Ring is planning to launch its first smart lock, and its standout trick is a built‑in hand-powered backup so you are not locked out when the battery dies. Called Ring Smart Lock, the deadbolt is designed to replace keys altogether with a mix of fingerprint access, a touchscreen keypad, app control, and Alexa voice support. The lock is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in early 2027 and is not for sale yet.
Hand-powered backup instead of a backup key
The main feature Ring is pushing is a built-in power dial that works as a manual backup when the battery dies. If the lock runs out of power, you can turn the dial a few times by hand to generate enough power to wake the lock up and get back in. Ring describes this setup as a first-of-its-kind backup for a smart lock and is using it to argue against the usual smart lock problem where a dead battery can make the device useless.
Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff says this approach is meant to remove the need to carry a backup key, stash a spare battery, or call a locksmith just because the lock lost power. The idea is that as long as you can reach the lock, you can spin the dial, power it back on, and unlock it using one of the electronic methods.
Four ways to unlock without a key
The lock has four ways to unlock: a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app, and Alexa. That means you can use a finger scan, type in a code, tap on your phone, or use voice through supported Echo devices tied to your account.
The fingerprint reader is meant to give quick access to trusted people without sharing a physical key. The backlit keypad helps for guests, family, or helpers who can use a PIN code, including at night when visibility is low. Through the Ring app, owners can lock and check the door from anywhere and see lock activity in the normal Ring activity feed, so the lock fits into the same timeline you already see for doorbells and cameras. Alexa support adds the option to control the lock with voice on Amazon Echo devices.
Access control and scheduling for visitors
Owners choose who gets access, how they get in, and when that access expires. You can set up access that only works at certain times, then take it away without changing any hardware. Ring’s example is a dog walker who is allowed to unlock the door only on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., which gives them a narrow window to get in and out without having a key that works all week.
Lock activity shows up in the Ring app activity feed, which helps when different people have their own PIN codes or fingerprint access.
Amazon Sidewalk connection instead of home Wi‑Fi
For remote functions such as locking from the app, getting status updates, and syncing PIN codes, Ring Smart Lock connects using Amazon Sidewalk, so those features do not depend on your home Wi‑Fi. Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that uses nearby Amazon devices to keep products online for low-bandwidth tasks without needing a direct Wi‑Fi connection. Ring says unlocks happen right on the device itself.
Amazon notes that Sidewalk coverage depends on location and can change or be interrupted, so those remote app features rely on there being enough Sidewalk coverage where the lock is installed. If Sidewalk is not available in your area or cuts out, the local unlocking options like the fingerprint reader and keypad are still there, but remote status checks and control from the app would be affected. The lock also works with Ring doorbells, cameras, and alarms.
Design, installation, and what you need
Ring says the lock fits a standard single-cylinder deadbolt and does not need any extra wiring. It will be sold in three finishes: black, silver, and brass, so it can match different door hardware styles.
To use the lock as Ring describes it, you need three main things: a door with a standard single-cylinder deadbolt that can accept the lock, the Ring app for setup and control, and Amazon Sidewalk coverage where the lock is installed if you want remote app features like status updates and PIN syncing. Ring Smart Lock is planned for release in the U.S. in early 2027, and Amazon says it has not yet been authorized under FCC rules, which means it cannot be sold or offered for sale until that approval is in place.
View the original press release.
