UID - Manage UID Access

This article outlines the key features of UID Access. Update your UniFi OS Console to the latest version to access these features.

If you haven't set up your UID workspace and the UID Agent application, complete it first by following the steps on UID - Getting started. UID Access is configured per site, and will need a UniFi OS Console added to that site in Site > Settings > Host Devices.

• Set up UID Access
• Manage UID Access
• Frequently asked questions

Set up UID Access

To set up UID Access, begin by creating a site where the UniFi Access devices will be installed.

To create a site:

Note: Only users with Owner and Super Admin roles can add new sites. Once created, Site Admins can also edit this site, but cannot modify its name, nor add/delete Site Admins.

1. Log into UID with an Owner or Super Admin account and click on the Site dropdown in the upper left corner. Select Manage Sites.

2. Click Add a New Site and fill in the required information. You may add a Site Admin and the site floors at this time. 

3. Add more than one floor by separating their names with a comma.

To add UniFi Access devices and assign them to doors:

1. Verify that your UniFi Access devices are connected according to the Quick Install Guide.

2. From the UID Site’s dashboard, select UID Access.

3. Follow the instructions in the Setup Wizard.

• If UniFi Access was already set up in the UniFi Os Console: the Setup Wizard will migrate your UniFi Access devices and configuration. You will only have to set up the NFC cards again.
• If UniFi Access has not been set up: UID Access will show you which devices are available to be added and will ask that you register an NFC card during the Setup Wizard.

Manage UID Access

From the site dashboard, click on UID Access to launch this site’s UID Access. Make your configuration changes by navigating to each section:

• Dashboard
• NFC
• Doors
  • Floors: You can edit floors name here, but for further editing, go to the Site settings page.
  • Door Groups: Add new or edit door groups in this section.
  • Doors: Add or edit doors in this section. Click on an existing door to open its properties panel, where you can see live video, door access activity, security policies, and more. Within the properties panel’s Settings tab, you can manually unlock a door or  delete it permanently.
  • Door Guard: A door guard will receive the notifications when someone is at the door and can remotely unlock doors. If there is no Guard configured, the notifications will be pushed to the Site Admin. Add a Guard by selecting a Door to open its properties panel and navigating to Settings > Guard and typing to search for an existing user to set as the Door Guard.
  • Scheduled Unlock: This feature allows you to keep a door unlocked according to a particular schedule configured in the Policies section. Also enable the First Person In to make sure the Unlock Schedule only comes into effect if this person has arrived. Configure Scheduled Unlock within Doors > select a door > Security > Enable Scheduled Unlock.

• Elements
  • Enable recording a short video when there is a door access attempt within UID Access Settings > Site > Capture.
  • Other more advanced settings can be changed within UID Access Settings > Global  or within Site settings > Advanced > Access.
• Policies: Create and edit the access policies for all your doors as well as schedules and holidays. By default, there will be a site policy that allows entry with a registered NFC device on any schedule. If you wish to only allow entry during business hours, configure it in the Schedules tab.
• Visitors: Add visitors and provide them with an NFC card. You may notify a UID user when this person begins their visit and view all visitor logs from this section.
• Access Logs: See all activity regarding door access in this section. You can filter down by date, user, door or type of activity. Also find all the existing video captures associated with door access attempts.
• Site Settings: Other settings can be configured here. To access these settings go back to the Site page and click on the gear icon at the bottom left.

Other features

To view a live stream from a UA-Pro:

Note: Only the UA-Pro supports Remote View and Call features. Only Owner, Super Admins, Site Admins of that specific site and Guards of that specific door may use the Remote View and Remote Call features.

1. To view the live feed of one of the UA-Pros, go to Site > UID Access > Doors > select a door > click on the live view icon.

2. You may speak through the UA-Pro by clicking on the microphone icon and unlock the door from the live view screen.

Note: Remote view is also possible via the UI mobile app, UID mobile app and a UniFi Talk phone.

 

To take UA Pro calls remotely:

1. Users can press and hold the Ring button on the UA-Pro to video call the Door Guard assigned to this door, or if none has been configured, the Site Admin.

2. The Guard or Site Admin will receive the notification of an incoming call.

Note: They must have enabled notifications for remote calls in Manage Your Account > Notification Preference. Access your account by clicking on your avatar in the upper right hand corner of the UID application.   

Note: The Site Admin or Guard can also receive the notification and accept the video call using a UniFi Talk phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a door failing to open?

1. Verify the reason for access denial in the system log in UID Access > Access Logs and take corresponding action:

• User status invalid: Check the UID User section to verify the status of the user. Users with a Pending, Staged, Deprovisioning or Suspended status cannot open doors.
• No permission: Check the UID User section to verify what Access policy this user has assigned to them, and whether that door is included within the policy.
• Outside of set schedule: Check the UID User section to verify what Access policy this user has assigned to them, and whether the entry attempt was within the configured schedule.
• BT token not found: Ask the user to try again. It takes 10-30 seconds for the credentials to be issued to the UniFi Access device after the user logs in to the UI app for the first time.
• Unknown credentials: Go to the Users section > select a user > Assignments to confirm whether this user has an assigned NFC Card. If they do not, you can add one using the dropdown. If an NFC card is present, verify that it is the one being used to attempt entry.

2. If no reason was present in the log, verify that the UID Agent and UniFi Access devices are online in UID Access > Elements.

3. Verify that your devices are all updated to the latest version. If there is an update available an icon will appear next to the device in the Elements section.

4. Check whether the door opening strategy has been successfully issued. Go to UID Access > Doors > select the door > Settings > Click Update Data Version. This pushes all devices and applications to sync, ensuring the latest changes have been applied to all.

 

Why does my UID Access device appear offline?

1. Make sure the site’s UniFi OS Console is online.

2. Reboot the UA-Lite or UA-Pro by going to UID Access > Elements > Select the device > Actions > Reboot Device.

3. Unplug and reconnect the device.

4. Physically reset the device by long-pressing the reset button.

 

UID is not finding my device during setup. What can I do?

1. Confirm that you have added the UniFi OS Console that is connected to the Access devices for that site under Site > Settings > Host Devices. If you haven’t, add one now by clicking Add New Host Device.

2. Confirm that the UniFi OS Console and the UniFi Access device are under the same network segment.

3. Check whether the Access device has been adopted. If the LED is blue, or in the UA-Pro’s case, the screen says so, then this device is already adopted. You will not be able to readopt until you reset it by pressing the reset  button in the device. For a device to be ready for adoption it must show a steady white LED, or state it on the screen.

4. Try power cycling the devices to trigger discovery again.

 

What is the difference between UID Access and UniFi Access?

UID Access and UniFi Access both use the UniFi Access door system hardware, but when using it as part of the UID system it is equipped with more features. The UniFi Access application uses local control while UID Access is based on cloud control, allowing for more features and flexibility. See the comparison table below for details.

	UniFi Access	UID Access
Management	Local management	Cloud management
Application in the UniFi OS Console	UniFi Access application	UID Agent application
Data location	Stored locally	Stored in Cloud
Multiple site management	Not supported	Supported
Mobile access	Supported only for admins in the UniFi Access mobile app	Supported for admins and employees in the UI mobile app
PIN code	Supported	Not supported at the moment. Will be released in a future version.
Doorbell and remote door unlocking feature	Supported in UniFi Access mobile app	Supported
Account login	Ubiquiti SSO account	UID account / Google and Microsoft SSO
Plan limits	No plan	Number of sites, doors and users are limited according to the UID plan being used.

How do I connect the Access devices together? 

The UA-Hub will be connected to a PoE (802.3bt) switch. The UA-Pro and UA-Lite will be connected to the UA-Hub in the corresponding port as identified with an icon on the UA-Hub's ports and described in the Quick Install Guide. 

 

Find more information on UniFi Access devices and troubleshooting in the UniFi Access - Getting Started FAQs.