Yale lock privacy mode and dead batteries

[Whokohan]

Ive been out of town for an extended period of time, and had a friend check in on my house from time to time with guest access on the Nest lock and had no problems.

They had to go out if town for a short while and while they were away, the batteries died on the lock, no problem, I sent them the 9v battery instructions.

However, today after a few unlock attempts, by all accounts it seems like they somehow enabled privacy mode from the keypad side of the lock. Is there a way at all to disable this with the lock itself out of power? We tried holding the battery on for an extended period of time to see if it can charge just enough for me to control via the app remotely with no luck.

Anyone have any experience with this? Thank you for your input in advance.

[David_K]

If the lock is out of power, you won't be able to control it with the app. You can try disabling it on the lock. See the "How to turn privacy mode on or off your lock" steps linked below.

How to use Privacy Mode on the Nest × Yale Lock - Google Nest Help

[Whokohan]

Thanks, but no one is inside the house, it's not possible to access to unit from the inside.

[David_K · Accepted solution]

Ah I see. If they press the Yale button on the lock or touch their palm to the keypad, if Privacy Mode is enabled, they'll hear “Please try again at another time” and won’t be able to enter a passcode. Assuming you're right and privacy mode was enabled, it can only be turned off with the Nest app, so the lock will need to be powered and connected to Wi-Fi and the internet to get your command to turn off privacy mode unfortunately.

[clcsweetheart]

I know this is over a year ago but I wanted to see how to were able to finally enter your unit. What did you have to do to turn off privacy mode?

[chaconmorales]

Hi @clcsweetheart,

I appreciate you taking the time to post here in the community space. I understand that you want to know how to turn off the privacy mode on the Nest x Yale Lock. Here's how you can do it:

There are two main ways to turn off privacy mode on your Nest x Yale Lock:

Using the Nest App:

1. Open the Nest App: Locate and launch the Nest app on your phone or tablet.
2. Select Your Lock: On the Nest app screen, find and tap on the Nest x Yale Lock you want to adjust.
3. Access Lock Settings: Once you've selected your lock, look for the "Settings" icon (it might be a gear icon or have a similar visual cue). Tap on it to access the lock's settings menu.
4. Disable Privacy Mode: Within the lock settings, locate the option for "Privacy Mode" or something similar (depending on your specific lock model). It might be a toggle switch or a button with an "On" or "Off" status indicator. Tap on it to disable privacy mode.

Using the Lock's interior button (if applicable):

1. Press and Hold the Button: Once you can get inside of your door, locate the button designated for privacy mode on your lock. Press and hold this button for a few seconds (typically 3-5 seconds) until you hear confirmation beeps or see a visual indicator light that privacy mode has been disabled.

You can also follow the steps from this guide to know How to use Privacy Mode on the Nest × Yale Lock.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best,

Mario

[clcsweetheart]

Thanks, Mario! However, the instructions you provided do not work if the batter on the actual lock has died, right? In that instance what should we do? Would holding the 9V batter to give the lock some power allow us to access privacy mode in the app? Or calling a locksmith is our only option?

[chaconmorales]

Hi clcsweetheart,

Thank you for following up. I understand your frustration with the device that does not open. I apologize for the inconvenience you're experiencing. 

You can use a 9 Volt battery to temporarily charge the lock, so you can enter your passcode on the lock’s keypad to lock or unlock it. However, even if you could supply external power (9 Volt Battery), it wouldn't affect the Nest app's ability to access privacy mode. Privacy mode is a software function controlled by the lock's communication with the Nest app.

Access Nest x Yale Lock if unable to get inside:

• Locksmith (Last Resort):
  • As a last resort, if all else fails and you're urgently locked out, a qualified locksmith might be able to assist. However, they might need to bypass the lock's internal mechanisms, potentially causing damage and voiding your warranty.

Follow the steps from this guide to know How to lock and unlock the Nest × Yale Lock if the battery is drained. 

Please keep me posted.

Best regards,

Mario

[Bablexx]

Turn off my power saving mode automatically