Smart Lock Temporary Access Codes Guide¶

Guide to creating and managing temporary access codes for UK smart locks covering time-limited codes, single-use codes, recurring schedules, and best practices for guests and service providers.

Temporary Code Types and Use Cases¶

Temporary access codes allow you to grant access to specific people for specific periods without sharing your permanent code. Three types: time-limited codes (valid within a defined window e.g. cleaner 9-11am Tuesdays), single-use codes (expire after first use e.g. delivery driver), and recurring schedule codes (repeat weekly e.g. dog walker 1-3pm weekdays). Yale Home supports codes from 1 hour to 365 days, Nuki from 1 hour to unlimited, Ultion from 1 hour to 90 days. Time-limited codes are ideal for Airbnb guests, single-use for emergency access, and recurring for regular service providers.

Creating and Managing Temporary Codes¶

Step 1: Open the app and navigate to user management. Step 2: Select Add User. Step 3: Choose code type - temporary, single-use, or recurring. Step 4: Set valid-from and valid-until date/time. For recurring, select day and time window. Step 5: Generate a PIN code (4-8 digits) - avoid 1234, 0000, or house number. Step 6: Name the code clearly (e.g. Airbnb Guest - Smith - June 2026). Step 7: Set max uses (single-use) or unlimited. Step 8: Enable notifications for temporary code usage. Step 9: Share the code via encrypted message (WhatsApp, Signal). Never post codes publicly. Step 10: Review active codes weekly and delete expired ones.

Specifications and Comparison¶

Code Type	Validity	Typical Use	Expiry Action
Time-limited	Date/time window	Airbnb guests, holiday let	Auto-expires at end time
Single-use	One operation only	Emergency access, delivery	Expires after first use
Recurring schedule	Weekly/daily pattern	Cleaner, dog walker	Active until deleted
Permanent	No expiry	Family members	Admin-only deletion
One-time use	Valid for 1 unlock	Parcel delivery	Expires after 5 mins unused

FAQ¶

Can I set a temporary code for specific days and times?: Yes - most apps support recurring schedules. Set a code that works only on Tuesday mornings 9-11am for a cleaner.
Are temporary codes secure?: Yes - they are encrypted and stored locally. They cannot be used before activation or after expiry.
Can delivery drivers use temporary codes?: Some locks support one-time delivery codes through Amazon Key. For standard deliveries, use a single-use code. For more information see our Smart Lock Multi-User Access Guide.

Last updated: 2026-05-31.

External Resources¶

For further information consult authority guidelines at the Electrical Safety First.