Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad: Keyless Entry Without the Cloud Subscription

The August Smart Lock, sold here in a Yale-branded bundle with a touch keypad and fingerprint scanner, is aimed at renters and homeowners who want keyless entry on an existing deadbolt rather than a full lockset replacement. This review covers what the hardware does, how the keypad and fingerprint reader change the daily routine, and where the kit asks for patience. Readers weighing a retrofit smart lock against a full replacement should finish with a clear answer.

Features and Specifications

Type: Retrofit smart lock with external keypad
Brand: Yale / August
Finish: Black
Entry Methods: Touch digital keypad, fingerprint scanner, app control, Wi-Fi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Mounting: Fits over an existing deadbolt, interior side
Keypad Placement: Exterior, separate from the lock body

The bundle pairs two pieces of hardware. The August lock body replaces the interior thumb turn on a standard deadbolt, leaving the exterior key cylinder untouched. The Yale keypad mounts outside the door and carries both the touch digits and the fingerprint reader.

That split design matters more than any single spec. Buyers keep their existing keys as a fallback, which is the main reason this category exists at all.

Build and Mounting

Because the lock body sits on the inside of the door, the exterior hardware stays visually unchanged apart from the keypad. That suits apartments, rentals and older doors where drilling a new bore hole is not an option.

The black finish on the keypad is a matte plastic housing rather than metal, which is typical at this price tier. It reads as tidy on a dark door and less so on a bright painted one.

Installation is a screwdriver job: the interior adapter plate swaps for the existing thumb turn, and the keypad attaches with adhesive or screws depending on the door surface. Buyers with unusually thick doors or non-standard deadbolts should check compatibility before ordering, since retrofit kits are fussier about cylinder shape than full replacements.

Entry Methods and Daily Use

Three ways in, ranked by how often they get used. The fingerprint scanner is the fastest — a thumb on the reader and the door opens without a phone or a code. The keypad covers guests, cleaners and anyone whose fingerprint will not register on a cold morning.

The app handles everything else: issuing temporary codes, checking whether the door is locked, and unlocking remotely over Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi radio is built in here rather than sold as a separate bridge, which is the single biggest convenience upgrade in this bundle compared with older August hardware.

The catch is that every one of those methods depends on batteries inside the lock body. There is no wired power option.

Power and Reliability

Retrofit locks run on disposable batteries, and this one is no exception. The app reports battery level, and a low-battery warning arrives before the lock gives up — but the warning only helps if the app is checked.

The exterior key cylinder remains the backstop. That is the strongest argument for this design over a keyless-only deadbolt: a dead battery is an inconvenience, not a lockout.

Wi-Fi is the other reliability variable. A door at the far end of a house from the router will drop remote commands before it drops local keypad entry, so buyers planning to rely on remote unlock should confirm signal strength at the door first.

Maintenance and Long-Term Ownership

Upkeep is limited to batteries and occasional firmware updates pushed through the app. The fingerprint reader needs a wipe now and then; a dirty sensor is the usual cause of a refused print.

There is no rekeying involved because the original cylinder stays in place. Moving out means removing the adapter plate and refitting the old thumb turn, which takes minutes.

Buyers who dislike app-dependent hardware should note that account setup and a phone are part of the initial configuration. The lock works at the keypad without the phone afterwards, but the first install is not offline.

Trade-off: The retrofit design keeps installation simple and preserves existing keys, but it inherits the door’s deadbolt and adds a battery dependency that a hardwired lockset never has.

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Who Should Buy the August Smart Lock

The clearest fit is a renter or a homeowner with a standard deadbolt who wants keyless entry without replacing the door hardware. Installation is reversible, the exterior stays familiar, and the existing key still works.

It also suits households where people arrive at different times. Temporary codes for a dog walker or a contractor, plus a fingerprint for family members, covers most of what a smart lock is actually for.

It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants a fully integrated lockset with a matched exterior finish, or who has a door that is already wired for power. A full replacement handles those cases better.

Buyers on a tight budget should also weigh the keypad. The lock body alone does the app and auto-unlock job; the keypad and fingerprint reader are what push this bundle up the price ladder, and they are worth it only if code and print entry will genuinely be used.

FAQ

1. Does the August Smart Lock work with an existing deadbolt?
   Yes. The lock body replaces the interior thumb turn and keeps the original exterior key cylinder, so existing keys continue to work.

2. Does this bundle include Wi-Fi or need a separate bridge?
   Wi-Fi is built into the lock, so no separate bridge is required for remote access through the app.

3. Can the August Smart Lock be used without a phone?
   Entry works at the keypad and fingerprint reader without a phone present. A phone and the app are needed for initial setup and for managing codes.

4. What happens when the batteries die?
   The app reports battery level and warns before the lock fails. The original key still opens the door from outside as a fallback.

5. Is the keypad weatherproof enough for an exterior door?
   The keypad is designed for exterior mounting, but buyers in extreme climates should expect shorter keypad life than on a sheltered porch.

6. Can temporary access be given to guests?
   Yes. Temporary and scheduled codes can be issued through the app and revoked when the visit ends.

7. Does the fingerprint scanner work for everyone?
   Fingerprint readers generally struggle with very worn prints, cold or wet hands, and some elderly users. The keypad and app cover those cases.

8. Will it fit a door with a non-standard deadbolt?
   Retrofit kits are sensitive to cylinder shape and door thickness. Compatibility should be confirmed against the manufacturer’s list before ordering.

9. Does the lock work with voice assistants?
   The lock integrates with the major smart home platforms through the app, so voice control depends on which ecosystem the household already runs.

10. Is a subscription required?
    Core entry, codes and remote access work without a subscription. Optional cloud features are separate from basic operation.

Bottom Line

The Yale August Wi-Fi Smart Lock with Keypad is the sensible pick for a renter or standard-deadbolt owner who wants fingerprint and code entry without touching the exterior hardware or paying for a bridge. The built-in Wi-Fi and the preserved key cylinder are the two features that carry the bundle; the plastic keypad housing and the battery dependency are the price of the retrofit format. Buyers who want a matched, hardwired lockset should look at a full replacement instead.