How to Connect the Nuki Smart Lock Integration

What is the Nuki integration?

The Nuki integration lets you connect your Nuki smart lock to Nowistay so that unique keypad codes are automatically generated for every guest booking. No more coordinating key handoffs, hiding lockboxes, or manually programming door codes — Nowistay handles everything for you.

Each guest receives a temporary code that only works during their stay (from check-in to check-out), and it's automatically revoked once they leave. If a guest unlocks the door with their code, Nowistay even detects the check-in automatically.

Before connecting your Nuki lock in Nowistay, you'll need to complete a few setup steps on the Nuki side. Don't worry — we'll walk you through each one.

Step 1: Set up your Nuki device

If you haven't already, install your Nuki Smart Lock on your door and set it up using the Nuki App (available on iOS and Android).

Your lock needs to be connected to the internet. You can do this in two ways:

• Nuki Bridge: A small device that connects your Smart Lock to your Wi-Fi network.
• Built-in Wi-Fi: If you have a Nuki Smart Lock Pro, it connects directly to Wi-Fi without needing a Bridge.

Once connected, open the Nuki App and go to your lock's Settings → Connection status. You should see the device shown as connected to the server.

Step 2: Connect the device to Nuki Web

Nuki Web is the online platform that allows your lock to be controlled remotely — which is what Nowistay uses to create and manage keypad codes.

To connect your lock to Nuki Web:

1. Open the Nuki App and tap on your lock.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Tap Features & Configuration.
4. Find the option "Activate Nuki Web" and follow the instructions.

If you don't have a Nuki Web account yet, you can create one during this process. Once activated, you can log in to Nuki Web at web.nuki.io.

Step 3: Activate the Nuki Web API

Now that your lock is connected to Nuki Web, you need to activate the API so that Nowistay can communicate with your lock.

1. Log in to Nuki Web at web.nuki.io.
2. In the left-side menu, click API.
3. Read and accept the Terms of Usage for the Nuki Web API.
4. Click "Activate Nuki Web API".

This gives you access to the General Nuki Web API, which is what you'll use to generate an API token in the next step.

Step 4: Subscribe to Nuki Smart Hosting

Nowistay requires a Smart Hosting subscription on your Nuki account to use the integration. This is a Nuki subscription plan designed specifically for short-term rental hosts — it enables features like creating temporary keypad codes for guests.

You can find the Smart Hosting plan in the "Short-Term Rental" section of your Nuki Web account, or visit the Nuki website for more details.

Step 5: Connect Nuki to Nowistay

Now that your Nuki account is ready, head to Nowistay to connect it. Go to Integrations in your Nowistay dashboard.

You'll see the Nuki Smart Lock card. Click "Connect" to open the connection panel.

Nowistay offers two ways to connect your Nuki account:

Option A: Connect with an API Token (recommended)

This is the simplest method. Here's how to generate your token:

1. Log in to Nuki Web at web.nuki.io.
2. Go to API in the left menu.
3. Under "API tokens", click "Generate API token".
4. Give your token a name (e.g., "Nowistay").
5. Make sure all rights are granted (they should be checked by default).
6. Click Save.
7. Copy the token immediately — it won't be shown again.

Then, back in Nowistay:

1. In the Nuki connection panel, paste your token in the "API Token" field.
2. Click "Connect with token".

If the token is valid, you'll see a success message and your Nuki account name will appear as connected.

Option B: Connect via OAuth

If you prefer not to manage API tokens manually, you can connect using OAuth. This method securely links your Nuki account to Nowistay without needing to copy any tokens.

Important: OAuth requires Nuki Advanced API access, which must be approved by the Nuki team. To apply:

1. Log in to Nuki Web at web.nuki.io.
2. Go to API in the left menu.
3. Under "Nuki Advanced API Integration", click "Apply for Advanced API Integration".
4. Select the type "Short Rental" from the dropdown.
5. Fill in your details and submit the request.

Once approved by Nuki (this may take a few days), go back to the Nuki connection panel in Nowistay and click "Or connect via OAuth". You'll be redirected to the Nuki login page where you can sign in and authorize Nowistay to access your smart locks.

After authorizing, you'll be redirected back to Nowistay and your account will be connected.

Step 6: Assign locks to your properties

Once connected, the panel will show the "Lock assignments" section with a list of your properties.

For each property that you want to equip with smart access:

1. Find the property in the list (you can use the "Filter properties..." search bar to find it quickly).
2. Click the "Select a smart lock" dropdown next to the property name.
3. Choose the Nuki lock you want to assign to that property.

You'll see a confirmation message: "Smart lock assigned to property".

If you need to change the assigned lock later, simply select a different one from the dropdown. To remove a lock assignment entirely, click the "Remove" button that appears next to the assigned lock.

How automatic keypad codes work

Once a lock is assigned to a property, Nowistay takes care of everything automatically. Here's what happens behind the scenes:

1. A booking is created for your property (from any platform — Airbnb, Booking.com, direct booking, etc.).
2. 2 days before the guest arrives, Nowistay generates a unique 6-digit keypad code.
3. The code is active during the guest's stay only — it starts working 30 minutes before the scheduled check-in time and stops working 30 minutes after the scheduled check-out time.
4. After checkout, the code is automatically revoked and deleted from the lock.

The generated code is stored securely in the booking and is available as the {{nuki_code}} variable in your automated guest messages. This means you can include the door code directly in your check-in instructions email — sent automatically to the guest before arrival.

What about check-in and check-out times?

The code validity window is based on the check-in and check-out times set for each booking. Nowistay uses:

• The negotiated check-in/check-out times if set on the specific booking.
• Otherwise, the default check-in/check-out times configured on the property.
• If neither is set, it defaults to 3:00 PM check-in and 11:00 AM check-out.

Automatic check-in detection

When a guest uses their keypad code to unlock the door, Nowistay detects it and automatically records the check-in time. No manual confirmation needed.

What if code generation fails?

If Nowistay can't generate a code (for example, if the lock is offline), and the guest's arrival is less than 12 hours away, you'll receive an email alert so you can take action manually.

Using the Nuki code in automated messages

The generated keypad code is automatically available in your automated guest messages through the {{nuki_code}} variable.

For example, you can create an automated email triggered before check-in that includes something like:

"Your door code is {{nuki_code}}. It will be active from check-in to check-out. Simply enter the code on the keypad to unlock the door."

This way, your guests receive their access code automatically — no manual work required.

Disconnecting Nuki

If you ever need to disconnect your Nuki account, open the Nuki panel from Integrations and click the "Disconnect" button at the bottom.

A confirmation dialog will appear explaining that disconnecting will:

• Remove all lock assignments from your properties.
• Stop generating keypad codes for future guests.

Active codes for current guests will remain until they expire naturally at checkout.

Need help?

If you run into any issues setting up your Nuki integration, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you get everything running smoothly.