Tried entering your passcode about 467 times, but the smart lock just isn’t having it? Does it keep playing a game of lock and unlock? Even worse, are you stuck outside, with no way in, and without your backup key?
What’s the solution?
Well first off, don’t rush to reset your Kwikset smart lock, especially if you’re not exactly sure why it isn’t behaving.
There might be a few factors messing with its performance.
The Clever Fix
Replace the batteries (if needed), and then do a power cycle.
It’s a pain to have to reset your smart lock whenever it starts acting weird, right?
No one likes the inconvenience of setting up the smart lock every time it decides not to play nice.
That’s why it’s crucial to check the battery and give it a power refresh before you jump to any reset-related conclusions.
A straightforward 10-second power cycle might just do the job.
How to check the batteries
Like any other device that uses batteries, smart locks will stop working when the batteries run out.
If your smart lock’s been up and running for a year now, it’s high time for a battery change. Or maybe you overlooked the signs of a low battery, especially if you’re always on the go.
The battery could have given out without you even noticing.
Your smart lock probably needs battery replacement if you notice any of these signs:
- Red LED flashes on the smart lock after locking/unlocking.
- Red light flashes on the interior LED of the keypad.
- If you own a touchscreen Kwikset, you hear five beeps and see a checkmark and lock symbols blink at the same time five times after locking/unlocking.
- If your Kwikset is connected to an app, you’ll get a notification that the battery is low.
If your batteries need changing, go ahead and replace them.
But if you switched out the battery quite recently and your smart lock is still not playing nice, take out the batteries for 30 seconds and then pop them back in before the power cycle.
Go ahead with the power cycle if the batteries are shipshape or if you just put in a new set.
How to power cycle
Power cycling is often the first fix for any tech that’s acting up.
Sometimes, a quick power cycle can get rid of minor issues and get your smart lock back up and running.
Here’s how to power cycle:
- Remove the batteries.
- Press the Program button for five seconds, followed by the A button for another five seconds. (For some models, you will only need to press the Program button for five seconds.)
- Reinsert the batteries.
If the smart lock is still behaving poorly even after the power cycle, it might be time for a reset.
Remember, the reset process varies with each model. Be sure to identify your Kwikset’s model if it’s really time for a reset.
How to reset Kwikset smart lock
You’ve got three options when it comes to resetting your Kwikset smart lock: a network reset, a system reset, and a factory reset.
The first two (network reset and system reset) only erase certain data, which means you don’t have to go through the whole process of setting up your passcode, network, or other settings again.
In contrast, a factory reset wipes everything clean and takes the device back to its out-of-the-box settings, which means you’ll have to input all your settings from scratch.
Just a note, though, the network reset and system reset options are only available for specific models, including:
- 919 Premis Contemporary Smart Lock
- Halo Keypad Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Lock
- Halo Touchscreen WiFi Enabled Smart Lock
1. Network reset
If you’re struggling to connect to your smart lock, or you’ve switched internet service providers, this might be the best route for you.
The great thing about a network reset is that it saves all your users and schedules—your Kwikset app can retrieve them once it’s paired with the lock again.
A network reset just erases all Bluetooth pairings, Wi-Fi settings, account lock, and user connections.
For the Halo, Halo Touch, or Aura smart lock, follow these steps to do a network reset:
- Long press the A button for ten seconds.
(Don’t let go when you hear a short beep and see a blue LED light at the three-second mark. Release when the light turns amber and you hear a single short beep.)
- Press the Program button within ten seconds from the release of the A button.
(Miss that ten-second window and you’ll time out the A button’s function.)
- Keep an ear out for one long beep and look for a green LED light, which means a successful reset. If not, you’ll get a red light and five quick beeps.
For Premis, follow these network reset steps:
- Remove the lock from the Kwikset Premis app. In the app, go to the Bluetooth list, choose the lock you’re resetting, and tap Forget Device.
- On the smart lock, long press the A button for seven seconds.
2. System reset
Consider this option if you need to amp up security, like if you suspect someone’s cracked your passcode and you need to change it, or if your lock’s having a system glitch and isn’t recognizing the passcode.
A system reset is a bit more complex than a one-tap solution, but it’s handy if you want to tweak the settings of your smart lock.
Here’s how you do a system reset:
To do a system reset, you will need to navigate the app and do a reset on the smart lock.
From the Kwikset Premis app, follow these steps:
- Remove the lock from the app and HomeKit system.
- Delete all users, schedules, and user codes added in the app.
- Remove the user codes saved directly at the lock.
- Disable auto-lock.
- Turn on the status LED if it’s turned off.
- Re-enable SecureScreen™ if disabled.
- Unmute sound.
On the smart lock itself, all you’ll need to do is hold down the A button for 20 seconds—and you’re done.
3. Factory reset
Is your device totally frozen and not responding? Or maybe you’re selling your smart lock and you need to restore it to its brand-spanking-new state?
Remember, a factory reset is a full wipe—it’ll erase all Bluetooth pairings, Wi-Fi network settings, user connections, access codes, event history, and lock settings (like handing).
After all that’s cleared out, your device will be back to its default settings.
Extra steps before doing the factory reset:
- Remove the lock in the Kwikset app (if applicable).
Just a heads up, the Kwikset app and cloud will hold onto the access codes and event history until the lock gets removed from the app.
So if your smart lock is hooked up to the app, make sure to remove it. You can do that by going to the Bluetooth list and tapping Forget Device for the lock you’re resetting.
- Keep the door unlocked.
It’s a good idea to keep the door unlocked—and even open if possible—in case anything goes sideways during the reset process.
Once you’ve tackled the steps above, your smart lock is all prepped for the reset.
Then, just follow the reset steps suited to your particular Kwikset smart lock model. Check out the list below to find the reset process for your model.
Factory reset #1
To continue with the reset, follow these steps:
- Remove the top cover by sliding it up.
- Remove the battery pack.
- As you’re putting the battery pack back in, hold down the Program button.
(Keep it pressed for 30 seconds until you hear a beep and the LED light starts flashing amber.)
- Press the Program button once more to kickstart the handing process. You’ll know it’s begun when the latch retracts and extends.
- Take a look at the LED light. A green flash signals success, while a red flash means there’s an issue.
Suitable models:
- Halo Touchscreen Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Lock
- Halo Touch Traditional Fingerprint Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Lock
- Halo Touch Contemporary Fingerprint Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Lock
- Halo Keypad Wi-Fi Enabled Smart Lock
- Aura Bluetooth Enabled Smart Lock
- 919 Premis Contemporary Smart Lock
- 919 Premis Traditional Smart Lock
- Home Connect 620 Contemporary Keypad Connected Smart Lock with Z-Wave Technology
- Home Connect 620 Traditional Keypad Connected Smart Lock with Z-Wave Technology
- 912 SmartCode Electronic Tustin Lever with Zigbee Technology
- Obsidian Keywayless Electronic Touchscreen Smart Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- Obsidian Keywayless Electronic Touchscreen Smart Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
Factory reset #2
To continue with the reset, follow these steps:
- Slide up the top cover to remove it.
- Remove the battery pack.
- Hold down the Program button for 5 seconds.
- Hold down the A button for 5 seconds.
- As you’re reinserting the battery pack back in its place, keep the Program button pressed.
(Hold it down for 30 seconds until you hear a beep and see the LED light flashing amber.)
- Press the Program button once more to start the handing process.
- You’ll know the handing process is successful when you see the red and green LED lights flash several times and hear two beeps.
Suitable models:
- 910 SmartCode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 910 SmartCode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 910 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 910 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 914 SmartCode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 914 SmartCode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 914 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 914 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 916 Smartcode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 916 Smartcode Contemporary Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 916 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Zigbee Technology
- 916 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt with Z-Wave Technology
- 912 SmartCode Electronic Tustin Lever with Z-Wave Technology
- Kwikset Convert Smart Lock Conversion Kit with Zigbee Technology
What to do after the reset
If you need some reassurance that the reset worked, try punching in your old code—it shouldn’t work anymore.
Once that’s done, set up your lock again by entering a new passcode and adjusting your settings as needed.
Wrapping up
Our homes are our havens, so it’s definitely nerve-wracking when our key line of defense—the front door—starts acting up.
We’ve got to get everything back to normal ASAP to make sure our homes are safe from unwanted visitors.
Sometimes, it all boils down to a simple system glitch or an issue with the power supply.
The best fix is usually to swap out the batteries and do a power cycle. But if that doesn’t work, that’s when the reset comes into play.
Kwikset offers three reset options: network reset, system reset, and factory reset. But only specific models can use the network and system reset.
While all models can use the factory reset, the process varies between models.
If your Kwikset smart lock has a problem that a reset just can’t fix, reach out to Kwikset by calling 1-800-327-5625. They’re around Monday to Friday (7:00 am – 4:00 pm PST) and Saturday (6:30 am – 2:30 pm PST). They’re off on Sundays and major holidays.
You can also shoot your questions over to their customer support page.
Check out Kwikset’s smart lock products page too, where you can find the manual for your model, which should have an installation and troubleshooting guide.
Fingers crossed you haven’t had to bust down your door yet. Let us know how the reset goes!
