This week, smart homes get smarter, as both SmartThings and Wink will bring voice controlled smart locks to your home. This week the two home hub platforms will roll out an update that will allow users of their hubs and Kwikset SmartCode products with HomeConnect™ to lock their connected products by simply asking Alexa, “Alexa, lock the front door.”
How does it Work?
Connecting your SmartThings or Wink hub to Alexa is easy. First make sure that all your Z-wave or ZigBee compatible locks are connected to your smart home hubs, and set individual names for each door. These names are what you’ll use to trigger Amazon Alexa, so us names that are easy to remember like “front door” or “garage door.”
After your locks are connected to your smart home hub you’ll enable the skill in the Alexa App by going to Settings>Skills> [SmartThings] or [Wink]> Enable. Ask Alexa to “Discover new devices” and you should be all set. From there it’s as simple as asking Alexa to lock your front door.
For now, the API utilized by SmartThings and Wink does not support unlocking your home security hardware. You can only lock and check lock status at this time.
Which Kwikset smart locks are Compatible?
SmartThings and Wink use both Z-wave and ZigBee wireless technologies to communicate with Kwikset SmartCode locks with Home Connect. Since all of our Home Connect devices communicate in these frequencies a variety of devices are compatible. We anticipate our SmartCode 910, 912, 914, and 916 are all compatible with Samsung SmartThings.
SmartCode 910 is a five-digit, push-button smart lock from Kwikset. One of Kwikset’s best-selling smart locks, SmartCode 910 is available in both traditional and contemporary styles and a range of finishes, to complement a variety of home aesthetics.
SmartCode 912 is a five-digit push button lever from Kwikset, perfect for adding additional security to an internal door to protect a home office or wine cellar. SmartCode 912 is designed with a sleek style to complement your home’s interior.
SmartCode 914 is a 10-digit, push-button smart lock from Kwikset. Re-released in 2016, the lock features a traditional exterior style, sleek, metal interior, and quiet-drive locking system. SmartCode 914 is one of the top-selling smart locks from Kwikset.
SmartCode 916 is a touchscreen smart lock from Kwikset featuring the company’s patent-pending SecureScreen™ technology. SecureScreen technology helps prevent the problem of “smudge” attacks associated with touchscreen locks by prompting users to touch two random numbers first in order to display the full screen and enter the programmed access code, encouraging continuous use of the full screen to mask the correct access code. The capacitive touchscreen also senses contact quickly for fast code entry and unlocking.
What hardware is required?
To connect your SmartCode with HomeConnect to Alexa you’ll need 3 pieces of hardware:
- Kwikset SmartCode with HomeConnect. Shop our 910, 912, 914, and 916 product here, Kwikset smart locks.
- Samsung Smart Things or Wink
- Amazon Echo or Dot
That’s it! With those three pieces of smart home hardware, you’re on your way to controlling your home security with your voice.
Looking for more tips on getting the most out of your smart home? Check out these posts for more information:
I have two 914 locks and while Smartthings recognizes then without issue, the Amazon Echo does not. I don’t see any skill that must be activated on the Echo, what can I do to have the 914s recognized so that I can take advantage of this feature?
If you have a Weiser Kevo lock and the Kevo Plus device, once the skill is installed you have to say “Alexa ask kevo to lock the front door” ( or whatever name you gave your lock, in this example I called it “front door”)
I have the Kwikset 916 and all i have to say is “Alexa, lock the side door” and it works. You may have to discover new devices in the Alexa app to see it.
MIne works great with the 916. Here were my steps:
1. Install the lock
2. Connect it in the smart things app
3. Enable the Samsgun Smartthings skill on Alexa
4. Disscover new devices in the Alexa app under settings or smart home
Good luck! Its pretty cool to be able to tell Alexa to lock the door
I heard this somewhere on the net:
A man was helping his neighbor with something in the yard, then needed to use the bathroom. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”
“Sure, go ahead–let me unlock the door for you.”
“Don’t bother, I’ll do it,” he said to his puzzled neighbor.
Then he went up to the front door and shouted loudly “Alexa, unlock the front door,” then heard the reassuring (to him, definitely not to his neighbor) ‘CLICK’.
Something to test when you let Alexa control your locks.
It cant do that. Alexa will not unlock smart locks yet with the exception of the August smart lock which requires you to say a PIN after requesting an unlock. Other such as all of the Kwiksets above wont unlock with voice no matter what. At least not yet. I know all of my doors have the 914 on them and Alexa will lock them but say “For security reasons I can not unlock smart devices yet” if you ask her to unlock. I am hoping that Kwickset locks will soon be like august locks and simply require a voice pin to unlock.
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Thanks but we hire locksmith arlington va for such problems. They are highly experienced in doing such kind of work.
Great things you have shared here , after getting this useful information no one will visit any locksmith store for help.
912 have made for wooden doors especially , locksmith brooklyn team have suggested me when i was moved into new home. But i haven’t installed those ones.