Customer Ratings & Reviews

I had another yale before this. It was the one where you changed the deadbolt. I switch to this one because I could keep the old dead bolt and not have two different keys. It's so much. I also feel like the Battery Life in this one last longer and we use it way more.

So far so good. Easy install. No issues. The family loves it

Lock works fine as long as I am close enough to connect via Bluetooth. The wifi bridge refuses to connect to my wifi which is disappointing. It keeps me from being able to create automations on Alexa.

This lock is extremely glitchy. I feel like I have to pray for the possibility of not getting locked out. The fingerprint scanner works half of the time. It will reject codes that are correct even the admin code! The app is not really helpful because sometimes the lock and the app are not communicating. It will say not available or it will show that the door is unlocked even though it is not. The green or red circle that indicates the status of the lock will go grey and the lock becomes unresponsive. This is not safe lock if you have children or you need to get into your house in hurry. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY! I wasted my money.

Installation turned out to be a real pain - could be due to lack of my DIY skills combined with a very old deadbolt lock. Fingerprint reaction time is very slow and is the basic readon for the 2-stars. App is very basic and had an unappealing interface.

Awesome product, really love this for our front door

This is my second lock from Best Buy and I have no issues ,costumer service was great as always.thank you Best Buy .

The keypad is so ridiculously slow to respond. I'll type in the correct code and it will take upwards if five seconds to recognize it for some reason. The lock itself will sometimes attempt to lock when the door is ajar, and it will fail and then try again and again and again and again over and over. It's ridiculous. It should realize something is wrong and give up. Terrible product.

Not the best instructions on how to use all the features. Does work from state to state in locking the door. Easy to install.

Definitely works for my needs (single, apartment, single lock), but if I had a family or a house with more locks I would maybe go for one of Yale's more expensive offerings.

As a home security enthusiast, I took a long time to give smart or any type of electric door locks a change. Installing and using numerous products, Yale comes out on top. Many of the other well known brands are typically low quality in multiple key areas. Yale has consistently created quality products that I am comfortable with securing my home. The reality is, the vast majority non-commercial locks are no the safest or most secure. Additionally, smart locks are typically not the most secure in terms of the lock itself. It is long overdue and great to see Yale come out with their own retrofit device. There other products are also better than the rest and good quality. I have own another brand which is less common, but a great retrofit. The overall quality of that one is low. I have avoided another well-known retrofit lock (it's a month of the year) that looks horrible, functions poorly, and overall seems to decrease the security of your door. Most importantly, these are perfect for apartments, condos, places you're renting. No one will ever know you have a smart lock inside and you get to keep using your existing key. Setup: The whole intention of this is to be easy and quick. This lock worked on Kwikset and Schlage without any issue. I assume it should fit the vast majority of locks. All you need to do is remove the inside part of your existing lock and put on the new one. It takes less than 15 minutes. App/Connectivity: I already have the Yale app, but its fairly easy. Sharing to others is quite simple as well. It took another 30 minutes to install the keypad, WiFi, and get it all connected. Overall, the app experience is good but not great. I would like to see if seem more streamlined, show me charge levels on the main screen, etc. Look: The best part is you're only effecting the inside look! No pesky HOA, landlords, apartment communities, etc to bother you or even know it exists. The inside part is super sleek and blends in nicely. They nailed it with this one. Overall, I highy recommend this product. I also believe Yale prices their products well and they go on sale too. You won't look back!

Had this for a month. Upgraded from an old nest yale lock I had for ten years without one single problem. The new lock, keypad, app, and reset are complete garbage. Had problems for weeks now. No way to hard reset it without the app. The app refuses to connect, randomly locks and unlocks. And now the keypad is not lighting up. No one can enter with a code. Only the app (when it connects can unlock the door!

Doesn’t fit over existing deadbolt as stated. With the short returnable period with Best Buy, I got stuck with it.

The Yale Approach Smart Lock is a smart deadbolt control that installs over your current hardware within your door. It is less invasive than some of the other smart lock systems on the market and is targeted towards renters or people who need to provide multiple people access to their property. After installing it and using it for a couple weeks, there is much to like with a couple downsides as well. Setup: Once you unpackage the lock, there will be a QR code to scan and step by step instructions to download the app (if you haven’t already) and start installing the lock. The entire process will take between 30 minutes to an hour if you need to familiarize yourself with the hardware. Software updates do take several minutes as well. The lock comes in two different colors so you can best match your interior door hardware. Usage: This lock includes several nice features including a wireless keypad and Wi-Fi integration which means many features are controlled with your phone. The keypad can be installed anywhere within bluetooth range so it doesn’t have to be on the door or directly next to the door. This is great if you want to hide the keypad around a corner or out of visible sight from the lock itself. Doorsense is the auto lock and unlock feature based on if the door is open or closed. You can choose to have the door lock automatically after it is closed within a certain period of time. Additionally, auto lock and unlock can detect your phone nearby and automatically unlock the lock so you can enter without even having to touch the keypad or lock itself. This is a great feature that I have enjoyed using. If you choose to use the keypad, it also includes a fingerprint sensor that can easily control the lock so you don’t have to use your phone for direct integration. The keypad works fairly well with fingerprint recognition and touch buttons. They are not physical mechanical buttons but rather a touch capacitive type. It is also illuminated so you have easy access to the numbers at night. The app allows you to assign temporary passcodes to people so they can enter using the keypad without permanent access. Cons: The keypad has the ability to turn the sound output on/off but no volume adjustment. Out of the box, it is very loud to the point that neighbors can hear it when used. I would like to see an ability to turn the volume down but not off. This would be even more important for those in apartment complexes. There can be a delay when using the keypad or other features of the lock. This can be anywhere from 1-2 seconds or 4-5 seconds. It is just long enough that it is annoying. If they could improve communication times over Wi-Fi, that would improve the user experience. They currently limit you to one fingerprint per user profile. It would be super helpful to allow more than one in case you want to use another finger due to your hands being full or whatever the situation might be. There is no way to tell what the battery level of the actual smart lock is through the app. The keypad allows for battery level but it seems odd that the lock doesn’t have the same feature. I am not sure what happens once the lock becomes critically low. It could stop working without warning which may be inconvenient or cause you to be locked out of your home/apartment if without a key. Overall: The Yale Approach Lock is a great option for those that do not want to replace their entire door hardware but want to add smart capability to their home/apartment. Even though there are a couple drawbacks to the system (that may be able to be tweaked with software updates) the core features of the lock work well.

I recently installed the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad Touch in “black suede” at my daughter's apartment-style condo, and it's been a fantastic upgrade in all the ways I expected. While it's unfortunate that it's not compatible with Apple Home, which I typically prefer, the lock works seamlessly with Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa. The installation was straightforward, requiring just a bit of tinkering along with the instructions, but nothing too challenging. Anyone should be able to figure it out which is nice with this type of thing that can seem daunting if you’re not inclined. The lock looks modern with the keypad and all and doesnt stand out like some others ive seen, and the black suede finish looks great. The Yale Access app is great and something I'm already familiar with from using Yale locks at my own home. The app's interface is user-friendly, and it makes managing the lock or tracking use and by who/what a breeze. My daughter also had great things to say about the app, praising its ease of use and the convenience it offers as she basically had a nightmare of a time in the past with another brand and the app basically makes or breaks the entire product. One of the features she really loves is the auto lock and unlock. My daughter loves coming home with groceries and having the door automatically unlock for her or lock when it detects shes left using the whole door sense option they have. It’s these little things that make life easier. The peace of mind it gives me as a father is something you really fall in love with. The biometric fingerprint access on the keypad is a great touch along with being able to mount the keypad itself at any height or nearby place. My daughter can use her fingerprint, a PIN, or the app then to unlock the door, offering multiple ways to gain access that just make things easy. The back-lit touchscreen is also a nice feature, especially for late-night arrivals if using it. I think this is a really great choice for anyone looking to enhance their home security by stepping into the smart lock scene the easiest way possible. The combination of sleek design, ease of use, and advanced features make it a solid investment. Both my daughter and I are extremely satisfied with it.

First of all, this is a beautiful door lock and keypad. It is very well made in addition to its gorgeous physical design. Its functional design also provides for an intuitive install (both physical and programming) and a simple operation. Yes, I was blown away, a tip of the cap to the engineers who designed this lock. The lock does not require a new key since the installation utilizes your existing lock mechanism. The included instruction guide will help you with the lock setup in 4 main steps: the app download, the lock install, the bridge install, and the keypad install. The app is fantastic in guiding you through the details of each step. You will only need a screwdriver to do everything. I did have a Yale electronic lock previously which I forgot about. However the app knew and alerted me to simply sign in to my existing account instead of creating a new account – nice; although I did still have the option of creating a new account. That other lock is about 4 years old and is still going strong. I actually made a mistake in scanning the Bridge QR code before proceeding to scan the lock code. The app simply directed me to basically retrace my steps and start the 4 steps again as listed in the small ‘Get Started Guide’. I was impressed with the foresight the designers built into their install process to catch my error and make it harmless – another tip of the cap. I should note that there are included ‘adapters’ to ensure this lock will match different manufacturers; my existing lock was a Kwikset. I have installed several other brands of electronic locks and this one was by far my favorite. In about 20 minutes, not counting my mistake, the lock was up and functional. Now I can check and change the lock status from anywhere. This is one attractive lock that is easy to install and simple to use. It even works with 'SmartThings (which I have). I highly recommend this lock.

There are a variety of smart locks available nowadays, but the majority are geared towards homeowners. However, with this lock, Yale has finally provided a lock with all their premium features that is perfect for those with apartments. First, right out of the box, the lock and keypad both have that premium feel and look that is found with all Yale products. Onto the actual setup though Yale has gotten this facet down to a science as the app couldn`t make this any easier! The physical installation takes less than 10 minutes though for first time users you may want to add in 10 minutes or so for various software updates when getting everything synced with the app. A major plus here for apartments is that the outside of the deadbolt remains the same, so the exterior aesthetics of your door are unchanged which in turn allows for physical keys to be used as well if necessary. When it comes to the aesthetics and installation there is one difference I wanted to be sure to note with the Wi-Fi component. The Wi-Fi bridge with this lock is separate from the actual deadbolt so you are required to plug in the small Wi-Fi bridge block to an outlet within 10 feet of the door. The positive to this though in my opinion is it results in a much sleeker looking deadbolt as some of the other Yale locks that include the Wi-Fi bridge built-in are quite cumbersome. The install of the keypad is just as seamless as it simply sticks to the wall essentially and the major plus here is that it can be placed anywhere within Bluetooth range of the deadbolt so you can place it somewhere that is convenient for you. With the keypad one feature I was impressed with was the fact that the keypad is backlit which is extremely beneficial at night. When it comes to the actual usability of the lock though everything has worked flawlessly and Yale has included all the bells and whistles here. There are a couple features I want to make note of especially. First is the fingerprint sensor as this is such a convenient feature versus typing in a code that I have found this method to be one of the most frequent I use since it is really quick to register and unlock the door. Really the only time the actual entry codes are used is for guests. This is another great feature with the guest access codes. The access codes can be set for a specific time frame which is great if you go on vacation or are away for only a set period of time where someone would need access to your apartment. This leads to the tracking feature as you can see who has come and gone through the use of the access codes and it will even show if an incorrect code has been entered. The other features revolve around the various facets of door sensing that are built within the lock. First is the auto unlock feature that is evident in many Yale locks in that once you are within a certain range of the lock it will unlock for you without having to mess with entry codes or your fingerprints which is one of the best features of any smart lock in my opinion. Then on the other hand there is an auto lock feature where you can customize a set period of time where if the door is closed for that amount of time it will automatically lock. This "door sense" feature does more than auto lock and unlock as it will also send you a notification if the door has remained open for an extended period of time. Overall, there is a reason Yale is the premium maker of smart locks as they have really perfected everything here. From the ease of installation through the app, to the various features including all of the methods to gain access, to the various "door sense" features it really seems they have packed everything you could ask for into this lock. For that reason, I would definitely recommend this to those looking for a smart lock and especially those that live in an apartment.

The Yale Approach Smart Lock allowed me to easily add smart lock capabilities to my existing deadbolt without changing the lock. The exterior side of the lock stayed exactly the same as before, and the same key still works. However, I can now lock and unlock much more conveniently, either using the keypad, remotely using the app, or via my home automation system. Installing the Approach lock was easy and straightforward. Everything needed was included in the box except for a screwdriver. The app walked me through each step, and it all worked just as expected. Setting up the wi-fi bridge included one minor hiccup: I had to temporarily disable the 5 GHz feature on my router as the bridge only supports 2.5 GHz (and this wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the setup). The keypad can be mounted using screws or adhesive – and one adhesive pad is included. it would have been nice if the keypad was designed in a way that would allow for removeable adhesive strips to minimize damage upon removal, but two tiny screw holes are pretty easy to paint over if/when the keypad is removed. Setting things up in the app was also easy. Each member of the household gets their own account, complete with a PIN and fingerprint for the keypad. Administrators can add guests, assign them a PIN, and schedule allowed access times in the app. Guests who use a PIN don’t ever need to use the Yale app. My one complaint is that guests who want to use fingerprint for access will need to install the Yale app and create an account. This is unfortunate because I was hoping this might make it easier for an older relative who isn’t great with smart phones or remembering codes to come and go as they please. Overall, this is a solid option for someone who wants to easily add smart lock capabilities to their home without changing their lock (or taking away “old fashioned” key access).

I've been using the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad for a few weeks now, and it has truly transformed my home security experience. The installation was straightforward; I simply installed it over my existing deadbolt without any need for power tools or complex wiring. The included biometric keypad, which I placed near the door within Bluetooth range, integrated seamlessly into my home setup. One feature I particularly love is the fingerprint scanner. It’s incredibly fast and accurate, unlocking my door in less than a second. This has been a game-changer for me, as I no longer have to fumble for keys. The convenience extends to guests as well; I can easily create and share virtual keys through the Yale Access App or set up custom entry codes for family and friends. The Yale Access App has been a fantastic addition. I can track who comes and goes in real-time, providing a sense of security I didn’t have before. The Auto-Lock feature with DoorSense has been particularly reassuring, as it ensures my door is always locked behind me without me having to double-check. Hands-free access has also proven to be a significant benefit. When my hands are full, the lock auto-unlocks as I approach, which is incredibly convenient. The backlit keypad is easy to read at any time of day, and the One-Touch Locking feature is quick and reliable. Overall, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad has been an excellent investment. It offers the perfect blend of security and convenience, making my daily routine much smoother. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade their home security system.

This is not my foray into Yale. I had one on our previous house, I have a yale on our current house, my son has a yale on his house near Kitsap Naval Submarine base and I have a yale cupboard lock that I have in my bathroom to help protect prescription's from those who should not have access. As with my previous experiences, this did not dissapoint. Since my 20-year-old college enrolled daughter moved out and into an aprtment, this was the perfect option. Given her ability to lock and unlock remotely and monitor status, of course me, as the nervous dad provides me some peace-of-mind. As far as install, my 22-year-old son installed it for his sister while he was on leave from the navy. He said it took him about 20 monutes or so. But bear in mind, he is first and foremost a perfectionist by nature and a US Navy Nuclear Engineer on a Trident Nuclear submarine by career, so this simple install tantamount to him putting his shoes on. End of the day, this a high-quality product from a company with a long and trusted history. If you have the need, this is an excellent choice!