Latch R2 operation

The Latch R2 is the reader installed at building entrances, common-area doors, and some elevators. This article covers how residents and staff use it day-to-day — unlocking with the DOOR app, a doorcode, or a Latch Keycard, and reading the device's response.

About this device

The Latch R2 is not the lock itself — it's the reader that authenticates the credential and signals the door lock (or, for elevators, the elevator control panel) to release. When you present a valid credential, the reader briefly releases the lock for a few seconds, then re-locks automatically.

You'll typically find a Latch R2 at:

• The main building entrance.
• Garage or service-entrance doors.
• Common spaces like the gym, mailroom, or pool.
• Inside elevator cabs or near elevator-call kiosks (with Elevator Floor Access, the reader controls which floors you can reach).

The reader has a keypad on its face. Touching the keypad wakes it — the keys illuminate when the reader is active and ready to accept input.

Unlocking with the DOOR app

1. Approach the door with your phone. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
2. Open the DOOR app and tap the door tile. You can also use the iOS Lock Screen widget or the Android widget if you have one set up.
3. Tap Unlock — the reader's indicator LEDs light up in a clockwise animation and the audible buzzer sounds. The lock releases.
4. Open the door before the relock window closes (5 or 10 seconds, depending on the property's configuration).

If the door doesn't open in time, tap Unlock again.

Unlocking with a doorcode

1. Touch any key on the keypad to wake the reader. The keypad LEDs illuminate.
2. Enter your 7-digit doorcode.
3. On a successful entry, the indicator LEDs animate in a clockwise sequence and the buzzer sounds. The lock releases.
4. Open the door before the relock window closes.

If the keypad LEDs blink multiple times without releasing the lock, the doorcode was not accepted. Double-check the code, wait a moment, and try again.

Unlocking with a Latch Keycard

1. Touch any key on the keypad to wake the reader.
2. Hold your Latch Keycard flat against the center of the reader. NFC range is very short — the card must be in close contact.
3. The indicator LEDs animate clockwise and the buzzer sounds. The lock releases.
4. Open the door before the relock window closes.

Only Latch Keycards issued through DOOR OS are guaranteed compatible. If your Keycard is not working, see the Keycard troubleshooting article.

Reading the reader's response

The R2 is wired-powered and has no batteries — a completely dark, unresponsive reader means the device is not receiving power.

Relock timing

After the reader grants access, the lock releases for either 5 seconds or 10 seconds (set by the property manager during installation). Once the window closes, the lock returns to its locked state automatically.

If the door is wired with a door contact sensor and the property has enabled Automatic Relock on Door Open, the lock will re-lock immediately when the door opens — even before the timer expires — to prevent someone behind you from slipping through.

Using an Elevator Floor Access (EFA) reader

Some properties install a Latch R2 inside the elevator cab or near the elevator-call kiosk. When Elevator Floor Access is enabled, the reader controls which floors you can select after authenticating.

Regular elevators (you press the floor button after entering the cab):

1. Step into the elevator cab and find the Latch R2 reader inside.
2. Unlock the reader using the DOOR app, doorcode, or Keycard, the same way you would unlock any other door.
3. Once the reader indicates a successful unlock, press the floor button for the floor you want.
4. The elevator will only respond to floors your property manager has granted you access to. If you cannot select a floor you expected, contact your property manager.

Destination dispatch elevators (you select your floor at a kiosk before entering the cab):

1. Approach the elevator-call kiosk in the lobby. The Latch R2 will be mounted near the kiosk.
2. Unlock the reader using the DOOR app, doorcode, or Keycard.
3. Once the reader indicates a successful unlock, press the desired floor button on the kiosk.
4. Follow the kiosk's instructions for which elevator car to board.

Checking which floors you have access to

If the door uses EFA, you can see your assigned floors in the DOOR app:

1. Open the DOOR app.
2. Tap the door tile for the elevator R2 in your door list.
3. On the Device Detail page, tap Floor Information.
4. The screen lists the floors you can reach with your credential.

If the Floor Information option is not visible for a reader, that reader does not have EFA enabled — all floors that the elevator serves are reachable with a valid unlock.

Sharing access to elevators

If your property allows it, you can share elevator access the same way you share door access — through Guests in the DOOR app. On the Select doors screen during guest invitation, tap See floors beneath the elevator name to view which floors are available to share. Single Day Doorcodes can also share floor access for short-term guests when the property has enabled them.

The floors you can share are set by the property manager. If you don't see a sharing option, your property has not enabled guest floor access for that elevator.

If it didn't work

• Reader keypad doesn't light up when you touch it: the device may be unpowered. Move on to another entrance and contact your property manager.
• Doorcode is rejected (keypad LEDs blink and lock doesn't release): confirm you're entering the right code for this door. Different doors at the same property may use different codes. If the code was working previously and stopped, see My doorcode isn't unlocking my door.
• Keycard not accepted: confirm the card is held flat against the center of the reader. If the card consistently fails on multiple readers, it may be damaged — contact your property manager for a replacement.
• DOOR app says "Unlock" but the door does not open: the reader may have granted access but the lock or strike has a separate issue. If the buzzer sounded and the LEDs animated, the credential was accepted — push or pull the door firmly within the relock window. If the buzzer did not sound, the credential did not reach the reader; verify Bluetooth is on and you are within range.
• Elevator does not respond after a successful unlock: confirm the floor you want is in your access list (Device Detail → Floor Information). If it is and the elevator still doesn't respond, contact your property manager.

Related articles

• Latch R2 overview
• Latch R2 troubleshooting
• Unlocking your door with the DOOR app
• Elevator Floor Access Groups