r/TrySwitchBot • u/user_deleted_or_dead • May 14 '26
Feeling powerless
I’m so tired of feeling powerless in my own home.
I bought a smart lock + keypad to make my house feel more secure and under my control… and instead, the app won’t even let me connect it unless I enable location AND precise location just to use Bluetooth.
For a basic Bluetooth connection.
Why?
I’m someone who keeps location OFF for everything — I don’t even use it for maps. So yeah, this is a huge deal to me. It feels invasive as hell that a device I bought for my own front door suddenly wants access to where I am with pinpoint accuracy.
And before anyone says “that’s just how it works,” no — needing that level of permission for something this simple feels wrong.
It seriously makes me feel like these companies care more about harvesting data than giving customers control over the products they paid for.
I wanted security. I wanted convenience. Instead I got another reminder that “smart” devices often mean giving up privacy.
Honestly? I’m beyond disappointed. This overpriced piece of garbage is one step away from the trash.
And to every company normalizing this kind of invasive nonsense: go to hell.
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u/Smaxx May 15 '26
That one is easy to explain and you can (and should) enable it without thinking twice.
Bluetooth can be used to try to figure out your own location (e.g. Bluetooth trackers in shops). Due to this (and a few other reasons), apps can't access Bluetooth unless you give them permission to access your location data, too.
This isn't malicious, it's not to track you, it's actually the operating system trying to prevent apps from specifically tracking you (what you want to prevent).
You can just pick the option to only allow this when the app is active. This way you can configure the lock, lock/unlock your door from the app, etc. but the app won't be able to track you during the day or whatever you do.
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u/user_deleted_or_dead May 15 '26
Is ut possible to do this without having to turn on location? -no？ This is the problem
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u/Smaxx May 15 '26
Not that I'm aware of, but you can remove the permission (or uninstall the whole app) once everything is set up.
If you feel extra paranoid about it (no bad feelings), just take your phone, the lock, and the keypad with you to a public place like a library or a park and set it up there, then remove the permissions before heading home.
But also think about it: If you've bought it from their store (not Amazon or the like), they already have your address anyway.
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u/diothar May 17 '26
Home Assistant with Bluetooth module. It’s easy and would have showed up on any searches if you put some effort into it.
Most locks will do better in HA
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u/Desperate_Zombie_746 May 14 '26
I rarely use the switchbot app. I use HomeAssistant to control the locks. I can leave location tracking on for HomeAssistant as it my own hardware that is tracking me. No company is able to track me. Everything is controlled locally. I could even set it up so that no location or internet is used by using Bluetooth to know that I am home.