How To: Create Schlage Lock User Codes

Smart locks are a great addition to any home. They combine flexibility and convenience with high quality security so you’re always in the loop on what’s happening back at the ranch. 

A great feature of the many Wink-compatible Schlage locks is the ability to create user codes. Say you’re going on vacation and need to provide the house sitter and dog walker access to your home. Or your family has a knack for losing their keys, rendering them stuck outside while you’re away at work. User codes are an easy way to grant or revoke access to whomever you choose, while eliminating a little stress along the way. 

User codes can be created directly from the lock’s keypad, or remotely through the Wink app. You can even set a reminder within Wink to delete a code if it was created for someone who only needs to get inside once - a babysitter, for example. 

Getting started is easy:

1. Go to the Locks screen and tap the arrow next to the lock to access the User Code Settings page. You will be asked to enter your Wink Account Password in order to proceed.

2. Select Add User Code to create a code of your preference. New user codes will have to be entered twice for verification. Note - all of the codes you create for a given lock must be the same length (4 digit minimum, 8 digit maximum). If you enter a new code that is longer or shorter than previous codes, those older ones will be deleted.

3. Next, add a name to the user code, along with an optional reminder (you can choose when it is sent) to delete the code if you wish to revoke access. 

That’s it! Once a code is created, it will appear under the User Code Settings page and you can reference it at any point. You will not be able to edit a code once it is created, however you can delete the code and re-create it to your liking. 

To extend the functionality of user codes further, try setting up a Wink Robot that triggers certain actions when a particular code is used. For example, if you typically get home late from work, your user code could be set up to automatically turn on the downstairs lights. 

Back to School - How the Smart Home Removes Some of the Stress

Between buying new school supplies, sorting out carpool logistics and coping with first-day jitters, back-to-school can be a stressful time to say the least!

While the lives of parents will soon become a lot more hectic, there are a number of ways to easily cut out some of the stress. And you won’t find them in the flashy activity tracker or newest ‘phablet,' but rather in your smart home. 

Here are a few ways how:

• Your child forgot their keys at home: Let’s face it, we’ve all done it once. This is where smart door locks - like the Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt - can really work their magic. You can give your child a unique code they can use in place of a key and receive an alert when that code is used. And if your child forgets their code, no matter. A quick tap within the Wink app can unlock the front door no matter where you are. 
• You’re sick of returning to a tampered thermostat: Traditional thermostats with lots of buttons are an open invitation for children to make the temperature go haywire. Keep tabs on your home’s climate and schedule it to adjust right when school gets out with a smart thermostat like the Emerson Sensi. You can also get alerted if anyone tries to mess with it.
• You want to make sure everyone got home safe: Smart cameras - like Nest Cam - are a great way to quickly see what’s going on at home. Set one up in your living room or kitchen and connect it with Wink for real time monitoring no matter where you are. It’s a great way to get peace of mind that the kids got home safe and the pets haven’t run off into the wild. 
• Everyone is finally in bed, but is everything turned off?: Sure it’s dark in your bedroom, but what about the downstairs hallway? Was the TV turned off? Is the garage door still open? Create a ‘Good Night’ Shortcut in Wink to lock up the house and turn everything off with just one swipe.

A few simple steps with your smart home can go a long way in re-introducing some sanity to the start of the school year!