scanner that you can use to open the lock with your fingerprint. These scanners works in the same way as that of your smartphone. With such a scanner, you don't need a smartphone to open the door. A smart door lock with this function is useful if you have young children, for example. This way, they can easily come back in when they're done playing outside.

A door lock with a PIN code has a separate code panel or a built-in button. Via the smartphone app, you can set up codes. That way, everyone with the code can open the lock. You can set up if a code works temporarily or always. A temporary code is useful when you have home help coming by, like a cleaner or babysitter. Set up that the code only works on Monday afternoon, for example. For most smart locks, you can set over 100 different codes.

When you share your locations with your smart door lock, the door opens automatically when you're close to it. This is called geofencing. You don't have to take your smartphone out of your pocket or bag to open the door this way. You can set from which distance the lock opens for most door locks. That way, the lock doesn't open too quickly.

An extra key, tag, or remote connects to your smart door lock wirelessly. With a smart key, you open the lock manually just like you would with a regular key. You hold a tag against the lock, and you open the door with the press of a button with a remote. You can use extra devices like these when you forgot your smartphone or the battery is empty. It's also a useful way for people without a smartphone to open the door.