Overview
Smart Lock Air is a variant of the Smart Lock Pro hardware that does not have a built-in Wi-Fi radio. Physically and mechanically it is the same lock — same mounting, same latch types, same handle-orientation requirements as the standard SLP — but it cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network directly. Instead, it communicates through a Portal Gateway, a separate device installed nearby that bridges the lock's short-range wireless signal to the internet.
Note: Portal does not show a separate device type or icon for Smart Lock Air in the Portal Staff App. To install and connect one, select Smart Lock Pro as the Device Type — the same option used for the standard SLP. The lock itself will simply not prompt for Wi-Fi credentials, since it has no Wi-Fi radio to configure.
Key Differences from the Standard SLP
Smart Lock Pro (SLP) | Smart Lock Air | |
Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes (optional) | No |
Needs a Gateway to go online | No (optional — Wi-Fi is enough) | Yes, always |
Setup asks for Wi-Fi credentials | Yes, if using Wi-Fi | No |
Device Type in Portal Staff App | Smart Lock Pro | Smart Lock Pro (same option — no separate entry) |
Physical installation | Identical | Identical |
Before You Start
Confirm the door has been added in Portal
A Portal Gateway must be installed and connected at the property, since a Smart Lock Air cannot go online on its own
Bluetooth and Location are enabled on the phone running the Portal Staff App
You have installation permissions
How to Install and Connect a Smart Lock Air
Mount the lock on the door exactly as described in the Installation Guide (hardware installation — arrow orientation, latch type, mounting — is identical to the standard SLP).
Open the Portal Staff App and go to the Doors tab.
Select the door and choose Device Type.
Select Smart Lock Pro — there is no separate Smart Lock Air option in the picker.
Stay within wireless range and let the app search for nearby locks.
Select the lock once it appears and follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.
Unlike the standard SLP over Wi-Fi, the app will not prompt you to enter Wi-Fi credentials — Smart Lock Air has no Wi-Fi radio to configure.
Bringing the Lock Online via a Portal Gateway
A Smart Lock Air only goes online once a nearby Portal Gateway is installed and connected.
To connect a Gateway
Open the Portal Staff App and go to the Gateways tab.
Tap the + button.
Choose the Gateway type and name it.
Make sure Bluetooth is on, then power-cycle the gateway (plug/unplug) so the app can find it.
If it's a Wi-Fi gateway model, tap the device in the app and let it search for nearby Wi-Fi, then select your network, enter the password, and tap Connect.
Confirm the gateway was not previously connected to another property.
To reconnect a Gateway to Wi-Fi
Go to the Gateway tab and select the gateway.
Unplug the gateway and plug it back in.
Wait for the gateway to appear in the list of available devices.
Tap Wi-Fi.
Allow the app to search for available Wi-Fi networks.
Select the desired Wi-Fi network and enter the password if prompted.
Tap Connect and verify the gateway successfully reconnects.
Gateway Hardware Reference
LED status:
Flashing red and blue alternately — device starting up, ready to configure
Blue — connected and working normally
Red — not connected to server, needs reconnecting
No light — no power; check the cable and power source
Placement guidance:
Install near the router, network switch, or front desk
Place one per corridor, or roughly every 10 meters, with minimal obstructions — walls and building structure affect signal range
No limit on how many locks a single gateway can support