Most things around us light up, beep, talk, sing, have a touchscreen or do all of the above. Everything seems to be plugged in or use batteries, even something as simple as the deadbolt on your door. But the world turns and batteries die, so what do you do when your keyless smart lock runs out of battery power? 

Many smart locks also have key access in case you do get locked out or simply prefer using your key, but keyless entry is becoming more popular. A smart lock like theYale Assure Lock SL is completely keyless, making it lock-pick proof and more secure than the average deadbolt. But what are your options if your battery dies?

How to unlock the Yale Assure Lock SL when the batteries die

Before you pitch a tent in your front yard, get yourself a standard 9-volt battery -- available from any nearby convenience store -- and get ready to unlock your door as if you had magic powers.

Materials needed:

• 9-volt battery
• 4 AA batteries (to replace dead ones)

Estimated time: Less than 1 minute

Also:Yale Assure Lock SL review: Never get locked out again

Step 1: Get a new 9-volt battery

Image: Maria Diaz / ZDNet

The Yale Assure Lock SL uses four AA batteries to operate, but a 9-volt battery will give it enough power to get into your home until you replace the dead batteries.

Step 2: Locate the two terminals under your Yale Lock's touchscreen

Image: Maria Diaz / ZDNet

The base of your Yale Assure Lock SL has two terminals at the bottom of it. 

Step 3: Hold the 9-volt battery up to the terminals 

Image: Maria Diaz / ZDNet

Once you find the terminals, simply hold the 9V battery up to them, lining up the battery's terminals with the ones on the lock.

Step 4: Wait for the screen to turn on

Image: Maria Diaz / ZDNet

As soon as the battery's terminals make contact with the ones on the lock, the screen will turn on and you'll hear "Welcome to Yale real living". Simply enter your code to unlock the door. 

Step 5: Replace the batteries on the lock so this doesn't happen again

Your lock will let you know when your batteries are about to die, so pay attention to the health of your device. You can promptly replace the batteries while the lock is still powered, and you won't have to run out to the store to get a 9-volt battery in the future.

Yale Assure Lock SL

$151.49 at Amazon

FAQ

How do I change the Yale lock's batteries?

To change the batteries on a Yale Assure Lock SL, follow these steps:

1. Unscrew the battery cover backplate (on the indoor side of the lock) with a Phillips head screwdriver
2. Remove the old batteries and replace them for four new AA batteries
3. Replace the battery cover with the screws

Will my Yale Lock reset if it runs out of batteries?

The Yale Assure Lock SL won't reset if it runs out of batteries, simply replace them and continue using them as you were before the batteries died. All your information is safely stored on the Yale app, so your lock codes and history are safe without the batteries.

How do I check my Yale lock's batteries?

If you want to check the status of the batteries in your Yale Lock Assure SL, simply go to the Yale Access App and select Settings (the gear icon to the right of your lock). This will open your settings menu, and it gives you a percentage of your battery life.

According to Yale, you'll start receiving daily low-battery notifications when your batteries reach 25% capacity. These notifications will stop after you replace the batteries and operate the lock three times to reset the low battery mode.

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