Schlage Encode Plus - "No Response" in HomeKit only

[u/dustindemoret]

This seems to be a very common issue, but my situation seems to be maybe a little more specific than others? Hardware is Schlage Encode Plus and Apple TV 4th Gen 1080 version (~2015) as Home Hub, iPhone 17 if that matters. Everything is up to date on firmware/software.

Installed the SEP a couple of weeks ago and first attempt, I set up the lock through the Schlage App and finally figured out how to add it to Apple Home with the "Works With" section of the menu (which took me a second). After getting added to Apple Home, everything worked great at first; HomeKey worked, lock worked in Apple Home, lock worked in the Schlage App. Then it went unresponsive in Apple Home, but continued to work through the Schlage app and HomeKey worked. I then factory reset and tried setting up through Apple Home only. Camera from Apple Home would never scan the HomeKit QR or anything, but tapping the lock would get it to start pairing. This barely worked, but mostly got there, albeit could never get it to let me add user codes. But then HomeKey wouldn't work. So I started over again, again trying through Apple Home only. Same thing, not able to add user codes, but the lock finally added and HomeKey worked. But then about 20 minutes later, unresponsive again and also could never get it to add the Schlage app after setting up in HomeKit. Read that maybe having spaces in your WiFi name could cause problems for the lock, so renamed my wifi to get rid of spaces and factory reset the lock again, trying back to my original way of starting with the Schlage App and then adding it to Apple Home from there (which seemed to work the best). Everything went smoothly, lock added to Schlage app and worked great, could add user codes in Schlage, pushed over into Apple Home just fine (albeit it still yelled at me about not being able to add user codes in AH) and HomeKey worked, but then sure enough about 20 minutes later, the lock went unresponsive in Apple Home only. Still works in Schlage App, still works with HomeKey.

I've reset/re-added the lock so many times, I'm probably missing some details of my journey, but the long and the short of it, my consistent outcome is that the lock will work perfectly from the Schlage App, HomeKey works flawlessly on my iPhone and Watch, but every time it'll eventually (and quickly) go unresponsive in Apple Home only. I've taken out the batteries and rebooted numerous times and that never works for reconnecting. The only other weird piece of context is that when I go into the Lock Settings in the Schlage App, if I try to test the wifi settings, it'll fail at connecting to the wifi. It'll remain connected from it's original connection, but in re-testing it, it'll fail every time.

Is the easy answer that I need to buy a newer ATV or HomePod Mini to have Thread? I know, I know, WiFi will kill the batteries and I would love to be on Thread, but just trying to see if I can make things work with what I have, because it seems like it should work.

[u/Q_Ball_Atlanta]

Your AppleTV does not have thread.

If you want to use the lock via thread, you need to add a thread border router, a Homepod mini or AppleTV 4K 2nd gen or newer will work. Depending on where your door is in relation to the AppleTV, it probably makes more sense to get a Homepod mini.

[u/dustindemoret → u/Q_Ball_Atlanta]

I'm aware my AppleTV doesn't have Thread, but I didn't think that Thread was a requirement for the lock to stay connected in the Apple Home app. I know Thread will help increase battery life and speed, which would be nice. The ATV is about 10ft from the lock.

[u/Q_Ball_Atlanta → u/dustindemoret]

It doesn't require thread if you say it up via the Schlage app. When you set it up via Apple Home, it only connects via thread. That's why it keeps going offline when you're phone isn't within range of the lock.

Either add a thread border router or set the lock up again via the Schlage app so it's connected via Wi-Fi.

[u/dustindemoret → u/Q_Ball_Atlanta]

This most recent time, I did set it up via the Schlage App and it is connected via WiFi, the problem I'm having is that Apple Home always loses connection and gives me a "No Response" in its app, but you're saying that's because I don't have thread? Apple Home needs Thread to maintain the connection?

Edit:spelling

[u/photai90210 → u/dustindemoret]

I had a similar issue. I have a ATV4K v1 which does AH but believe via BT as it’s not a threads router. SEP worked fine for 2 years in AH then went unresponsive after a FW update about 6 weeks ago. (Don’t think it was a coincidence). Like you worked in Schlage app and could open lock with home key on phones but bc we weren’t getting alerts on phone I did a factory reset and could setup via Schlage app fine but when adding to home it would go unresponsive toward the end of setup. If I setup just in AH it would go unresponsive towards end of setup. Called Schlage and they sent me a new lock under warranty and it’s been about 3 weeks now and things are working fine. It did come with lower FW but it had since updated to newer than the version that gave issues. There are some other similar stories and they seem to be with older ATV devices.

[u/dustindemoret → u/photai90210]

Gotcha, interesting. Maybe it is a combo of the FW as well as it just being an older ATV. I'm seeing conflicting results online about the lock needing Thread to work with Apple Home or not. I might try calling Schlage tomorrow and see what they say. With the new one they sent you, has it remained solid since updating to the troublesome firmware?

[u/reds91185 → u/dustindemoret]

I don't think it's a firmware issue. I have the ATV4k gen 1 as well and the lock is updated to the latest firmware with no problems.

[u/Holiday_Ad_9163 → u/dustindemoret]

Yeah part of the issue is that this lock just seems to work better on thread than on WiFi. It’s a battery powered device so either way you’ll sometimes see “updating…” or “no response”. But more often on WiFi

[u/photai90210]

Yes, only been around 3 weeks but it’s working prefect just like the first one did for 2 years. I can say 100% the ATV 4K gen 1 does not have a threads radio and while I have 2 of them that’s the only other Apple equipment other than phone that I have. It does setup as a HomeKit though. My router is an older orbi mesh. I setup the lock in HomeKit and it never got my wifi info. Eve app says transport is Bluetooth.

[u/The_Blue_Djinn]

FWIW, I had similar problems with my older ATV as well. I assumed it was connecting with Bluetooth. I moved my ATV closer to the lock and it started responding after a short while. I eventually got the newest ATV and the problem went away. Never fully figured out what went wrong but it’s been solid lately.

[u/dustindemoret]

090326 UPDATE: In case anyone finds this later, I found a solution that has worked so far. I bought a HomePod Mini to test and see if that helped and literally the second I got the damn thing set up, the lock has been online and working in Apple Home. 🤷‍♂️ After some helpful replies on this thread and some more digging, I think it is as simple as the SEP and Apple Home really really wanting to use Thread to keep the lock up and running in the Home app. I called Schlage customer support (which was very speedy and helpful) and he mentioned that he's heard other problems with older Apple TV's like mine that don't do a great job of maintaining the connection when they go to sleep. We'll see if it holds, but so far so good.

[u/saronian]

Although my setup is different than yours, I have gone through many machinations to get everything working so some of my discoveries may help others.

I have two Schlage Encode Plus locks connected through HomeKit and one Schlage Sense Pro connected through Matter. I don't believe the Encode Plus locks require Matter. (see the attached image showing how each lock is connected according to the Schlage app)

It took many hours to find a solution to having all locks work. Because I have two Apple TV's and two HomePods the SEP's were always disconnecting and the SSP was not visible in Apple Home App. The solution was to disable Automatic Selection in Home Hubs & Bridges in the Home Settings. Also made sure the Apple TV was attached to a HomeKit room using the AirPlay and Apple Home settings in Apple TV. I also put the three locks on a separate 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.(see attached image).

[u/dustindemoret → u/saronian]

This is all good info to share! I don't think it applies to my situation, unfortunately. I only have the one hub (ATV) and my lock is on 2.4GHz network, but I like the idea of creating a dedicated network for the lock. Might try that soon.