Hygienic Unlock

Hygienic unlock provides temporary access during a lock session, followed by relocking. The session continues afterward. To finish a session permanently, use the normal unlock process or an available permanent emergency release.

Soft emergency release is a separate temporary-access option with its own use allowance. It has no re-lock deadline or hygiene penalty. Its own optional settings can pause the timer, require a new re-lock photo without an approval wait, and add time based on the unlocked duration. A soft release does not consume hygienic uses, and the two openings cannot be active at the same time.

Configure Breaks Before Starting

In self-lock or shared-lock setup, enable Enable hygienic unlock (temporary access) and review its settings before starting. For an existing keyholder-controlled session, check the current rules with your keyholder.

Unlock type	When an ordinary break becomes available
Limited uses	While there are uses remaining from Maximum uses per session.
Time-based	After the configured interval. The first interval starts when the lock starts; later intervals start when the previous ordinary break is completed.
Scheduled	During a configured weekday and time window, once per occurrence of that slot. Each slot can have its own break duration.

Set the Hygienic unlock window, or each scheduled slot's break duration, to allow enough time to complete the entire relock flow. The default is 30 minutes; the configured duration can be from 1 minute to 7 days.

For scheduled breaks, the time window controls when you can start. The break duration controls how long you have after starting. For example, a slot from 18:00 to 20:00 with a 30-minute break lets you start at 19:50 and relock by 20:20. Schedules normally use the wearer's account timezone. Check the app's Starts in or Ends in countdown, especially when travelling.

Timer Freeze and Late Penalties

Freeze timer during hygienic break pauses the lock timer until you complete relocking. If it is off, the hygienic break does not itself pause the timer. Other freeze rules may still apply.

An extension freeze started during the break preserves the original paused card cooldown and accumulated time. Re-locking ends the break's pause, but a separate keyholder or extension freeze stays active until it expires or is removed. If that separate freeze ends first, the timer stays paused until re-locking.

Penalty time if exceeded controls the late-return penalty. A positive duration sets a fixed penalty; leaving it at zero selects Auto (based on overtime).

Zero does not disable the late penalty

The automatic penalty adds 1 hour for each started 10-minute block overdue when you complete relocking. For example, 1–10 minutes late adds 1 hour, and 11–20 minutes late adds 2 hours. Timer locks receive added time; card-game locks convert penalty time into red cards according to their card settings. Check the displayed penalty before starting your break.

The active break's countdown is the deadline to follow. Closing the app or dismissing a reminder does not pause that countdown or finish the break.

While the break and its lock session are active, pending shock-queue deliveries wait for confirmed relock. This does not stop output already in progress, and the break's countdown expiring does not resume the queue. See Shock Delivery & Queues for pause, stop, and expiry behavior, including what happens if the session ends.

Start a Hygienic Unlock

1. Open your active lock's controls and choose Hygienic Unlock when available.
2. Review the break duration, late penalty, and any confirmation prompt before starting.
3. Wait for Hygienic Unlock Active. The app shows the original combination photo or generated digits for a combination lock. For a device lock, use the available device controls to unlock it.
4. Check the countdown and prepare to finish relocking before it expires.

Only one hygienic break can be active for the session at a time, and a soft emergency release must be completed before starting it. Starting a break in the app does not physically open a combination box, and a connected device still needs its unlock command to succeed.

If you close the reminder, return to the dashboard's Finish your hygienic unlock banner and choose Open re-lock. The banner changes to Re-lock overdue after the deadline. Don't show again for this hygienic unlock only dismisses the reminder for that break.

Complete Relocking

Choose the relock method in Hygienic Unlock Active. You can keep the same method or choose another available method. For a combination box, use a new combination because the old one was revealed during the break.

Upload a New Combination Photo

1. Keep the box open or otherwise accessible while setting its new combination.
2. Take a clear photo with every code wheel visible, then choose Upload Photo → Choose Image.
3. Select Upload & Re-lock. If a photo-readability check appears, review it and complete the confirmation.
4. Wait for successful completion and confirm that the break is no longer active.
5. Then close the box with the key inside and scramble the wheels. Keep your local photo until the upload and relock have succeeded.

Selecting an image alone does not save the new combination. If upload fails, keep the box accessible, resolve the error, and retry.

Generate a New Code

1. Choose Generate Code and set Digit length to match your box, from 3–12 digits.
2. Set the displayed code on the open box and check that it works. If you choose Regenerate, update the physical box too.
3. Choose Scramble & Re-lock.
4. Complete the scrambler and select its final Start lock button to submit the relock. The animation alone does not save it.
5. Wait for success and confirm that the break has ended before closing the box and scrambling its wheels.

Relock a Supported Device

1. Open Device controls & primary device when available.
2. Check which device will be the session's primary device, and use its controls to lock it physically.
3. Return to the relock flow, choose Confirm Re-lock, and confirm only after checking that the named device is physically locked.
4. Wait for completion. The session resumes with that primary device and its normal unlock restrictions.

Check which device the session will protect

Changing the primary device changes which device this session protects. Relocking with a photo or generated code removes the previous device's primary-device protection; a separate additional-device restriction may still apply. Other registered devices do not automatically become protected, and existing additional-device restrictions remain in place.

If device controls cannot connect, see Supported Devices and Device Connection Troubleshooting. Confirming relock is not a substitute for physically locking the device.

Verification After Relocking

If Daily Verification is enabled, completing the break creates a separate request for a lock-up verification photo. Follow the notification and its deadline. That proof photo is separate from a combination photo: uploading a new combination does not complete the verification request. See Daily Verification for submission windows and hygiene-related pauses and credit.

Location-Based Unlock

When available to your account, Location-based unlock → Configure Locations lets you set allowed locations, their radii, and the required location accuracy.

This offers an alternative way to start a break when the ordinary interval, count, or schedule rules are not met. It does not add a location check to every ordinary break that already meets those rules.

If the app asks for location verification, allow location access and use a fresh reading while inside a configured area. The check can fail if the reading is too old, insufficiently accurate, or outside the radius. Once verified, the break starts and its countdown applies normally.

Keyholder-Granted Breaks

For an active shared session with hygienic unlock enabled, the keyholder can use Grant Hygienic Unlock to offer a one-time break outside the ordinary limits.

The grant has two separate durations:

• Grant expires after: how long the wearer has to accept it. The default is 24 hours, with a configurable range of 1 minute to 30 days.
• Break duration: how long the break lasts after it starts. The keyholder can use the lock's default or choose a custom duration for that grant.

The wearer must accept the grant before it expires. Sending the grant alone does not start the break. Accepting it bypasses the normal availability and location checks, and the granted break does not consume an ordinary use or restart the ordinary interval cooldown. The lock's late-return penalty still applies.

A Control Pass can also give link visitors a Grant hygienic unlock power. Review the pass's permissions and limits before sharing it; the wearer still needs to accept the offered break.

If Something Goes Wrong

Problem	What to check
No break is available	Confirm hygienic unlock is enabled, then check remaining uses, the interval, the current schedule window, or a pending keyholder grant.
A scheduled slot says it was used	An ordinary break can be used once per occurrence of a slot. Check the next available window.
The reminder disappeared	Use Open re-lock on the dashboard to continue the active break. Dismissing it did not complete relocking.
Photo upload or code submission failed	Keep the box accessible and retry the relock flow. Wait for success before closing it.
The countdown expired	Finish the relock flow; an overdue break remains active and the applicable penalty is handled when relocking completes.
The timer remains frozen after relocking	Another freeze condition may still be active. Check the lock's status and rules.

If the problem persists, see Contacting Support. Include the error message, relock method, and whether the break is still active. Do not send your combination or combination photo in a support message.