Help Smart Lock feature doesn't work

JohnJSal · Feb 22, 2018

Hi all. I recently set a PIN to unlock my phone, and I also turned on the option to skip this step when I'm at home.

However, it doesn't seem to work. I still have to enter the PIN at home.

How can I make this work?

Thanks!

tommo47 · Feb 22, 2018

Hi, when you turned on the option in Smart Lock, did you just accept the default location?

When I set mine up initially that location was a street address which, in my case, was not accurate enough. To get mine to work I had to use 'add trusted place' which gave me a red location pointer on my actual location in google maps as shown by the usual blue dot. When that is selected it adds the location in Lat/Long format below a greyed out default location. Mine has worked perfectly ever since.

JohnJSal · Feb 22, 2018

tommo47 said:
Hi, when you turned on the option in Smart Lock, did you just accept the default location?

When I set mine up initially that location was a street address which, in my case, was not accurate enough. To get mine to work I had to use 'add trusted place' which gave me a red location pointer on my actual location in google maps as shown by the usual blue dot. When that is selected it adds the location in Lat/Long format below a greyed out default location. Mine has worked perfectly ever since.

It's weird, actually. I put in the exact address, but when it saves, it seems to remove the street number, leaving just the street name.

I don't know how to fix that.

tommo47 · Feb 22, 2018

Yes, I could only resolve that by carrying out the 'Add trusted place' procedure which puts the Lat/Long coordinates in and that is the most accurate location of all.

Have you tried that? I'm assuming that when you are connected to your wifi access point ie hub/router, you get a reasonably accurate location. Mine shows me to be within a few metres of my hub.

If you don't get an accurate location with wifi geolocation try it with GPS switched on, hopefully you will get a fix, if not step outside your house and try again. You should then get your location.

Tapping 'Add trusted place' in screenshot 2 takes you to the blue dot google location identifier, tapping 'Select this location' takes you back to the start point with the Lat/Long coordinates in the box below the default location which should now be greyed out.

You can use this procedure to add additional trusted places like your workplace or relatives houses etc.

JohnJSal · Feb 23, 2018

That still didn't work. I added the coordinates, and underneath the coordinates it actually lists my real address, so they seem to be correct. But I'm still being asked for a PIN.

I don't know if it matters, but I never use WiFi on my phone. I always use my data service because it's better, and I leave GPS on.

tommo47 · Feb 23, 2018

I have found a device reboot is required now and again to keep Smart Lock active, so it may be worth trying that after initial setup and from time to time you may find the same as I do in that it requires a reboot (if you haven't already done one).

As far as using wifi is concerned, it won't matter if you get a reliable fix and location with GPS in your home but if you don't then that could be the problem. Try switching wifi on, connecting to it and see if wifi geolocation will pick up on your hub.

If your hub/router has never been used it may not be in Google's wifi geolocation database in which case it cannot be used to verify your location.

I have found that a new or relocated hub/router will take about 4 weeks to have a location allocated to it. In the case of a new hub/router it will not be in the database until then, a relocated hub/router will still be in the database but with the location of the previous site.

Unless you are in range of and reasonably close to at least three mobile network masts it is unlikely that geolocation will be accurate enough for Smart Lock to work, the range is 80 metres or so. Mobile network geolocation puts me about 600 metres from my home.

JohnJSal · Feb 23, 2018

Thanks. I will try to reset. The circle that indicates my location on the map does seem rather wide. It might just be that it's not finding me, like you said.

JohnJSal · Feb 23, 2018

Unfortunately, resetting didn't fix it either.

tommo47 · Feb 23, 2018

What result did you get when you connected to your wifi?

As I said earlier my wifi gives me a google maps location close to my hub which allows Smart Lock to work. If your wifi geolocation doesn't give a similar Maps location for you then Smart Lock won't work unless you have a reliable GPS location in your home.

The pale blue area shown in my screenshot is the 80 metre range of Smart Lock centred on my location. If I'm within that area my Smart Lock works.

JohnJSal · Feb 23, 2018

tommo47 said:
What result did you get when you connected to your wifi?

As I said earlier my wifi gives me a google maps location close to my hub which allows Smart Lock to work. If your wifi geolocation doesn't give a similar Maps location for you then Smart Lock won't work unless you have a reliable GPS location in your home.

The pale blue area shown in my screenshot is the 80 metre range of Smart Lock centred on my location. If I'm within that area my Smart Lock works.

The WiFi doesn't show a blue dot for my location like the data connection does, but I still tried it and it added the same location/coordinates and still didn't work.

I seem to be well within the pale blue area shown on my map, but I still have to enter a PIN. I don't understand it.

tommo47 · Feb 23, 2018

Hi, this is strange but there is one more thing I can think of which may help to find a solution.

Run Google Maps in Satellite View and tap the Location button. Where is the blue dot in relation to your property?

When I do that the blue dot shows as being very close to the position of my hub. This is with GPS switched off and therefore using wifi geolocation. If I do the same test with both wifi and GPS switched off the blue dot moves about 600 metres to the west of my property which is my mobile network geolocation.

JohnJSal · Feb 24, 2018

tommo47 said:
Hi, this is strange but there is one more thing I can think of which may help to find a solution.

Run Google Maps in Satellite View and tap the Location button. Where is the blue dot in relation to your property?

When I do that the blue dot shows as being very close to the position of my hub. This is with GPS switched off and therefore using wifi geolocation. If I do the same test with both wifi and GPS switched off the blue dot moves about 600 metres to the west of my property which is my mobile network geolocation.

View attachment 129116

It's got me pretty much right outside my window, and most of my house is within the blue circle.

tommo47 · Feb 24, 2018

Your house should ideally be at the centre of the blue 'smart lock' circle. If you are at the edge it's at the limit of the range.

When you go through the 'add trusted place' set-up you can slide the map so that the point of the red location pin can be put directly over your blue location dot/house.

JohnJSal · Feb 24, 2018

tommo47 said:
Your house should ideally be at the centre of the blue 'smart lock' circle. If you are at the edge it's at the limit of the range.

When you go through the 'add trusted place' set-up you can slide the map so that the point of the red location pin can be put directly over your blue location dot/house.

That's what I did. I put the red tab on my location. Still no luck.

Help Smart Lock feature doesn't work

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

On Yer Bike, In Yer Chair

Android Expert

BEST TECH IN 2023

Smartphones

Best Android Phones

Upcoming

Best iPhones

Upcoming

Tablets

Best Tablets

Upcoming

Laptops

Best Laptops

Upcoming

Televisions

Best TVs

Upcoming

Game Consoles

Best Game Consoles

Upcoming

Wearables

Best Wearables

Upcoming

Smart Home

Smart Home Tech

Upcoming

Similar threads