Wyze Lock Bolt - First Impression

[R.Good]

I couldn’t help myself.

As I have said before I take 15 minutes with it and give my first impression. Well It took me less than 15 minutes to install… My use case for the Wyze Lock Bolt is on Secondary Entry Doors. This install is on the back door of the house that goes into the garage. I already have the Wyze Lock on my primary entrance and would not replace it with this device.

Here’s what’s in the box, And yes my friends, that is a sticker with a backer border!!! But I am sad to inform you that there is no digital app badge

This device is SOLID. it just feels like it will hold up for a very long time.

The install instructions are well put together, having read through them, but the truth is I really didn’t use them having installed so many bolts and door knobs in my time. So if you are a DIYer it will be very easy. If you haven’t had many splinters or swollen thumbs from a hammer, the instructions will do you right. I will note that the dust box

is a super nice touch (I did not use it because it didn’t fit, but I will go back and make it fit when I replace the old gold knob making my fresh Wyze bolt lock look funky. I was just super excited to get this installed. For a lot of non-custom homes, it’s empty/hollow behind the strike plate and past the door frame, this will keep stuff from getting back there, so I highly encourage using it.

The hardest part in my opinion was the one cable that you had to manage to get the Interior Assemble onto the mount plate. Just use your finger and push it down the bottom left and gently press the exterior assembly up to the mount plate.

Setup was fast up to the point where you put in your finger print, but you don’t want this to be fast, take your time. Make sure your finger is clean and scan it from multiple angles (do not put your finger in the same spot every time.

Locking and Unlocking. The motor sounds solid, But its not loud, you hear it, then you hear it what I would call “Lock In” as in the Lock is saying “this thing isn’t getting twisted until I move it”.

Some single times (subject to doing 2 things at once, but I’m a good multitasker)
Unlock with Finger Print

Unlock with Keypad

Unlock with App

Lock with Keypad

Lock with App (Bluetooth is way faster than Wifi I have experienced on other locks, I mean it’s direct connect so obvious right?)

What I’ve got so far. If I find anything of note I will update. But please share your first impression and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.

Update: WooHoo!!!

Badge unlocked

[carverofchoice]

I agree, the keypad feels so solid. I really love the look and feel of it, and the fingerprint scanner is so fast and reliable. My wife and daughter love it. I think it’s the same fingerprint sensor as on the gun safe.

My main disappointment is that there is no internet connectivity (so no notifications or rule automations, etc), and my second disappointment is that it has no sensor to tell when it is open, closed, or ajar like the first lock can do.

But despite the above 2 disappointments my whole family really loves this thing. It’s also really reassuring that if the batteries die you can just plug in a USB-C to give it power. Did I mention it looks and feels great?

Now we need a smart doorknob. Both for some indoor doors (like my master bedroom), and my metal garage door, which annoyingly doesn’t have a deadbolt in it, just a doorknob, and I’m too lazy to drill into the metal to create my own deadbolt holes, etc. for it.

[spamoni]

What a great post.

[mvb]

@R.Good great review. I’m looking forward to getting it installed. My use case is exactly the opposite of yours. I’m putting it on my front door. I don’t use that door to enter my house. I always come in the door from the garage. That is where the original Wyze Lock is installed.

In my case, I’m actually glad the new Lock Bolt is not wifi enabled. It won’t auto-unlock when I come in through the garage.

[R.Good]

Here’s what I mean by “Locked In” Above. You hear the motor turn then hear the bolt “lock in”.

In hindsight, I wish the strike plate matched the color of the device in matte black rather than the chrome/nickel.

[R.Good]

Thank you @mvb!

@mvb

I’m actually glad the new Lock Bolt is not wifi enabled

I am in the same camp, the fact that it does not have Wifi is not an issue for me.

@mvb

My use case is exactly the opposite of yours. I’m putting it on my front door. I don’t use that door to enter my house.

I think our use cases are the same, your Front door isn’t your primary entrance, and your side door is

My preferred use of these devices
Primary (used the most) Entrance - Wyze Lock
Secondary Entrance(s) - Wyze Lock Bolt

[R.Good]

Unlocking with biometrics

[mvb]

You are right. Same use, just on different doors.

[superchi]

Can’t use this Wyze Lock Bolt for Airbnb. Use cases for home-use are very limited. Can’t even handle rules

[carverofchoice]

@superchi

Can’t use this Wyze Lock Bolt for Airbnb

IDK, at some point all Airbnb’s should have someone checking in on them in between guests renting it out to make sure to do cleaning and set it up for the next guests anyway (put the washed bedding back on, put the garbage cans out on garbage day, make sure the previous guests didn’t trash the place to know whether to return their deposit, etc). Whoever does all that in person (owner, manager, cleaner, etc) can have the device shared to them so that they can get into the house whenever needed. They can then create a new code every time as part of their cleaning and preparing routine. Then it’s ready for the next guest, and the code the previous guests had won’t work anymore.

But I agree that I would prefer to have an internet-connected door lock instead. The other Wyze Lock is much better suited for this purpose, so in that case, that is the one I would recommend for this use-case.

[patrick.pollock14]

Carverofchoice, actually your scenario would not work with the cleaner or maintenance person changing or making codes when they turn the property. This is my biggest issue and disappointed with the Wyze locks. I hope that with some updates and programing from Wyz,
this issue can be resolved.

The problem is that only the person who sets up the lock can give permissions and create codes. Just because you share Wyze doesn’t mean they can create codes. This person can only Bluetooth unlock, or unlock with proximity with the wifi lock. This means that a husband and wife, as an example, can’t each create codes from their respective apps. Only one can do this. What if one is away at work and the other needs to create a code since they are home? You would have to waite for the other to get home to do this. Same goes for your kids, property manager, etc. There are a million use cases for needing to have multiple people set up code.

Wyze, Can we please have user rights or something!! Maybe code sharing vs app houshold sharing?

[Resist]

So I’m just wondering why Wyze didn’t wait to release this product instead of releasing the previous door lock. I’d think most would rather have this version than the first. They seem to have a habit of releasing a version 2 rather quickly after so many already spent money on the first version.

And those of us that besides having a deadlock also have a door handle lock, it means we still have to bring a key to unlock that or leave it unlocked. So it seems like they would have made an auto handle lock as well.

[carverofchoice]

@patrick.pollock14

only the person who sets up the lock can give permissions and create codes

It does work as I previously described, I just tested the one I have to be sure:

From my primary account, I shared the Lock Bolt to my Wife’s account (a secondary account). I then turned off my phone as if I wasn’t home anymore. With my wife’s account, I then logged in and connected to the Lock Bolt. From there my wife’s account could select settings then set up any code she wanted on this secondary account:

So shared accounts can set their own codes. I then created a passcode, despite the primary account not even being present or connected in any way. It worked. I then reset the passcode to an entirely different passcode. It let me do this as many times as I wanted from the secondary account.

Thus, anyone who wants to use one of these for an Airbnb could indeed do as I explained above…share the lockbolt to a separate Wyze account for a cleaner or manager. Then instruct the cleaner or manager what to change their log-in code to in between every guest. Then you just give the next guest that code. The cleaner will continue to change that code (their code) to whatever you tell them to change it to every time in between cleanings, etc. So you’d only ever have to set it up for the cleaner once and then tell them what to change it to every time, which this device does allow them to do. The primary account would never have to do anything more than share it to the cleaner/manager and let them keep changing their code when they visit for cleaning, etc. and that is the code that is given to new guests every time and changed every time they leave.

---

Regardless, as I said before, I agree that the original lock with keypad is a much better option for someone wanting something for Airbnb or internet connectivity. And I also agree that I would LOVE to have this device get internet connectivity added to it. I am fully in agreement with all of those things.

I was trying to be helpful for anyone interested in using these that way that it is indeed possible to use these for the purposes of an Airbnb if someone really wanted to. I tested it out with my lock bolt just now using it being shared to a secondary Wyze account to make sure. It is just not as convenient as it would be if it had internet access, which I also very much want.

Hopefully that’s helpful to someone considering using these in such a way, but I would recommend most of them instead consider the original lock for this particular purpose.

[wabbit9298]

Just one quick question, from the pictures I see there is no key? at least with the Wyze Lock you still can use a key if you need to. but with no key for this what if the lock lost power? would you then be locked out of your house?

[carverofchoice]

There is a USB-C port on the bottom of the lock, so you can plug in any portable battery or power source using a standard phone charger cord (USB-C) and it will give power to the device so you can open your door still.

It should also let you know when the battery power gets low, but even if you miss that and let it completely die, you won’t actually be locked out thanks to the power port option in the keypad. Maybe keep a small, cheap portable battery phone charger in your car or something, if the batteries ever died, you can just connect that and power it back up. Worst case scenario call ANYONE to bring you a little battery with a USB-C cable and you’ll be able to get in. No key necessary.

[R.Good]

There is no key, correct.

There is a USB C access point for emergency power that once applied will allow you to unlock the door.

Minus one battery, using the Wyze Car Power Bank to unlock Wyze Bolt Lock

Using cell phone to unlock with one battery out (did this with an iPhone 12 Max Pro and Pixel 6 both worked)

Note, to use the cell phone method, you have to plug your cable into the cell phone first, then plug into the Wyze Bolt keypad second.

[wabbit9298]

So now you have to carry a usb c cable with you in case your lock loses power?

[carverofchoice]

You don’t have to carry a cord. You’ll probably never even need to use it. It will let you know when the batteries are getting low and you just replace the batteries then (the batteries last a LONG time too). It will give you plenty of warning.

The way I see it, it’s actually more convenient than needing a key for backup. I don’t want to have to remember to carry a key around with me everywhere. And I don’t want to hide a key somewhere on my property in case I need it to unlock my door. I also don’t want to leave a key at someone else’s house in case I lock myself out. All those are issues with key deadbolts that make my lock less convenient and less secure because anyone who finds the key hidden around my house can get in, or anyone I leave a spare with (or anyone that lives with or visits someone they live with), or having to remember to grab one and carry it around (I’ve had metal keys I carried scratch my phone before).

With this, if I ignore the battery warning for days/weeks/months until it goes dead, I don’t need a “special key” nor do I need to pay a lock smith. I can literally call any friend or family member. I can grab ANY phone charging cable out of my car or my garage. I can ask ANY neighbor. I can pick up a cheap one at any store. I don’t have to worry about where to hide a special key, or give access to anyone, or worry if I lose it or if it gets stolen or any number of things. Cords are everywhere and they’re cheap.

Now there is no risk of floating keys or forgetting them or losing them or distributing them or anything. My key is literally everywhere (I can get a cord from almost anywhere) and nowhere at the same time (nobody but me can use any of them to unlock my door because it’s not ACTUALLY a key).

It’s way more relieving and convenient and reassuring to me than having to worry about keys.

But it is totally understandable that some people really want a key option. In that case, the Original Wyze Lock allows people to connect it up to a pre-existing deadbolt that will use a Key as backup for unlocking the deadbolt instead. That alternative device option can be found here:

Wyze Lock

[wabbit9298]

well personally I carry my car keys around anyway so another key doesn’t bother me, was seriously thinking about the regular Wyze lock but the $147 price for lock and keypad made it impractical where the $70 for this would be more realistic just don’t like the fact of no “emergency” Key entry is stopping me, if they could have only designed it more like this

[wabbit9298]

Or even thinking more on it, keep the price point but separate the keypad from the lock set like the regular Wyze lock and keypad just don’t double the price for it though, even the regular Wyze lock without the keypad is more expensive than this Lock Bolt.