Yale - Temporary Unit Codes and Dead Zones

Terms Used in this Guide

• Master PIN Code: The factory PIN code for the lock, which is required to create the Temporary Unit Code.

• Temporary Unit Code: The temporary code the Resident enters to open the lock if they are not using the STRATIS Mobile app or if they do not have an Internet-connected phone. May also be used by Staff before Resident move-in. This code is deleted when the STRATIS Mobile app is used to access the lock.

• Custom PIN Code: The code created by the Resident in the STRATIS Mobile app to open their unit lock. Only the resident knows this code.

• Convenience: Unlocked flyer: The resident-facing flyer with an empty space for recording the Temporary Unit Code and instructions on how to use the STRATIS app to set up a Custom PIN Code.

Summary

Activating a Yale lock for a new user requires Internet access and a smartphone. This article discusses the steps to take when a new user needs to activate their lock but does not have a phone with Internet access. In this situation, Temporary Unit Codes can be created as a workaround for unit entry. The following information describes how to create these codes and addresses considerations for staff access and security to streamline the move-in process.

Why Create Temporary Unit Codes?

As part of the standard turnover process, staff must generate Temporary Unit Codes using the lock’s Master PIN Code to streamline resident move-ins and facilitate vendor (e.g., cleaners) access to units without requiring an app download. The Temporary Unit Code ‍‍‍must be included in the resident’s welcome packet for them to access their unit before they create their Custom PIN Code via the STRATIS Mobile app. To ensure the resident’s security, the staff-issued ‍‍Temporary Unit Code is automatically deleted when the STRATIS Mobile app is used to open the lock.

Open

To Create a Temporary Unit Code

1. Wake up the lock by tapping its touchscreen.

2. Enter the Master PIN Code, then tap the Gear icon to access the lock’s Menu Mode.

• If you do not know the lock’s Master PIN Code, follow these factory reset steps: https://help.stratisiot.com/article/2271313923

3. Tap 2, then the Gear icon, to access the Temporary Unit Codes (a.k.a. "User Code") menu.

4. Tap 1, then the Gear icon, to enter a new Temporary Unit Code.

5. Enter a 4-8 digit code, then tap Check, then write this code down as it will be used as the unit’s Temporary Unit Code.

Important Note: Temporary Unit Codes are automatically deleted when the STRATIS Mobile app connects to the lock. Therefore, remember that both staff and vendors must only use this code for unit access to prevent accidental deletion through the STRATIS Mobile app.

In the resident welcome packet, please include the Convenience: Unlocked flyer for Residents with that unit’s handwritten Temporary Unit Code. This code is necessary for the resident to set up their own Custom PIN Code using the STRATIS Mobile app. When they use the Mobile app for the first time, their Temporary Unit Code will no longer work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if a resident does not have a smartphone?

There are four workarounds:

1. Use a brass key, if available.

2. Continue using the Temporary Unit Code; however, everyone entering the unit (staff, vendors, roommates, and so forth), must use the code and not the STRATIS app to avoid inadvertent deletion of the code. 

3. Use the Master PIN Code, but factory reset the lock after moving out to ensure the security of the new occupant.

4. Have the resident set their account up with an email address and phone number on a Staff-provided mobile device. Then, apply a Custom PIN Code to that lock with that device. Going forward, the resident can then access their unit with the code.

What if I don’t have a cellular internet connection (LTE) near my unit and I have not set up my Wi-Fi network yet?

• Use the property-wide Wi-Fi if available.

• Use a hotspot from staff with a cellular internet connection (LTE).

• Use the Temporary Unit Code for now until you set up your Wi-Fi network.

What if the resident does not plan on getting internet/Wi-Fi set up in their unit and they do not have a cellular internet connection (LTE)?

See the workarounds referenced in the What if a resident does not have a smartphone? above.

My Temporary Unit Code stopped working. How do I fix that?

This problem may be due to someone with active access to the lock using the STRATIS Mobile app near the lock, such as:

• Staff with an active temporary mobile key for that unit

• Vendor invited by your property management team as a Visitor of Staff

• Roommate using the STRATIS Mobile app

The solution is to manually create a new Temporary Unit Code using the lock’s Master PIN Code and ensure your Staff, as well as all residents occupying the unit, understand that the STRATIS Mobile app must not be used on the lock (unless or until the resident decides to use the app for access).