My daily doorcode isn't unlocking the door — what do I check? – DOOR

If a daily doorcode — the kind a resident or property manager sends you for a short visit — isn't opening the door, the code itself is usually fine. In most cases, the issue is how or when the code is being entered: the lock wasn't woken first, the digits were entered too slowly, the code's time window hasn't started (or has already ended), or a Latch M device has its deadbolt extended, which blocks daily doorcodes by design. A manual door sync fixes the rest of the cases when the doorcode was sent recently and hasn't reached the device yet.

This article is for the person trying to use a daily doorcode (guest or resident). If you are the one who sent the code and want to revoke or resend it, see Inviting Guests and Revoking Guest Access.

Symptom

You enter a daily doorcode on the Latch lens and nothing happens.
The numbers on the lens blink after you enter the code.
The code worked yesterday but not today, or vice versa.

Quick fix

Run these in order:

Wake the lock first. Tap the device lens once so the keypad lights up, then start typing the code. Entering digits on a sleeping lock usually fails silently.
Enter all digits without long pauses. If you wait too long between digits, the lock times out and clears what you typed. Type the full code in one go.
Confirm you're in the code's active window. Daily doorcodes are time-bound — typically either today until midnight, or starting at midnight tonight and ending at midnight tomorrow (24-hour window). If the sender told you "tomorrow's code," it does not work tonight.
Confirm the code is for the door you're at. If more than one door was involved, check that the code was issued for the specific door you're trying to unlock. Codes are scoped to specific doors.
If the code was sent, updated, or revoked recently, ask for a door sync. Non-internet-connected doors only receive new or revoked codes after a door sync. The person who sent the code (or their property team) can perform a sync. See How to perform a Door Sync.

If the device is a Latch M and the deadbolt is extended

On a Latch M device, extending the deadbolt disables daily doorcodes and 15-minute doorcodes until the deadbolt is retracted. This is a security design — once the door is locked from the inside, short-lived guest codes stop working.

If you're outside a Latch M door and a daily doorcode is failing with no other apparent cause, the occupant or property management team may have left the deadbolt thrown. Reach out to whoever is inside the unit or to your property management team — retracting the deadbolt restores doorcode access.

Possible root causes

Lock asleep when typing started. The device ignores presses until it's woken. Tap the lens first.
Timeout between digits. The lock clears partial entries if you pause too long. Enter the full code in one continuous sequence.
Code is outside its active window. Daily doorcodes expire — they are not permanent. Double-check the day the sender specified.
Code is for a different door. The sender may have scoped the code to a specific door that isn't the one you're standing at.
Door needs a sync. Recently issued or recently revoked doorcodes don't reach non-internet-connected doors until a manual sync or a DOOR App unlock occurs.
Latch M with deadbolt extended. As above — retract the deadbolt.

When to escalate

Contact the person who sent the code if:

You're not sure whether the code was for today or tomorrow.
You're not sure which door the code applies to.
You think the code may have been sent with a typo or to the wrong person.
You need the code sent again.

Contact your property management team if:

The code was sent by your property team (not by another resident) and the sync or validity questions above need confirmation on their end.
Other residents at the property report the same type of failure today.

Contact DOOR Support if:

You've confirmed the code is correct and active, the lock was woken, digits were entered in one sequence, and a door sync was performed, and it still doesn't unlock.
The numbers on the Latch lens are blinking in a way that persists after a sync — this points to a device-side issue. See The numbers on the Latch lens are blinking after typing my doorcode in or attempting to use my Keycard.

When you contact any of the above, include: the door name, the date and time you tried, whether you see the lens light up when tapped, and whether a doorcode from anyone else works at the same door right now.

This article does not cover

Permanent resident doorcodes (not the daily/guest kind) — see Unlocking your doors and Can I change my Doorcode?.
"Out of Schedule" error on a door that is on a schedule — see I'm getting an 'Out of Schedule' error in the DOOR App.
Keycard not working — see My Latch Keycard isn't unlocking the door — what do I check?.
Lens numbers blinking after keycard or doorcode entry — see The numbers on the Latch lens are blinking after typing my doorcode in or attempting to use my Keycard.
Inviting or revoking a daily doorcode as the sender — see Inviting Guests and Revoking Guest Access.
App unlock / Bluetooth errors — see I'm having issues unlocking my door or seeing a Bluetooth Error.

Questions this article answers

"My daily doorcode isn't working."
"Why isn't the guest doorcode unlocking the door?"
"The doorcode worked yesterday but not today."
"Do I need to wake the lock before entering a doorcode?"
"Does the Latch M deadbolt block doorcodes?"
"Do doorcodes need a door sync after they're issued?"

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My daily doorcode isn't unlocking the door — what do I check?