Apple Home Key is a digital technology that allow you to use your iPhone or your Apple Watch to unlock a door. The digital keys is stored inside the Wallet app on your iPhone or your Apple Watch. To unlock a door with Apple Home Key, you will have to use an NFC tap on your iPhone or your watch.
Using Apple Home Key is more faster than using a physical metal key to unlock a door. Apple Home Key allows you to enter a building by tapping your mobile device against a compatible smart lock. In order to use Apple Home Key, a person will have to ensure that there smart lock are compatible with Apple Home Key.
How to Use Apple Home Key
Not all smart locks is compatible with Apple Home Key. The smart lock has to support Apple Home Key, NFC tapping, and Express Mode. If a smart lock do not support Apple Home Key, you will have to unlock the door using an app or a keypad code on the lock.
Using an app or a keypad code to unlock a smart lock is a slower process then using Apple Home Key. Some smart locks supports the Express Mode feature, which allows a person to unlock their door without having to wake their screen or authenticate their device to unlock their door. To use Apple Home Key, a person will need an iPhone XS or newer model.
This is because the iPhone XS and newer models contains the NFC hardware that is required for Apple Home Key to function. Additionally, the iPhone has to be running iOS 15 or a newer version of iOS. A person have to use the Home app to scan the code of their smart lock and add the digital key to their Wallet app.
Additionally, a person should use a smart lock that is compatible with a HomeKit hub like a HomePod. This allows a person to view the status of their lock from anywhere in the world. If they do not use a HomeKit hub, they may not be able to view the status of their lock if they are away from there home.
Express Mode is a feature on newer models of iPhones as well as Apple Watches. Express Mode allow your digital key to continue to work in the background of your device so that you can use your iPhone or watch to unlock your smart lock without having to use your Face ID to authenticate your device. You can turn on Express Mode using a toggle within the Wallet app.
Apple Watch users who has an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer can also use Express Mode. Even if the iPhone or watch has a low battery, the recent models of both devices will allow Apple Home Key to work for several hours even after the devices battery is completely drained. Security is one of the primary feature of Apple Home Key.
Your digital keys are encrypted and stored on a tamper-proof chip on your iPhone and your watch. This ensure that your digital keys are secure even if a person loses their iPhone or their watch. Every time you use your iPhone to unlock a smart lock, the Home app will log this activity.
The Home app will also send you notification. If you use a HomeKit hub to control your smart lock, you can use the remote lockout feature to lock your door using a cellular connection. Apple Home Key is more secure than using a keypad code to unlock a door as any person who view the code on the keypad can see the code.
Additionally, Apple Home Key is more secure than using a lost card because you can revoke the access of that digital key to your smart lock at any time. There are several accessory that can be used with Apple Home Key to ensure that you can always unlock a door. For example, fobs and cards that contain NFC capabilities allow you to have a backup method of unlocking your smart lock.
Even if you do not have your iPhone or your watch with you, you can use your fob or card to unlock your smart lock. Keypads also allow you to provide your guest a temporary code to enter your home. Additionally, you can have a physical key in case of an emergency.
For renters, there are also retrofit smart lock that can be installed over existing door locks. When you purchase a smart lock, there are a variety of feature and models to consider. For instance, premium smart locks include built-in Wi-Fi and keypads as well as offer higher grade of security.
Budget smart locks dont include these feature but will include support for NFC technology. Therefore, there are a variety of smart locks that will meet a persons requirement. Apple Home Key is a method that enable you to unlock a door using your iPhone or watch so that you can have a faster and more secure way into your building.