How to Fix August Smart Lock Flashing Red Circle

Quick Diagnosis

A flashing red circle light around the manual turn-dial of the August Smart Lock indicates that the motor is encountering physical resistance during the locking/unlocking sequence, or that the internal batteries are critically low.

Technical diagnostic blueprint diagram for the August Smart Lock showing symptoms of Flashing Red Circle.

Step-by-Step Resolution

  1. 1

    Verify the battery status: open the faceplate by pressing the August logo, remove the batteries, and verify contacts are clean.

  2. 2

    Insert 4 fresh CR123A (or AA depending on model) batteries, ensuring correct orientation.

  3. 3

    Remove the August lock from the door mounting bracket: open the two metal side wing latches.

  4. 4

    Inspect the yellow plastic adapters inside the lock body; verify they match the tailpiece type (D-shaped, flat, etc.) and are not cracked.

  5. 5

    Turn the tailpiece manually with your fingers to ensure the deadbolt latch slides in and out of the door frame smoothly.

  6. 6

    Reattach the August lock to the mounting plate, snap the side latches closed, and run a manual calibration via turn-knob rotation.

  7. 7

    If the red light continues to flash, loosen the mounting plate screws slightly; over-tightening can warp the plate, causing gear binding.

Alternative Causes & Edge Cases

  • On August Smart Lock Pro (3rd Gen), a flashing red circle can signify a Bluetooth handshake timeout with the Connect Wi-Fi bridge if it is plugged in too far from the door.
  • On August Smart Lock (4th Gen/Wi-Fi model), if the red circle flashes when unlocking, it indicates a physical calibration drift after the door has been slammed shut.