Applies to: Yale Assure Pro 2 — WF1 (Wi-Fi) · CBA (Connect Bridge) · BLE (Bluetooth)
Overview
Yale Assure Pro 2 locks are available in three connectivity models — Wi-Fi (WF1), Connect Bridge (CBA), and Bluetooth (BLE). Each model has meaningfully different battery life expectations. Understanding the differences helps you plan ahead, set accurate expectations with residents, and avoid unexpected lockouts.
Battery Life by Model
| 🌐 WF1 — Wi-Fi | 🔌 CBA — Connect Bridge | 📶 BLE — Bluetooth | |
| How it connects | Lock module connects directly to building Wi-Fi | Lock connects to a hardwired Connect Bridge hub via BLE — bridge handles Wi-Fi | Lock communicates directly with resident phones via BLE — no Wi-Fi at lock |
| Typical battery life | ~up to 4–5 months | ~up to 10–12 months | ~ 12+ months |
| Wi-Fi radio in the lock? | ✅ Yes — always active | ❌ No — bridge handles Wi-Fi | ❌ No — BLE only |
| Remote Swipe to Open | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No — must be at door |
| PIN codes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Self-guided tours | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Credential sync | Automatic over Wi-Fi | Automatic via bridge | On-site BLE proximity required |
| Network required at lock | Yes — 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n | No —required at the bridge | No |
Why Battery Life Differs Between Models
🌐 WF1 — Wi-Fi Models (~4–5 months)
WF1 locks have a built-in Wi-Fi radio that maintains an active connection to the building network. Every disconnect/reconnect cycle, credential update, and status ping draws power directly from the lock's batteries. This is the highest battery consumption model.
Battery life in WF1 mode is heavily network-dependent. A weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal forces the lock to work harder to maintain its connection, significantly accelerating drain. Under ideal network conditions, expect 4–5 months. On a poor network, batteries can deplete in weeks.
⚠️ If your WF1 lock batteries are depleting much faster than 4–5 months, the cause is almost always the network — not the lock. See the tips below.
🔌 CBA — Connect Bridge Models (~10–12 months)
CBA locks do not have a Wi-Fi radio inside the lock itself. Instead, they communicate with a wired Connect Bridge hub installed nearby. The bridge handles the Wi-Fi connection to ButterflyMX — the lock only uses a low-power BLE signal to talk to the bridge.
Because the lock's radio is BLE (not Wi-Fi), it draws significantly less power. This is why CBA models achieve ~10–12 months of battery life while still supporting all Online mode features — remote Swipe to Open, real-time credential updates, Visitor Pass, and self-guided tours.
💡 CBA is the best of both worlds for properties that want full Online functionality with much better battery life. The tradeoff is that a Connect Bridge must be installed and wired near each lock location.
📶 BLE — Bluetooth Models (longest battery life)
BLE locks have no Wi-Fi radio and no Connect Bridge. The lock's Bluetooth radio only activates when a resident's phone is within range — the rest of the time the lock is essentially idle. This results in the longest battery life of the three models.
The tradeoff is that BLE locks do not support remote unlock, self-guided tours, or real-time credential delivery. Access changes sync to the lock at the resident's next BLE proximity event — not instantly over the network.
💡 BLE models are ideal for properties without managed Wi-Fi at unit doors, or where battery longevity is a higher priority than remote access features.
Choosing the Right Model for Your Property
| 🌐 WF1 | 🔌 CBA | 📶 BLE | |
| Best for | Buildings with strong, stable managed Wi-Fi at every door | Buildings wanting full Online features with better battery life | Buildings without Wi-Fi at doors, or battery longevity is the priority |
| Battery replacement frequency | Every 4–5 months (network-dependent) | Every 10–12 months | Less frequent than WF1 |
| Remote unlock | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Self-guided tours | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Requires bridge installation | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Requires managed Wi-Fi at door | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
⚠️ Model selection is made at purchase — confirm with your ButterflyMX representative before ordering. All supported Online (WF1/CBA) models can also run in BLE/Offline mode if needed, but this requires visiting the lock for reconfiguration.
How to Extend Battery Life — WF1 Models
If your WF1 locks are draining faster than expected, work through these steps:
1. Check Wi-Fi signal strength
Signal must be -70 dBm or stronger at every lock location. Weaker signal = more reconnect attempts = faster drain. Request a Wi-Fi heatmap from your IT team if you haven't had one completed.
2. Confirm your network is 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n
Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 are not supported. Advanced features on newer access points can cause excessive reconnect cycles. Confirm with your IT team that the lock SSID is a dedicated 802.11b/g/n network with advanced features disabled.
3. Enable Multicast filtering on access points
Multicast traffic causes unnecessary lock radio activity. Ask your IT team to enable a Multicast filter on APs serving lock locations.
4. Disable background scanning on access points
Background scanning can trigger unnecessary lock reconnections. Ask your IT team to disable this on APs at lock locations.
5. Use AA alkaline batteries
Use standard AA alkaline batteries — do not use rechargeable batteries. Do not mix old and new batteries. Replace the full set at once.
How to Extend Battery Life — CBA Models
CBA battery life is much less sensitive to network conditions since the lock's radio is BLE, not Wi-Fi. To maintain 10–12 month performance:
- Confirm the Connect Bridge has stable power and internet connectivity — a bridge that disconnects frequently may cause the lock to increase BLE polling frequency
- Replace all four batteries at once when a low battery alert appears in ButterflyMX OS
- Keep the bridge firmware up to date via Yale Access App — contact Yale Support if you're unsure
Battery Status in ButterflyMX OS
| Model | How Battery is Reported |
| WF1 | Real-time — visible under Devices → Smart Locks at all times |
| CBA | Real-time — reported via the Connect Bridge |
| BLE | Updated when the lock syncs via Bluetooth proximity using ButterflyMX app |
💡 Set up battery alerts in ButterflyMX OS to get notified when a lock's battery drops below a threshold. Replace batteries promptly when alerted — do not wait for the lock to become unresponsive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My WF1 lock batteries only lasted 6 weeks. Is the lock defective?
Probably not. Extremely short battery life in WF1 mode almost always points to a network issue — weak signal, instability, or an incompatible Wi-Fi standard. Work through the "How to Extend Battery Life" steps above and share findings with your IT team before concluding the lock is defective.
Q: Why does my CBA lock last so much longer than my neighbor's WF1 lock?
Because the CBA lock itself doesn't have a Wi-Fi radio — the Connect Bridge handles the network connection. The lock only uses a low-power BLE signal to talk to the bridge, which draws far less battery than a continuous Wi-Fi connection.
Q: Can I switch my WF1 lock to BLE mode to improve battery life?
Yes — all supported WF1 and CBA models can run in BLE/Offline mode. However, switching requires reconfiguration via the Yale Access app. Contact Yale Support if you need further information.
Q: Does BLE mode affect what features residents can use?
Yes. BLE mode does not support remote Swipe to Open, self-guided tours, or real-time credential or lock audit delivery. Residents must be physically at the lock, and access changes sync at the next BLE proximity event. See Understanding Your Smart Lock's Status in ButterflyMX for a full feature comparison.
Q: How do I know which model I have — WF1, CBA, or BLE?
Check the full part number on the lock box or in your purchase documentation:
- YRD6XX-WF1 = Wi-Fi model
- YRD6XX-CBA = Connect Bridge model
- YRD6XX-BLE = Bluetooth model