The much-anticipated Aliro smart lock standard is set to make its debut soon. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has announced that the inaugural specification, which will establish NFC-based tap-to-unlock and UWB hands-free unlocking for smart locks, is scheduled for release at the start of this year.

“We are thrilled to announce that Aliro, the CSA’s standardized credential and communication protocol, enabling smartphones and wearables to function as digital keys with smart locks and readers at home and work, has successfully completed its final verification phase and will be available in the first quarter of 2026,” said Nelson Henry, Chair of the Aliro Steering Committee, in a statement to The Verge.

First introduced in 2023, Aliro is an open standard for smart locks and digital keys, offering a unified method for these devices to interact with smartphones and watches, regardless of the manufacturer or operating system.

Ultimately, this standard aims to expand the capabilities similar to Apple’s Home Key feature on the iPhone, which allows users to tap-to-unlock with NFC, akin to a tap-to-pay system. Apple has also enhanced this feature with a UWB-powered hands-free unlocking that activates as users approach their door.

With the introduction of Aliro, these functionalities will become accessible to Android phones and other smart home platforms. This means if your partner or roommate uses a Galaxy or Pixel device, both of you can unlock the same smart lock using your respective devices as keys.

The development of Aliro is a collaborative effort involving industry giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung, along with lock and chip manufacturers, such as Allegion, Assa Abloy, Qualcomm, and NXP. Several lock companies, including Schlage, Kwikset, X-Things/U-Tec, Level, and Nuki, have announced plans to support the Aliro standard.

Aliro-certified locks will use one or more communications options to unlock a compatible door:

According to the CSA, Aliro’s benefit over similar solutions is that it provides direct, secure communication between a phone or wearable and the lock. There is no need to open an app, and no cloud is involved; the credentials are stored on the user’s device, and communication between the device and the lock uses asymmetric encryption. Because it doesn’t use the cloud, it will work when your phone is offline or doesn’t have service, like a regular key.

Henry says the CSA has made significant progress over the last two years, building the Aliro 1.0 specification, its certification program, and supporting test system. This should set it up for fast, wide adoption, and we could start to see smart locks with Aliro support arriving soon.