Complete TTLock Glossary: Terms Every User Should Know
TTLock-compatible smart locks come with their own vocabulary — eKeys, gateways, cyclic passcodes, passage mode — that doesn't always map to familiar smart-home terms. This glossary defines the terms you'll run into across setup, sharing and troubleshooting guides, in plain language and alphabetical order.
A – F
Admin (authorised admin)
The account with full control over a lock: adding and removing users, credentials, and settings like passage mode. Every lock has one primary admin from binding, and can usually have additional authorised admins added.
Auto lock
A setting that relocks the door automatically a set number of seconds after it opens, rather than requiring a manual lock action. The available timer range varies by model.
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)
The short-range wireless protocol nearly all TTLock-compatible locks use for direct phone-to-lock communication, such as pairing, offline unlocking, and writing passcodes.
Cyclic passcode
A recurring passcode valid only during a repeating schedule — for example, weekdays between set hours — rather than a single date range. Useful for cleaners or staff with a regular routine.
DFU / firmware upgrade
Device Firmware Update: the process of installing new firmware on the lock itself, as distinct from an app update. Not every lock supports over-the-air firmware upgrades; some require a cable or manufacturer tool.
eKey
A digital key delegated to another user's app account, letting them unlock the lock without a physical credential. An eKey can typically carry its own validity window and be revoked independently of other users.
Erase passcode
A special passcode that, when entered, clears some or all passcodes stored on the lock. Treated as a sensitive credential since it can remove other users' access.
Fingerprint record
A stored template of an enrolled fingerprint, held on the lock's own fingerprint sensor. Fingerprint capacity is limited and usually shared across all users, not allocated per person.
G – O
Gateway
A separate plug-in device that bridges a lock's Bluetooth radio to the internet. Required for remote unlock, remote passcode delivery, and up-to-date unlock records when nobody is physically near the lock.
IC card
An RFID/NFC card or fob that unlocks the door when tapped on a lock's card reader. Requires a lock with a physical card-reading module.
Lock binding / unbinding
Binding registers a lock to an account as its admin, after which the lock stops advertising itself for pairing to other apps. Unbinding (deleting the lock from that account) releases it, making it discoverable again.
MQTT bridge
A community-built service that republishes lock events or state to an MQTT broker, often used to connect a lock to home-automation platforms without a native integration.
One-time passcode
A passcode valid for a single use, after which the lock rejects it automatically. Common for one-off deliveries or single visits.
P – Z
Passage mode
A mode that holds the door unlocked for a scheduled window — for example, business open hours — instead of locking after every use. Usually admin-only to configure.
Remote unlock
Unlocking the door from outside Bluetooth range, sent through the cloud and delivered to the lock via a bound gateway. Fails silently on connection if no gateway is online.
Sciener
The manufacturer behind the TTLock brand and platform. Smart Lukko is an independent third-party app for TTLock-compatible smart locks and is not affiliated with TTLock or Sciener.
Sub-account
A secondary user account, distinct from the primary admin, given some level of access or management rights over a lock — the basis for adding authorised users or additional admins.
Super passcode (admin passcode)
A passcode with elevated privileges, typically set during initial lock setup, used for administrative actions directly on the keypad rather than through the app.
Time sync
The process of aligning the lock's internal clock with the phone or gateway's time. Since scheduled passcodes and passage mode rely on accurate lock time, a drifted clock can make correctly entered codes fail outside their intended window.
Unlock records
The lock's log of open, close and failed-attempt events, stored locally and synced to the app over Bluetooth or, if present, a gateway.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an eKey and a passcode?
An eKey is tied to another person's app account and unlocks through the app itself, while a passcode is a number typed on the keypad that works independently of any account. Both can carry their own validity windows.
Do I need a gateway for every feature on this list?
No. Most credential types — passcodes, cards, fingerprints — work over Bluetooth without a gateway. A gateway is only required for remote operations like remote unlock or instant remote passcode delivery.
What happens to unlock records if there's no gateway?
The lock still stores them locally. Without a gateway, they simply sync to the app the next time a phone connects to the lock over Bluetooth, rather than updating instantly.
Is Sciener the same company as TTLock?
TTLock is the platform and brand associated with locks manufactured under Sciener. Smart Lukko is an independent third-party app for this ecosystem and isn't affiliated with either.
Why does a correctly typed cyclic passcode sometimes fail?
Cyclic passcodes only work inside their scheduled window, and that check depends on the lock's own clock. A lock whose time has drifted out of sync can reject an otherwise correct code outside the window it thinks applies.
Related feature: TTLock smart lock setup guide