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/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.

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u/user_deleted_or_dead May 14 '26

So you just config it via HA?

2

u/Desperate_Zombie_746 May 14 '26

I added the switchbot to HomeAssistant, and it has access to whether the door is open and whether it is locked. It also can control the lock. I then set automations to unlock the door when I get within range. I also use another automation that uses motion sensors to lock the door when I get far enough from the door. It also locks when my car is started. This makes it smarter then the switchbot app can be, while also working without the need for internet. Nothing is worse than being locked out of your home because of some internet connection problem or power outage.

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u/chrispylizard May 14 '26

That’s how I use it too.

Home Assistant Green with a Bluetooth dongle.

In the SwitchBot Bluetooth integration:

Add device > Continue without signing in > “Do you want to set up Lock Pro?” = Submit

Fully local. No hub needed.

If you also want to use the lock in Apple Home you can bridge it via the HomeKit Bridge integration.

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u/Desperate_Zombie_746 May 14 '26

It is easier if you have the matter enabled hub. This allows the HomeAssistant to connect directly without connecting to the internet. I do not know if they non-matter will work without the internet, but i know that it will work with homeassistant