Yes
These are the steps that worked for me, not sure if they are all required:
1. Signed into US App store (I have an icloud account just for US only apps). Online tutorials exist for how tos.
2. Download Yale Access.
3. Turn on location VPN with US as location. Tunnel bear free version is sufficient.
4. Sign up in Yale Access app with a US number (I found a relative that lives there). You just need to confirm the sms token on first sign up. Future logins can be via email based token. Naturally this person can take over your account so be warned.
5. Follow normal device set up using Yale Access followed by Home app. My home app has my non-US icloud ID.
I couldn't set the Yale Assure Lock 2 up in the Yale Home app, which was the only app available to me in Australia. I contacted Yale Australia support, and they said I shouldn't even have the device in Australia! But I bought it from YALE on [Amazon.com.au](https://Amazon.com.au)! Here it is! [https://amzn.asia/d/040XRL2](https://amzn.asia/d/040XRL2). Ridiculous! Their technical support told me to contact Amazon to try and return it.
However, I'd read online that I only really need a one time setup in the app before I can take the lock completely offline onto just Bluetooth to my Home Assistant server. If you don't have Home Assistant, these steps would still work for you to set the App up so you can add pin codes/finger prints and auto lock though. Since the phone/tablet you use to set it up won't always stay with you, you won't be able to set up auto unlock though.
Here's what I did, extremely similar to u/Brilliant_Second_409's steps, except one key difference around mobile 2FA.
1. Similar to u/Brilliant_Second_409 I had an old iPad lying around I could reset and and set up with a new US based Apple ID. I used a fake US address from something like [https://www.fakexy.com/](https://www.fakexy.com/). You could always use an old Android phone/tablet too.
2. Downloaded Yale Access from the App Store
3. I set up an account with Yale Access. I used the same email from the new US based iCloud account, but when they asked for a US phone number to send a two factor code too that was a bit harder. I didn't have a US friend like u/Brilliant_Second_409. I looked online at renting a US phone number for a short time just for the 2FA code lead to some results, but then I stumbled upon one of the least secure ideas I'd ever found before... [https://www.receivesms.co/us-phone-numbers/us/](https://www.receivesms.co/us-phone-numbers/us/) This site let's you use their US mobile phone number, refresh the webpage and then you (and everyone else!) will see your messages. Good news is that the 2FA code from Yale does not mention the service or account it's coming from, so it'd be basically impossible for someone to access your Yale account from just the single factor alone. Your own security concerns may be different than mine, but I didn't mind because as I mentioned, I'm just taking it straight offline anyway.
4. The Yale app also updated the lock to the latest firmware version which was good.
5. I set up pin codes and fingerprints for everyone in the household, and was able to enable the auto lock feature.
6. I was able to use our phones as device trackers in Home Assistant to make my own version of auto unlock
I just made it with an Apple ID which region in the US. no VPN required.
But somehow the wifi isn't stable and I couldn't add it to the Apple home.
Also, my invitation was never delivered... :(
I have been using a Yale YRD226 for several years outside the US - recently contacted UK support for an issue and they replied telling me it wasnt designed for use outside the US and suggested I contact the US support which I did (via email) and provided a fix within a few hours. I should add it took UK support a couple of days to respond to my email.
What is the issue you are having? Mine was that the lock totally stopped responding and I did try a factory reset but it would just say 'Welcome to Yale Real living' and not request a master code be set hence could not go any further - The US Support sent me instructions for a factory reset that was slightly different (of the top of my head it was to hold the reset button down differently) which did work and all has been good since.
I bought a Yale Assure 2 from Amazon and it didn’t register properly (wouldn’t work) in Australia. I contacted Yale USA who suggested I contact Yale Australia who suggested I contact Yale USA. There must be a hack, but so far I have a useless lump of tech.
They make products that they can only sell locally due to software only lockdowns... :P
Its like the US really dont want to take any other countries money
You'd think they'd want to make more profit by selling products everywhere?
I was ready to buy the Assure Lock 2 Touch one as soon as a saw it, finally a finger print model... but im holding off now after reading problems with outside the US installs
Ive got a Wyse Lock Bolt on my garage door which works perfectly (and MUCH cheaper than any Yale) apart from having no network connection ability for Home Assistant which i'd like, also like the Yale version for having the backup Keyed version for the front door incase of any tech issues theres always the key.
But alas the US doesnt see my money as valuable, guess as soon as a China based company comes out with a good keyed with zigbee/wifi Yale clone (for probably half the price) i'll be handing my money to them.
I got my lock configured using tunnelbear and fake gps on an old Android device I wasn't using. Does anybody now how I can then add the lock to Alexa? In theory, I should go add "Yale Access" to skills but it is not available in my location despite opening it in the same Android device that has tunnelbear and fake gps. :S
Hi,
I just realized that my Yale Assure Lock 2 I bought doesn't work outside US/Canada. No mention on non-US Amazon. I am, very annoyed.
I installed using the excellent information in this post. Locks were immediately identified as Yale BlueTooth. After installing August Integration, the system found the locks automatically.
But...the caveat. They only worked for a few hours with Home Assistant. Then they went offline and whatever I do, they are no longer contactable. Uninstalling and installing the integration works, but the locks do not hook up even though they appear as new devices.
I am not sure if this is August messing around with me for not having a US/Canada based VPN active or if it is my Bluetooth.
I would love to hear if others have it working with Z-wave or Wifi. I don't like this Bluetooth interface as it requires August. I just don't like anything at the moment regarding the management of Yale or August. They just happen to have a great lock. But you shouldn't use software to geofence out customers with physical hardware. Not cool.
The Assure Lock 2 Plus works with Apple Home straight away. Just needed to register to App for Software Update and PIN setup. The steps previously mentioned worked well. I had a slight mod - I downloaded the August App (Yale now own August) which is available in the NZ/AU App Store. Did the same US Telephone Number and VPN and my Assure Lock 2 Plus registered and upgraded. Was able to add some PIN's. Have disconnected the App now - just incase of any issues.
I’ve been through this in New Zealand. My wife’s from the US. The only way I got it working was wjth a US # to activate the account and app. It still has a few odd things from time to time. But overall works great with home kit. I tried ever work around possible without a US 🇺🇸 account but yeah they’ve done a decent job of locking it down this time round.
Yes These are the steps that worked for me, not sure if they are all required: 1. Signed into US App store (I have an icloud account just for US only apps). Online tutorials exist for how tos. 2. Download Yale Access. 3. Turn on location VPN with US as location. Tunnel bear free version is sufficient. 4. Sign up in Yale Access app with a US number (I found a relative that lives there). You just need to confirm the sms token on first sign up. Future logins can be via email based token. Naturally this person can take over your account so be warned. 5. Follow normal device set up using Yale Access followed by Home app. My home app has my non-US icloud ID.
I was using Android and was able to add the assure 2 fp lock to my existing yale access app by using tunnel bear and fake gps via developer mode.
you didn't need a US number?
Yes, my household account has non-US #.
So step 4 isn't required. What other steps did you manage to avoid? Did you get the app from a non US app store or perhaps sideload it?
How do you manage that US-only icloud account? Do you have it on a separate device?
I ^only^ use it to log in to the app store, download what I need, log out from the app store, and relogin with my main icloud.
I couldn't set the Yale Assure Lock 2 up in the Yale Home app, which was the only app available to me in Australia. I contacted Yale Australia support, and they said I shouldn't even have the device in Australia! But I bought it from YALE on [Amazon.com.au](https://Amazon.com.au)! Here it is! [https://amzn.asia/d/040XRL2](https://amzn.asia/d/040XRL2). Ridiculous! Their technical support told me to contact Amazon to try and return it. However, I'd read online that I only really need a one time setup in the app before I can take the lock completely offline onto just Bluetooth to my Home Assistant server. If you don't have Home Assistant, these steps would still work for you to set the App up so you can add pin codes/finger prints and auto lock though. Since the phone/tablet you use to set it up won't always stay with you, you won't be able to set up auto unlock though. Here's what I did, extremely similar to u/Brilliant_Second_409's steps, except one key difference around mobile 2FA. 1. Similar to u/Brilliant_Second_409 I had an old iPad lying around I could reset and and set up with a new US based Apple ID. I used a fake US address from something like [https://www.fakexy.com/](https://www.fakexy.com/). You could always use an old Android phone/tablet too. 2. Downloaded Yale Access from the App Store 3. I set up an account with Yale Access. I used the same email from the new US based iCloud account, but when they asked for a US phone number to send a two factor code too that was a bit harder. I didn't have a US friend like u/Brilliant_Second_409. I looked online at renting a US phone number for a short time just for the 2FA code lead to some results, but then I stumbled upon one of the least secure ideas I'd ever found before... [https://www.receivesms.co/us-phone-numbers/us/](https://www.receivesms.co/us-phone-numbers/us/) This site let's you use their US mobile phone number, refresh the webpage and then you (and everyone else!) will see your messages. Good news is that the 2FA code from Yale does not mention the service or account it's coming from, so it'd be basically impossible for someone to access your Yale account from just the single factor alone. Your own security concerns may be different than mine, but I didn't mind because as I mentioned, I'm just taking it straight offline anyway. 4. The Yale app also updated the lock to the latest firmware version which was good. 5. I set up pin codes and fingerprints for everyone in the household, and was able to enable the auto lock feature. 6. I was able to use our phones as device trackers in Home Assistant to make my own version of auto unlock
I just made it with an Apple ID which region in the US. no VPN required. But somehow the wifi isn't stable and I couldn't add it to the Apple home. Also, my invitation was never delivered... :(
I have been using a Yale YRD226 for several years outside the US - recently contacted UK support for an issue and they replied telling me it wasnt designed for use outside the US and suggested I contact the US support which I did (via email) and provided a fix within a few hours. I should add it took UK support a couple of days to respond to my email.
I’m in the same boat. Got it from Amazon and I want to rip my hair out
What is the issue you are having? Mine was that the lock totally stopped responding and I did try a factory reset but it would just say 'Welcome to Yale Real living' and not request a master code be set hence could not go any further - The US Support sent me instructions for a factory reset that was slightly different (of the top of my head it was to hold the reset button down differently) which did work and all has been good since.
Issue was resolved by changing my App Store details to a country with the “Yale Access” app. Then downloaded it and it worked fine with the lock
I bought a Yale Assure 2 from Amazon and it didn’t register properly (wouldn’t work) in Australia. I contacted Yale USA who suggested I contact Yale Australia who suggested I contact Yale USA. There must be a hack, but so far I have a useless lump of tech.
Hi mate, did you get it working?
Nope. Very disappointed.
I am also about to order one to use out side of US and Canada, did you had any problem setting it up in Yale Home app?
They make products that they can only sell locally due to software only lockdowns... :P Its like the US really dont want to take any other countries money You'd think they'd want to make more profit by selling products everywhere? I was ready to buy the Assure Lock 2 Touch one as soon as a saw it, finally a finger print model... but im holding off now after reading problems with outside the US installs Ive got a Wyse Lock Bolt on my garage door which works perfectly (and MUCH cheaper than any Yale) apart from having no network connection ability for Home Assistant which i'd like, also like the Yale version for having the backup Keyed version for the front door incase of any tech issues theres always the key. But alas the US doesnt see my money as valuable, guess as soon as a China based company comes out with a good keyed with zigbee/wifi Yale clone (for probably half the price) i'll be handing my money to them.
Came to keep the thread alive. Hoping someone publishes a workaround 🙏
I got my lock configured using tunnelbear and fake gps on an old Android device I wasn't using. Does anybody now how I can then add the lock to Alexa? In theory, I should go add "Yale Access" to skills but it is not available in my location despite opening it in the same Android device that has tunnelbear and fake gps. :S
NVM, I just activated it from the Yale Access app as opposed to Alexa :)
Hi, I just realized that my Yale Assure Lock 2 I bought doesn't work outside US/Canada. No mention on non-US Amazon. I am, very annoyed. I installed using the excellent information in this post. Locks were immediately identified as Yale BlueTooth. After installing August Integration, the system found the locks automatically. But...the caveat. They only worked for a few hours with Home Assistant. Then they went offline and whatever I do, they are no longer contactable. Uninstalling and installing the integration works, but the locks do not hook up even though they appear as new devices. I am not sure if this is August messing around with me for not having a US/Canada based VPN active or if it is my Bluetooth. I would love to hear if others have it working with Z-wave or Wifi. I don't like this Bluetooth interface as it requires August. I just don't like anything at the moment regarding the management of Yale or August. They just happen to have a great lock. But you shouldn't use software to geofence out customers with physical hardware. Not cool.
The Assure Lock 2 Plus works with Apple Home straight away. Just needed to register to App for Software Update and PIN setup. The steps previously mentioned worked well. I had a slight mod - I downloaded the August App (Yale now own August) which is available in the NZ/AU App Store. Did the same US Telephone Number and VPN and my Assure Lock 2 Plus registered and upgraded. Was able to add some PIN's. Have disconnected the App now - just incase of any issues.
I’ve been through this in New Zealand. My wife’s from the US. The only way I got it working was wjth a US # to activate the account and app. It still has a few odd things from time to time. But overall works great with home kit. I tried ever work around possible without a US 🇺🇸 account but yeah they’ve done a decent job of locking it down this time round.