Free template · updated November 3, 2026
Smart lock instructions for guests (template)
A smart lock means no keys to lose, but guests can still get caught out by auto-lock, a code that only starts at check-in time, or a battery that dies on day three. Those are the calls hosts get.
This template explains when the code works, how to wake the keypad, how locking works from inside and out, what the battery warning looks like, and the backup way in. Fill in your lock's steps and keep the real code out of this page.
The template
Replace anything in [brackets] with your own details.
Your code
- Your personal code is [Door code], sent to you on [Day code is sent].
- It works from [Check-in time] on your arrival day until [Checkout time] on your last day.
- Please don't share it with anyone outside your group.
Unlocking
- Wake the keypad by [Wake method, e.g. touching the screen with your palm].
- Enter your code, then press [Confirm key].
- [What happens next, e.g. the bolt turns by itself, or turn the handle within five seconds].
Locking
- From outside: [Outside lock method, e.g. press the lock symbol once].
- From inside: turn the thumb latch.
- Auto-lock: [Auto-lock setting, e.g. the door locks itself 30 seconds after it closes]. Please make sure you know your code before you step out.
- You can always open the door from inside without the code.
Low battery
The keypad shows [Low battery signal, e.g. a flashing red light] when the batteries are low. Please text us so we can change them. Spare batteries are in [Battery location].
If something goes wrong
- The code won't work: check you're at [Which door], then enter it slowly.
- After [Number] wrong tries the keypad locks for [Minutes]. Please wait and try again.
- The keypad is dark: [Backup entry, e.g. touch a 9-volt battery to the terminals under the keypad, or use the key in the lockbox at Lockbox location].
- Still locked out: call [Host name] at [Host phone]. We can often unlock it remotely.
Copied. Paste it into your welcome book or message.
Tips
- Give each booking its own code that starts and ends with the stay, rather than one code for everyone.
- Change the batteries on a schedule, not when guests tell you they're dead.
- Keep a backup way in, such as a hidden key in a lockbox, for battery or wifi failures.
- Check the inside thumb latch always opens without a code; guests must be able to get out in an emergency.
- If the lock relies on wifi, test what happens during an internet outage before you need to know.
Put it on one guest page instead of a binder
Keegix turns your welcome book into one link and a QR sign by the door. Upload the binder you already have and AI drafts the page in about a minute, or paste this template in. Free forever for one property.
Questions
Should each Airbnb guest get a different smart lock code?
Yes. A unique code per booking, active only for that stay, means past guests can't get back in and you can see which code was used.
What happens if a smart lock battery dies?
Most locks warn for weeks before they die, and many have a backup key or emergency battery terminal. Tell guests what the warning looks like and where the backup is.
Can guests get locked out by auto-lock?
Yes, if they step out without knowing their code. Remind them in the instructions and keep the auto-lock delay long enough to grab a bag.
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Free to use
Copy it, change it, print it, use it with any platform. Sharing it with a host group, on a blog or in a forum? A link back to this page helps other hosts find the latest version:
https://keegix.com/house-manual/smart-lock/