A smart lock warranty and a return policy answer different questions. Before you remove an apartment deadbolt, read both current Lockin US policies, get written installation permission, confirm the exact lock-to-door fit, and preserve a clear record of the order, package, parts, and door condition. Those steps do not guarantee that a return or warranty request will be approved, but they make it easier to show what you bought, what arrived, and what happened next.
The most important timing difference is easy to miss during move-in: Lockin’s current US return window is measured from delivery, while its basic one-year smart lock warranty begins at product activation. Policies can change, so use the dated summary below as a starting point and reread the live pages before ordering, opening, installing, shipping, or requesting service.
This guide is practical purchase preparation, not legal advice. Your lease, building rules, local requirements, order facts, product condition, and Lockin’s review all matter. Written landlord permission does not promise a return or warranty outcome.
Dated Lockin US smart lock warranty and return snapshot
| What to check | Current US page says | What a renter should do before installation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic warranty | Lockin smart locks have a basic one-year warranty starting on the product activation date. For quality-related issues during that period, Lockin says it will provide repair or replacement according to the actual situation. | Save proof of purchase, record the activation date, and follow the official instructions for the exact model. Do not assume one year means every issue or every outcome is covered. |
| Return timing | Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery when the product meets the policy conditions. | Save the delivery confirmation and write the last day of the current window on your move-in calendar. Contact support before shipping anything. |
| Return condition | The product must be in original condition with tags and packaging intact. It must not be used, damaged, or altered, except for normal inspection. | Preserve every insert, bag, label, fastener, cable, key, accessory, and carton. If fit, permission, damage, or missing parts are unclear, stop before installation. |
| Return authorization | The customer must contact support with order details and a reason. Requests are reviewed within three business days; if approved, a Return Authorization Number (RAN) is issued and must be marked on the package. A return without it may be refused. | Do not self-ship to an address found elsewhere. Keep the support thread and authorization with your order record. |
| Return shipping and refund process | The customer covers return shipping unless the return is due to Lockin’s error, such as a wrong or damaged item. Lockin recommends trackable shipping. The page describes inspection within seven business days of receipt and, if eligible, a refund to the original payment method, generally within three to ten business days. | Ask which address and instructions apply to your approved request, retain tracking, and treat all stated review and processing times as policy estimates—not a promised arrival date for funds. |
| Damage or missing items | The return page says to contact customer service immediately with photos for a damaged or defective product, and to report missing items within seven days of delivery. | Photograph the shipping carton, seals, label, damage, and complete contents as soon as practical. Contact support before assembling or altering anything. |
Policy observation: Both live Lockin US pages were checked on August 27, 2026. The return page displays an effective date of February 27, 2025. Read the current Lockin Warranty Policy and Return and Refund Policy for the controlling text available when you act.
Read the smart lock warranty exclusions before changing the door
The one-year headline is not the full smart lock warranty. Lockin’s current warranty page lists exclusions for:
- non-quality-related issues;
- purchases from unauthorized resellers;
- purchases without valid proof of purchase;
- products that have been refunded;
- products outside the warranty period;
- defects or damage caused by misuse, unauthorized modification, disassembly, or operation that does not follow official instructions or manuals;
- defects or damage caused by excessive heat, liquids, or other external causes;
- defects or damage caused by reliability or compatibility issues involving unauthorized third-party parts;
- lost or stolen products; and
- free products.
The same page says products sold on the US website are made for and intended for use in the United States. It says quality issues or malfunctions arising from transport and use outside the US are not covered, Lockin does not provide a global product warranty, and warranty service is available only through a designated Lockin repair center. It also describes possible paid cross-regional repair depending on product and part availability, no cross-regional replacement between different versions, and customer responsibility for customs duties, taxes, clearance, and other cross-regional repair costs.
For a renter, the practical lesson is simple: avoid improvising around a fit problem. Enlarging a bore, chiseling a latch pocket, modifying the lock, using an unapproved part, or forcing misaligned hardware can change both the door and the evidence available if a problem appears. Ask Lockin support before proceeding when the fit or instructions are unclear.
1. Get written permission before the package becomes an installation project
A product return policy does not decide what your lease permits. Ask the landlord, property manager, or housing office for a written answer before changing the deadbolt. Keep that answer with the order record.
Useful questions include:
- May I replace the complete deadbolt, including the exterior cylinder and interior thumbturn?
- Are drilling, enlarging, chiseling, strike adjustment, or frame changes prohibited?
- Must management retain a working key or another emergency-access method?
- Are exterior appearance changes or a camera allowed in the building?
- Must the original deadbolt and strike be reinstalled at move-out?
- Who is responsible for installation, maintenance, and restoration?
If the answer is limited to an interior-only retrofit, do not assume a complete smart-deadbolt replacement qualifies. The related renter-friendly no-new-drilling guide explains the difference and the door checks that still apply.
2. Confirm exact fit before removing the current deadbolt
“Standard door” is not a measurement. Photograph both faces of the door, the edge, latch, strike, frame, nearby handle, trim, door stop, and any storm or second door. Then measure the door thickness, crossbore, backset, edge bore, latch preparation, and surrounding clearances required by the exact model.
Use the Lockin Smart Lock Selector to narrow the family, then compare the current model page and user manual. If any dimension, door type, latch shape, clearance, or required alteration is uncertain, send the model name, measurements, and photos to support before installing.
This fit screen matters to both renter restoration and smart lock return policy preparation. A compatibility concern is easier to discuss while the original door hardware is still installed and the new product has not been used, damaged, or altered.
3. Build a purchase record before opening the carton
Create one folder—digital, physical, or both—with:
- the order confirmation and itemized receipt;
- the seller name and purchase channel;
- delivery date and carrier confirmation;
- the exact model, color or kit, and quantity ordered;
- the product label and serial information, if shown;
- the live policy links and the date you read them;
- written installation permission and restoration terms;
- pre-install door photos and measurements; and
- every message exchanged with the seller, property manager, installer, or support team.
Proof of purchase matters because the current smart lock warranty excludes purchases without valid proof and items bought from unauthorized resellers. If you did not buy directly from Lockin, confirm the seller’s status before relying on coverage.
4. Inspect the delivery without losing the condition record
The current return page allows normal inspection, but it also requires original condition, intact tags and packaging, and no use, damage, or alteration beyond that inspection. It does not define every action that counts as inspection or use. When the distinction matters, ask support before continuing.
A careful delivery check looks like this:
- Photograph all sides of the shipping carton, the label, seals, dents, tears, water marks, or punctures.
- Record a continuous unboxing video if practical.
- Place the inner package, protective materials, bags, labels, manuals, keys, screws, cables, and accessories where they can be counted without assembly.
- Compare the contents with the exact model’s current package list or manual.
- Photograph anything missing, incorrect, damaged, opened, or inconsistent.
- Put every part back in its original place until fit and permission are confirmed.
Do not discard a “small” bag after move-in. Fasteners, adapters, keys, labels, and protective inserts can be easy to lose when several boxes are open at once.
5. Know the stop signals before installation
Pause and contact support when:
- the delivered model or kit does not match the order;
- the carton or product arrived damaged;
- a listed part, key, fastener, cable, or accessory is missing;
- the existing lock or door type differs from what you measured;
- installation would require an unapproved door or frame change;
- the product cannot remain in original condition while you resolve a fit question;
- the instructions for the exact model conflict with the door in front of you; or
- written property permission is missing or narrower than the planned work.
For return questions, the current route is Lockin Contact Us, which lists support@lockin.com and the US customer-service hotline. Include the order number, exact model, delivery date, clear photos, and a short description of the issue.
6. If installation is accepted, preserve the evidence as you work
Once permission, fit, package condition, and parts are accepted, follow the official manual for the exact model. Keep the old deadbolt, cylinder, thumbturn, latch, strike, screws, keys, and any spacers together in a labeled container. Photograph the original hardware before removal and each important stage of the reversible installation.
Avoid unscripted modifications. The current smart lock warranty specifically excludes damage associated with misuse, unauthorized modification or disassembly, and operation outside official instructions or manuals.
Before treating the installation as complete:
- verify that the battery is charged and recognized;
- test smooth manual locking and unlocking with the door open, then check alignment with the door closed;
- test the mechanical key and store a backup where it remains accessible from outside the locked apartment;
- verify the exact model’s exterior USB-C/Type-C emergency-power path with the recommended cable and a power bank, where supported;
- confirm that the door closes and locks without being lifted, pushed, or pulled into alignment; and
- save final photos plus the activation date.
The current Lockin FAQ describes mechanical-key and exterior Type-C emergency-power options for the Video Veno series when the main battery is depleted. Use the exact model manual rather than generalizing one model’s test procedure to another.
Only after the physical installation is accepted should you create separate roommate credentials or temporary guest access supported by that model. Do not make one roommate’s phone or one shared PIN the only everyday entry plan.
7. If you need a return, follow the current authorization process
Do not assume that sending the product back starts a valid return. The current smart lock return policy tells customers to contact support with the order details and reason, wait for review, and use the Return Authorization Number and address supplied after approval.
Keep copies of:
- the original request;
- the support response and RAN;
- the approved return address and packing instructions;
- photos of the repacked product and intact packaging;
- the carrier receipt and tracking number; and
- the inspection or refund response.
If a product arrives damaged or defective, contact support immediately with photos. If an item is missing, the current page says to report it within seven days of delivery. Those are policy instructions, not promises that every request will receive the same remedy.
The move-in pre-install evidence checklist
Copy this text-only checklist into your notes before move-in day.
Policy and purchase
- I opened the current US warranty and return pages today.
- I recorded the delivery date, return-window date, and later activation date separately.
- I saved the order confirmation, receipt, seller, exact model/kit, and delivery proof.
- I read every current smart lock warranty exclusion relevant to purchase channel, proof, use, modification, instructions, parts, environment, and region.
Rental permission and fit
- I have written permission for the exact hardware change, exterior appearance, access plan, and move-out restoration.
- I photographed the door, edge, latch, strike, frame, handle, trim, and nearby obstructions.
- I measured the door preparation required by the exact model.
- I confirmed that no unapproved drilling, enlarging, chiseling, or frame change is needed.
Delivery and condition
- I photographed the carton, label, seals, and any shipping damage before opening.
- I documented every included part without assembling or altering the product.
- I kept all packaging, tags, bags, inserts, keys, fasteners, cables, and paperwork.
- I stopped and contacted support about any wrong, damaged, missing, or unclear item.
Accepted installation and backup
- I followed the current manual for the exact model and preserved the original door hardware.
- I recorded the installation and activation date with before-and-after photos.
- I tested battery status, smooth deadbolt travel, the mechanical key, and model-specific emergency power.
- I created separate resident or temporary guest access only after the installation passed its checks.
Frequently asked questions
Does installing a smart lock automatically cancel the return option?
Lockin’s current return page does not state that sentence. It says the product must be in original condition with tags and packaging intact and must not be used, damaged, or altered except for normal inspection. Because installation can involve use, handling, or alteration, contact support before installing when return eligibility is a concern. Do not assume either approval or denial.
When does the Lockin return window start?
The current US return page says 30 days from delivery, subject to its conditions and authorization process. Save delivery proof and recheck the live page before acting.
When does the Lockin smart lock warranty start?
The current US warranty page says the basic one-year smart lock warranty starts on the product activation date. Coverage remains subject to the full policy, exclusions, facts, and applicable local rights.
Does landlord permission guarantee warranty or return approval?
No. Written permission helps establish that the door change was authorized, but product-policy eligibility is a separate question. Fit, condition, proof of purchase, instructions, timing, and Lockin’s review still matter.
What should renters photograph before installation?
Photograph the unopened carton and label; seals and damage; every part and piece of packaging; the order and model label; both sides of the door; the edge, latch, strike, frame, handle, trim, and obstructions; the original hardware; and the completed installation. Keep the original files and dates.
Can I use a US Lockin purchase outside the United States and keep the same warranty?
Do not assume so. The current warranty page says US-site products are intended solely for US use, does not provide a global product warranty, and excludes issues arising from transport and use outside the US. Read the full cross-regional section or contact support for your facts.
Check first. Install second.
A move-in deadline can make every unopened box feel urgent. Slow down at the door. Read the current smart lock warranty and return policy, save the delivery and order evidence, get written permission, confirm exact fit, and preserve every part and package before installation.
Then use the Lockin Smart Lock Selector or compare the Veno deadbolt family. If the door, policy, package, or instructions leave any doubt, send photos and measurements to Lockin support before changing the hardware.