McGrath NX5 Digital Smart Lock - 5-in-1 Access with Fingerprint, Large-Body Retrofit, Standard Stile, Hinged Doors
At A Glance
At A Glance
DISPATCHSame Day Before 11am
PIN Code 
Fingerprint 
RFID Card / Tag 
McGrath Locks App 
Mechanical Key 
Remote (Optional Gateway) 
Face / PalmNot Available
The McGrath NX5 is a 5-in-1 digital smart lock for standard-stile hinged timber and aluminium doors. What sets it apart in the McGrath Locks range is its larger lock body - 255mm high and 65mm wide - which makes it the go-to choice for retrofit installations where a previous lock has left holes or marks on the door face. Identify what is on the door now before you order, and see where McGrath sits among the brands we stock.
Every household member can pick their preferred way in: a fingerprint reader built into the lever (up to 100 users), a backlit PIN keypad (up to 250 codes), Mifare RFID cards and tags (up to 1,000), a Bluetooth eKey in the McGrath Locks App, and a mechanical key override as the last line of defence. The lock runs on Bluetooth as standard - it does not need the internet to work day to day - and adds worldwide remote access when you pair it with a McGrath G3, G4 or G5 gateway (sold separately). What changes when you add a gateway is explained in Chapter 14.
You choose the fitment when you order - the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch for a bored door, or the 60mm-backset McGrath mortice (147mm faceplate) for a morticed one, and whichever you pick comes in the box. Three further mortice bodies are stocked for doors already cut for a taller pocket or a euro-profile case (see Mortice Options). The NX5 has reversible handing, a 100,000-cycle durability rating and an IP65-rated external housing, the NX5 is available in Matt Black and Satin Nickel on this single listing. The same TTLock platform runs the whole McGrath NX family - the wide-body NX1, the euro-mortice NX6 and the built-in-Wi-Fi NX6W - so credentials and gateways carry across.
Usually ships same day if ordered before 11am AEST (excludes weekends and Queensland public holidays).
At 255mm high and 65mm wide, the NX5 escutcheon is deliberately bigger than the NX1 and most other standard-stile smart locks, so it hides the screw holes, faded paint and handle scars a previous lockset leaves on a timber or aluminium door. If the old preparation is wider than 65mm you may still need a scar plate - our scar and adaptor plate range covers most cases. Check the backset, door thickness and whether your door is bored or morticed first, or book a free site survey and Terry's will measure it for you.
Access Methods and Smart Features
The NX5 supports five credential types, with Wi-Fi remote access as an optional sixth when a McGrath gateway is added. For a side-by-side of how each method behaves in daily use, see Chapter 03 - Smart Lock Access Methods. Browse every lock we stock by method: PIN code, fingerprint, card and fob, Bluetooth, backup key and Wi-Fi.
Palm Recognition
Key Features
- 5-in-1 access - keypad PIN, RFID card or tag, fingerprint, Bluetooth eKey and mechanical key override, all managed in the one app. Compare how these stack up in the authentication stack.
- Large lock body - 255mm x 65mm escutcheon designed to cover the holes and marks left by previous hardware, making it the retrofit specialist of the NX family.
- Lever-mounted fingerprint reader - your finger lands on the sensor as you reach for the handle. Stores up to 100 fingerprints; getting fingerprints right covers enrolment and wet-finger tips.
- Latch or mortice, supplied in the box - choose the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch for a bored door or the 60mm-backset, 147mm-faceplate McGrath mortice for a morticed one, and it ships with the lock. If the door already has a taller pocket or a euro-profile case, add the 180mm-faceplate body or the 60mm / 70mm euro-profile body to your order instead - all four mortice bodies are pictured and dimensioned under Mortice Options. How a tubular latch differs from a mortice is in Chapter 01.
- Reversible handing - the front handle rotates 180 degrees for left or right hand doors on site, with no separate handed model to order.
- Bluetooth 5.0 BLE as standard - set up and manage the lock from the McGrath Locks App with your phone in range; unlimited eKeys for family and trades.
- Optional remote access - pair with a McGrath G5, G4 or G3 gateway to unlock, issue and revoke credentials and read the log from anywhere - gateway vs built-in Wi-Fi explained.
- Six passcode types - permanent, time-limited, one-time, cyclic, customised and erase codes suit owners, cleaners, trades and short-stay guests. Note the 24-hour activation rule on new permanent codes.
- Passage mode - hold the door unlocked for a party, a tradie or business hours, then return it to secure mode from the app or keypad.
- Anti-peep PIN entry and wrong-try lockout - pad your real code with random digits so onlookers cannot shoulder-surf it, and the keypad locks out after repeated wrong attempts. Why that matters is covered in are digital locks actually secure.
- Administrator-controlled privacy lock - the admin can suspend outside credential entry from the app when the house needs to be locked down from inside. Read what a privacy or secure lock disables before relying on it in a rental.
- Audit trail - every unlock event, by credential, is logged in the app; audit trails settle disputes quickly on rental properties.
- Built to last - zinc alloy body with an acrylic touch screen, 8mm spindle and a 100,000-cycle durability test. What cycle ratings mean for real-world lifespan is in our lifespan guide.
- IP65 rated (external / outside housing only) - dust-tight and protected against water jets on the outside panel. The interior unit houses the batteries and electronics and is for interior use only; on the coast, read coastal environments first.
- Never locked out by a flat battery - 4 x AA alkaline power with a USB-C emergency input for a power bank, plus the mechanical key. What to do when the battery dies.
- Locally managed platform - the McGrath Locks App is a McGrath-branded build of TTLock, supported and distributed in Australia through LSC and Terry's. Compare it with other ecosystems in Chapter 15 - choosing a platform.
What's in the Box
- Exterior lock assembly x1 (keypad, RFID reader, fingerprint lever)
- Interior lock assembly x1 (battery compartment, turning knob)
- Fitment x1, as chosen at checkout - either the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch (MLATL6070SS) or the 60mm-backset, 8mm high spindle, 147mm-faceplate mortice (MLM6050HSS147). Three alternative mortice bodies are under Mortice Options
- Strike plate x1
- Mechanical keys x2
- McGrath RFID access tags x2
- Drill positioning template x1
- Mini security screwdriver x1
- Mounting screws and fixings
- Installation guide
Note: 4 x AA alkaline batteries are not included. The G3 / G4 / G5 gateway, additional RFID credentials and the rebate kit are sold separately.
Suitable Uses
- Regular front doors - standard-stile hinged timber and aluminium doors 38-54mm thick, with one side facing the weather. Check the door type compatibility matrix in Chapter 04.
- Retrofit upgrades where a previous lockset has left marks or holes - the NX5's large body is the tidiest cover in the McGrath range. Avoid choosing the wrong hardware or backset on a retrofit.
- Aluminium doors with a standard 70mm-plus stile. For narrow 50-70mm stiles look at the slim-line range - the McGrath A231 and A236 share the NX5's platform and credentials.
- Internal office, studio and utility doors in homes and light commercial premises where passage mode, an audit trail and multi-user codes are useful.
- Short-stay and rental properties - timed and one-time codes are issued from the app; add a gateway for remote management. See our Igloohome vs TTLock comparison and PMS platforms that integrate with TTLock.
- Households and offices that want fingerprint entry without a phone - browse every app-enabled smart lock we stock if you are still comparing.
- Sheltered or undercover external doors only - the IP65 rating covers the outside housing, not direct, driving rain. This is not a gate lock: the only battery-operated McGrath lock we recommend for an exposed pedestrian gate is the McGrath Ascot.
- Not for fire doors - the NX5 carries no fire rating. For an apartment or garage fire door use the fire-assessed McGrath Windsor or Hamilton - see how to identify a fire door.
- For a high-traffic commercial door that sees hundreds of cycles a day, a battery-free mechanical digital lock such as the Lockwood 3572DX or Borg BL7701 is the better tool - mechanical digital vs smart lock explains why.
Available Finish Options
Matt Black
(This Product)
STK MLNX5
Satin Nickel
(This Product)
STK MLNX5
Matt Black and Satin Nickel are both offered on this single listing - choose your finish at checkout. Finish selection does not affect functionality, compliance, or performance. Matt Black hides the lock against dark timber and charcoal aluminium; Satin Nickel suits silver aluminium frames and painted doors. Neither finish carries a separate salt-spray rating, so on the coast read Queensland-specific considerations in Chapter 11.
McGrath NX Series - Where the NX5 Sits in the Range
All four NX models are 5-in-1 fingerprint locks on the same McGrath Locks App, so RFID credentials and gateways are shared across the family. The NX5 (bold row) is the retrofit pick when an old lock has marked the door; the NX1 is the wider, shorter body; the NX6 adds a manual privacy bolt on a full-height euro mortice; and the NX6W drops the gateway in exchange for built-in Wi-Fi and heavier battery use. Beyond the NX family, the non-biometric Albion and fire-assessed Windsor cover the same standard-stile doors, and every McGrath model is in the McGrath Locks brand range.
Accessories and Spares
Every McGrath part and accessory we stock for the NX5, one per row. Mortice bodies and the rebate kit live in mortice locks for smart locks and rebate kits and strikes; key spares in keys and key blanks and cylinders and barrels; credentials in RFID fobs, tags and cards; and gateways in modules and Wi-Fi gateways.
Item codes are McGrath part numbers; every product above is stocked by Terry's and dispatches under the same cutoff as the lock. Fitting a mortice body is a job for a locksmith - see advice and installation or Terry's supply and install service.
Battery, Power and Backup Access
- Powered by 4 x AA alkaline batteries (not included) - a 6V pack that lives in the interior unit, so nothing is wired and no power point is needed. How smart locks are powered is in Chapter 01.
- McGrath rates battery life at 12 months based on 10 uses a day. Heavy fingerprint use, a stiff latch or a misaligned door will shorten that - read battery life - the truth, not the marketing version and why door misalignment drains batteries.
- Low-battery warnings sound at the lock and appear in the McGrath Locks App once the pack drops below 4.6V - change all four batteries as soon as you hear it. Power and battery FAQs.
- USB-C emergency power input on the outside panel - hold a power bank to it and the lock wakes long enough to enter your code or fingerprint. What to do when the battery dies.
- Mechanical key override works in every power state; two keys are supplied and the keyhole sits below the lever. Store a key outside the house - a McGrath Bluetooth key safe on the same app is the tidy answer, or browse our key storage range.
- Terry's Locksmiths strongly recommends Duracell batteries. Use four fresh cells of the same brand; never mix old and new, and never fit rechargeables - their lower voltage trips the low-battery warning early.
- Out of the box the lock sits in an always-open state until batteries are fitted and an administrator is set in the app - the handle turns freely and it will not lock. That is normal, and it is the number-one reason for a "my new lock won't lock" call. See mistake 1 - handle still opens when locked.
- For realistic guidance on how long the hardware itself lasts, see How Long Do Digital Door Locks Last?
Wi-Fi Remote Access (Optional - Gateway Required)
The NX5 has no Wi-Fi radio of its own - and that is deliberate. It runs on Bluetooth 5.0, which keeps battery life at a year and keeps the lock working when the internet is down. Remote features arrive when you add a McGrath gateway, a small mains-powered box that sits within Bluetooth range of the lock and bridges it to your home network. With a gateway installed you can unlock the door for a visitor from work, issue or revoke codes, eKeys and fingerprints while you are away, and read the access log in real time from the McGrath Locks App anywhere in the world. Chapter 14 explains exactly what changes when a gateway is added; Chapter 08 covers what still works when the internet goes down.
Which gateway? For most homes the dual-band G5 is the one to buy - it sidesteps the 2.4GHz band-steering problem that plagues older gateways on modern mesh routers. Choose the G4 where internet is patchy and a 4G SIM fallback earns its keep, or the wired G3 on an office network. One gateway serves several McGrath locks. Our gateways compared post starts with whether you need one at all, and the TTLock tips post covers G2 vs G5 gateway choice and where to position it.
If a lock ever drops off Wi-Fi after a gateway is added, work through band steering - the most common culprit and how to improve stability; the short version is in Chapter 13, Q11. Short-stay hosts should read what happens if Wi-Fi drops during a guest stay before relying on remote codes alone.
McGrath NX5 - Technical Specifications
Figures are taken from the 2025 McGrath NX5 Technical Specifications sheet, linked in PDF Downloads below.
Dimensions
Fitment - Tubular Latch or Mortice, and the Three Alternative Mortice Bodies
Pick your fitment when you order. Choose tubular latch and the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch (MLATL6070SS) comes in the box - that is the one for a bored door with a single round latch bolt. Choose mortice and the 60mm-backset, 147mm-faceplate McGrath mortice (MLM6050HSS147) comes in the box instead - that is the one for a door cut with a mortice pocket. Either way you pay nothing extra for the fitment; only one of the two is supplied.
The mortice side has three alternatives for doors already cut differently: a 180mm-faceplate version of the same body for a taller existing pocket (MLM6050HSS180), and two euro-profile bodies with an 85mm pitch and 240mm faceplate for doors cut for a euro case, at 60mm (MLEM6085SS) or 70mm (MLEM7085SS) backset. Add the one your door needs to your order from the Accessories table; measure the door edge first - how to measure your backset and standard backset sizes in Australia cover it. The four mortice bodies are pictured and dimensioned below.
Not the size of the spindle - both are 8mm square. It is where the spindle hub sits in the mortice case: high up on a high-spindle body, lower down on a low-spindle one. The NX5 takes the high-spindle bodies (MLM6050HSS147 and MLM6050HSS180), because that is where the lever spindle comes through on this lock. The low-spindle body looks near enough identical on the shelf but belongs to the NX1 and Albion - fit one to an NX5 and the spindle will not line up with the hub. When you order a spare, check the item code, not just the backset and faceplate.
Mortice Dimensions - A to G as marked on the reference drawing
App Platform & Data Hosting
For a broader comparison of smart lock app ecosystems available in Australia, see Chapter 15 - Smart Lock App Platforms, and for a plain-English look at the two global platforms behind most smart locks, TTLock vs Tuya.
McGrath smart locks are backed by long-established industry partners and supported locally: McGrath Locks designs the range, LSC distributes it nationally, and Terry's Locksmiths installs and services it on the Gold Coast. To learn more, read Why Terry's Locksmiths, LSC & McGrath Locks Give Long-Term Confidence, including warranty as a confidence signal and what happens if a manufacturer discontinues its app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Body size. The NX5 escutcheon is 255mm tall and 65mm wide, so on a retrofit it covers the screw holes and paint shadow an old lockset leaves behind, where a slimmer body would leave them showing. If your door is a clean new build, the NX1 is the same 5-in-1 lock in a wider, shorter body. Start with Chapter 02 - existing hardware to identify what you are replacing.
Whichever you choose when you order. The tubular latch option ships the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch (MLATL6070SS); the mortice option ships the 60mm-backset, 147mm-faceplate McGrath mortice (MLM6050HSS147), and on most morticed doors that is the body you fit. Change the mortice only if the door tells you to: an existing taller cut-out takes the 180mm-faceplate body, and a door already cut for a 240mm euro-profile case takes the 60mm or 70mm euro body. All four are pictured and dimensioned under Mortice Options, and bored cylindrical vs mortice door prep in Chapter 02 explains what you are looking at on the door edge.
No. PIN codes, fingerprints, RFID tags and the mechanical key all work at the door with no network at all, and the McGrath Locks App talks to the lock over Bluetooth when your phone is nearby. The internet only comes into it if you add a gateway for remote access. Smart vs connected in Chapter 01 draws the distinction.
Yes, on a sheltered or undercover entry. The outside housing is IP65 rated - dust-tight and resistant to water jets - but it is not designed for direct, driving rain, and the interior unit with the battery compartment is not weather rated at all. On the Gold Coast, salt air is the bigger enemy - see what IP65 means and coastal Queensland is not gentle.
Up to 100 fingerprints, 250 PIN codes and 1,000 RFID credentials, plus unlimited Bluetooth eKeys - far more than a household or small office will ever enrol. Each user is managed individually in the app, so a departing tenant or contractor can be removed without touching anyone else. Fingerprints, IC cards and other credentials in Chapter 14 explains how each is enrolled.
Additional Information
- Set the lock up in the McGrath Locks App first, before programming anything at the keypad - it is the only way to get eKeys, timed codes and the audit log, and the factory passcode is cancelled the moment an administrator is set. The platform manual is on our TTLock App User Manual page.
- A new permanent passcode created in the app must be used at the keypad within 24 hours or it lapses - the single most common McGrath support call. How to stop codes expiring.
- Gateway placement decides how reliable remote access is: the gateway must sit within Bluetooth range of the lock as well as on good Wi-Fi. Gateway placement in Chapter 08.
- Professional installation is recommended for mortice fitments where a new pocket has to be cut, and for any aluminium door. When DIY is appropriate - and when it isn't is a fair guide; Terry's supply and install service covers the Gold Coast, and advice and installation explains what to expect.
- For an overview of the McGrath Locks range and how it compares to Yale, Lockwood and the others we stock, see Chapter 10 - Smart Lock Brand Profiles and which platform suits a residential home.
Warranty
12-month warranty against defects in materials and workmanship (24-month on ALBION, ASCOT, ASHGROVE, BARDON, GRANGE, HAMILTON, KEDRON, MANLY, SANDGATE, STAFFORD, ULTRA SECUA and WINDSOR models). McGrath Locks will repair, replace, or refund at their discretion. Proof of purchase required for all claims. Returns & Warranty | McGrath Locks Warranty
Download PDF Resources
Current 2025 two-page spec sheet - the source for every figure on this page: hardware, enrolment, capacities, power, operating environment and warranty (spec table on page 2).
Ten-page 2022 supplier document. Use it for the latch and mortice drawings, safety and general usage notes, door preparation and handing, exploded parts view and handle reversal. Its specification tables are the older generation - the 2025 spec sheet above is authoritative on figures.
One-page A4 sales sheet: unlock methods, open mode, dimension thumbnail and McGrath Locks brand overview.
56-page platform manual behind the McGrath Locks App: adding a lock, eKey types, passcode types, IC card management, fingerprint management, transferring a lock at handover and gateway setup. Generic TTLock edition - screens match the McGrath Locks App apart from branding.
McGrath NX5 - FAQ, Setup and Owner's Guide
The in-depth questions buyers, installers and owners ask about the NX5, answered by the people who fit them. For the whole-category basics start with Chapter 13 - Smart Lock FAQ and the Smart Lock Buyer's Guide; for anything about the app itself, Chapter 14 - TTLock Platform Guide is the reference.
Fitment and Installation
It fits hinged timber and aluminium doors between 38mm and 54mm thick with a standard stile of 70mm or more. Check three things before you order: door thickness, backset (60 or 70mm on the tubular latch; 60mm on the supplied mortice, 70mm only with the optional euro-profile body) and stile width on an aluminium door. Doors thicker than 54mm need the NX6 (38-110mm); narrow stiles under 70mm need the A231 or A236 from the slim-line range. The measure your door first rule applies to every smart lock we sell.
That is what the NX5 is for. At 255mm x 65mm the escutcheon covers the screw holes and paint shadow from most single-cylinder deadlatches, lever sets and older digital locks. It will not cover a preparation wider than 65mm - a big old longplate or a previous lock with a broad backplate - so if you are unsure, send us a photo or fit a scar plate behind it; our brand-by-brand scar plate guide lists what is available. Replacing a bored latch-and-bolt set is the easiest case - see latch and bolt (cylindrical) in Chapter 02.
Look at your door edge. A single round latch bolt with a small faceplate means a bored door - choose the tubular latch option and the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch comes in the box, adjustable between a 60 and 70mm backset. A tall rectangular faceplate with a latch and a separate deadbolt means the door is morticed, so choose the mortice option. From there the body depends on the pocket: a fresh door, or a pocket around 147mm tall from a previous 60mm mortice, takes the 147mm-faceplate body that is already in the box - nothing extra to order. A taller pocket left by an older mortice lock takes the 180mm-faceplate body, which covers the old cut-out. A tall 240mm faceplate with a latch and a separate deadbolt on 85mm centres means a euro-profile case - order the 60mm or 70mm euro body to match your measured backset. The dimensions of all four are tabled under Mortice Options on the main page. Getting this wrong is mistake 02 in Chapter 12, and what happens when the backset is wrong explains the symptoms.
No. The NX5 is field-reversible: remove the cross screw behind the front handle, rotate the handle 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow, and refit the screw (the hexagon screw stays put). Determine handing from the secure side - the side you unlock from outside - as shown on page 6 of the datasheet. If the terminology trips you up, how to determine your door's handing and Chapter 02 - handing walk through it.
On a bored timber door with the tubular latch, a handy owner can: mark a horizontal centre line 1 metre from the floor, fold the supplied template to it, drill, fit the latch, connect the front and back panels, fit the batteries and set the admin in the app. A mortice fitment is different - the door edge needs a pocket that suits the body you have chosen - and cutting a new pocket, an aluminium door or a door that does not close cleanly is locksmith work - when DIY is appropriate has the honest table, and the three most common DIY mistakes are worth ten minutes before you drill. Terry's offers a free site survey on the Gold Coast.
Almost certainly not. Every NX5 ships in an always-open state - the handle is free and the lock cannot be secured - until batteries are fitted and an administrator is set in the McGrath Locks App. Pair the lock (adding a lock, TTLock manual page 15) and it switches to private mode automatically. If it still will not hold, check the spindle position and door alignment - mistake 1 and mistake 3 cover both.
Yes, in the mortice configuration with the McGrath rebate kit, which steps the faceplate and strike across the rebate so the latch engages properly. Rebate kits and strikes for the whole range are in rebate kits and strikes for smart locks.
Access and Credentials
The NX5 uses a semiconductor (capacitive) sensor set into the outside lever, which reads dry fingers quickly and is far less troubled by ambient light than optical readers. Wet, very dry or heavily worked fingers are the failure mode for every fingerprint lock - Chapter 03 - fingerprint explains why. Enrol each finger with the three-angle technique, register two fingers per person, and give tradies and kids a PIN as a fallback. Fingerprints are managed under fingerprint management in the TTLock manual.
Six: permanent, time-limited (an hour to three years), one-time (valid six hours), cyclic (say, weekdays 8am-6pm for a cleaner), customised, and an erase code that wipes every other code at once. Codes are 4-8 digits, and you can pad your real code with random digits either side at the keypad so nobody can shoulder-surf it. The six passcode types in Chapter 14 and pages 24-29 of the TTLock manual go through each. One catch: every code type has an activation window - use a new permanent code at the keypad within 24 hours or it lapses.
Mifare 13.56MHz credentials - the two tags in the box, and any of the McGrath card, fob, wristband or sticker. Up to 1,000 can be enrolled, and one credential can be enrolled on several McGrath locks, so a single fob opens the front door and the UltraSecua screen door lock. Cards are added at the lock or issued remotely through a gateway - IC card management. How RFID works covers why a lost card is revoked, not replaced.
An eKey is a Bluetooth key sent from the McGrath Locks App to another person's phone; they open the door with a tap when they are within range. eKeys can be permanent, timed or one-off and are unlimited in number, which is why they suit family members and regular trades better than handing out codes. See eKeys in Chapter 14 and eKey management in the manual.
The cylinder sits on the outside panel below the lever. Two keys come in the box; extra keys are cut from the NX5 key blank, and a lost-key situation is fixed with the keyed-to-differ replacement cylinder. Keep one key outside the house - in a McGrath Bluetooth key safe on the same app, or another key hider. The key still works when the privacy lock is engaged, which matters in an emergency.
Remote Access and Gateway
Only if you want to do things while you are away: unlock for a courier, issue a code to a guest who is already at the door, or see who came and went in real time. Everything else - fingerprints, PINs, tags, eKeys, timed codes created in advance - works without one. Our do you need a gateway section and which setup suits you make the call quick.
The G5 for almost every home: it joins both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, so it does not fall off a mesh router that steers devices between bands. The G4 adds a 4G SIM slot for holiday homes and sheds where the NBN is unreliable; the G3 is wired Ethernet with PoE for offices. All three are powered by the 240V dual-USB wall adaptor. Choosing the right gateway in Chapter 14 has the spec table; every gateway we stock is under modules and Wi-Fi gateways.
Nine times out of ten it is band steering: a modern router pushing the gateway onto 5GHz, which a 2.4GHz-only gateway cannot use. Split the SSIDs or upgrade to the dual-band G5 - two ways to fix it. The tell is that local access keeps working perfectly while remote access fails. Also check the gateway is within Bluetooth range of the lock, not just on good Wi-Fi - the hardware fix for persistent dropouts and gateway management in the manual.
Because the radio lives in the lock and runs on the lock's batteries. The NX6W carries a known battery-drain caution for exactly that reason, and it is a full-height euro mortice lock, not a standard-stile retrofit. The NX5 plus a mains-powered gateway gives you the same remote features with a year of battery life and a gateway that can serve several locks. Gateway vs built-in Wi-Fi in Chapter 03 lays out the trade.
Yes, and it is a common choice. Without a gateway you pre-create timed codes for each stay; with a gateway you can also revoke on the spot, watch the log and connect a property management system - PMS integration for short-stay operators and what changes with a gateway and PMS. Be honest with yourself about internet reliability at the property - the two approaches in Chapter 07 compare the McGrath gateway route with Igloohome's offline algoPIN, and which platform for Airbnb gives our recommendation.
Power and Batteries
McGrath quotes 12 months at 10 openings a day on four fresh AA alkalines. Expect less if the fingerprint reader is the main method, if the door binds so the motor works harder, or if the lock sits in direct sun. The realistic picture is in battery life - the truth and door alignment - the most underestimated factor. Change all four together when the low-battery warning sounds.
Two ways in. Touch a USB-C power bank to the port on the outside panel and the lock powers up long enough for your code or fingerprint; or use the mechanical key. Neither needs the app or the internet. What to do when the battery dies covers the sequence, and what happens when the internet goes down reassures anyone worried about outages - the lock does not care.
Use alkaline. Rechargeable NiMH cells sit at about 1.2V each, so a fresh set already reads close to the 4.6V low-battery threshold and the lock will nag you constantly. Terry's recommends Duracell alkalines, four of the same brand and age, never mixed. If you want to understand why manufacturers specify this, Chapter 13 - power and battery answers it.
Security and Privacy
The administrator can put the lock into privacy mode from the app, which stops outside credentials - PINs, fingerprints, tags and other people's eKeys - from opening the door until it is released. The mechanical key still works. It is useful overnight; it is a trap on a rental if a guest is left outside, so read the Airbnb and rental risk and whether the admin can override it before you use it that way.
The physical side - the latch or mortice bolt in the frame - is the same class of hardware; a smart lock changes how the bolt is released, not what it is. What you gain is knowing who came in and when, revoking a code instead of re-keying, and not having a key under the mat. What you take on is keeping the app secured and the firmware current. The mechanical layer - what doesn't change, how electronic locks improve security and TTLock's published security disclosures give the full, unvarnished picture.
No. McGrath locks, including the NX5, do not have the hardware behind that toggle - it is a legacy item in the TTLock platform - and switching it on produces phantom alerts at random. Leave it off; if it is already on and you are getting alerts, follow the three-step turn-off procedure. Why McGrath locks do not support it and Chapter 13, Q9 explain. The wrong-PIN lockout, which the NX5 does have, is a different thing - tamper alert vs incorrect PIN alarm.
App Essentials and Troubleshooting
Check three things in order. Was it a new permanent code that never got used within its 24-hour activation window? Has an erase code been used - every code fails at once if so? Or has the lock's clock drifted - on a Bluetooth-only install with no gateway, timed and cyclic codes rely on the lock's own clock, and clock drift has a recognisable pattern. Open the app near the lock to recalibrate the clock (manual page 17).
Transfer the lock to the new owner's account in the app rather than deleting it - transfer lock, manual page 48. Before you do, use an erase code or clear the credentials so old tenants' codes and fingerprints go with you - safe use at a property handover. If you have lost admin access altogether, the reset button is inside the battery compartment; a full reset returns the lock to factory always-open state, so re-pair it straight away.
Yes - the TTLock platform includes attendance management at no extra cost, using each staff member's fingerprint, code or card as a clock-in. It is a genuine bonus for a small office or studio door. Attendance management in Chapter 14 and manual pages 37-45 explain the setup; for what TTLock does not do, see the honest competitor comparison.
Suitability and Comparisons
Fingerprint and retrofit cover point to the NX5. The Albion drops the fingerprint reader but adds a DDA-compliant lever option, 300,000-cycle rating and 24-month warranty; the Windsor is the fire-assessed version of the Albion for apartment entry doors. Need DDA and fingerprint together? That is the Hamilton. Chapter 09 and Chapter 05 cover the DDA and fire-door cases in depth.
Yes - the NX5 replaces the handle set. To keep the handle, look at the McGrath X3 smart deadbolt, which drops into a 54mm deadbolt bore above the existing lever and shares the same app and credentials. If you are on a door with a vertical pull handle, pathway 2 - keep the handle, add a retrofit smart lock is written for you.
No to all three. Gates are exposed to rain from both sides and the interior unit is not weather rated - the McGrath Ascot is the only battery smart lock we put on an exposed gate, and a battery-free Lockwood 002DX or Carbine CDL7200 often makes more sense there. Screen doors need the purpose-built UltraSecua (why screen doors are different). Fire doors need a certified lock - Windsor, Stafford or Bardon - and in a Gold Coast apartment, read the asbestos warning before anyone drills.
McGrath does not publish a salt-spray hour rating for the NX5, so treat it as a sheltered-entry lock rather than a marine-grade one. A deep porch, a wipe-down with fresh water every few months and keeping the fingerprint sensor clean will do more than any spec. Corrosion resistance grades in Chapter 11 and coastal Queensland is not gentle set expectations; if the door is genuinely exposed, ask us about a marine-grade mechanical digital lock instead.
McGrath Locks is an Australian company distributed nationally by LSC, one of the oldest security wholesalers in the country, and Terry's Locksmiths has installed and serviced the range on the Gold Coast since it launched - the supply chain behind every McGrath installation. The app is a branded build of TTLock, a platform used by dozens of lock brands worldwide, so the software does not live or die with one brand - globally proven, locally branded.
Related Products, Guides and Chapters
McGrath NX family and siblings: NX1 wide body · NX6 euro mortice · NX6W built-in Wi-Fi · Albion · Windsor fire rated · Hamilton · A210 slimline · X3 deadbolt · UltraSecua screen door · Bluetooth key safe · all McGrath Locks.
Accessories: adjustable 60/70mm tubular latch · 60mm mortice 147mm · 60mm mortice 180mm · 60mm euro mortice · 70mm euro mortice · rebate kit · key blank · replacement cylinder · RFID card · fob · wristband · sticker · G5 · G4 · G3 · gateway wall adaptor.
Buyer's Guide chapters: 01 What Is a Smart Lock · 02 Measuring Your Door · 03 Access Methods · 04 Door Types · 07 Airbnb and Short-Stay · 08 Gateways · 10 Brand Profiles · 11 Standards and IP Ratings · 12 Installation and Troubleshooting · 13 FAQ · 14 TTLock Platform · 15 App Platforms.
Blogs: TTLock Tips and Tricks · TTLock User Manual · Gateways Compared · Why Smart Locks Drop Off Wi-Fi · Mechanical Key Override · Realities of Electronic Door Locks · How Long Do Digital Locks Last · 3 DIY Installation Mistakes · Understanding Door Handing · Scar Plates · Terry's, LSC and McGrath · Which Platform Is Right for You · Site Survey and Installation · Browse all smart locks.
What's in the Box - McGrath NX5 Digital Smart Lock
- Exterior lock assembly x1 - backlit keypad, RFID reader, fingerprint reader in the lever, USB-C emergency power port, key override cylinder
- Interior lock assembly x1 - battery compartment (4 x AA, not included), turning knob, reset button inside the battery compartment
- Fitment x1, as chosen at checkout - either the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch (MLATL6070SS) or the 60mm-backset, 8mm high spindle, 147mm-faceplate mortice (MLM6050HSS147)
- Strike plate x1
- Mechanical keys x2
- McGrath Mifare RFID access tags x2
- Drill positioning template x1
- Mini security screwdriver x1
- Mounting screws and fixings
- Installation guide
McGrath NX5 Matt Black - Real Installations by Terry's Locksmiths
Forty-five NX5 installations in Matt Black across the Gold Coast and beyond, on timber, aluminium and steel doors. Every one was measured first - see why installation quality is the most underestimated lifespan factor, and who a site survey is for.
McGrath NX5 Satin Nickel - Real Installations by Terry's Locksmiths
Twenty-three NX5 installations in Satin Nickel on residential and commercial doors. Satin Nickel is the natural pairing for silver aluminium frames and cream or white painted doors; compare finishes under Available Finish Options and browse the whole regular front door range.
McGrath NX5 - Dimensions
Fitment - Tubular Latch or Mortice, and the Three Alternative Mortice Bodies
Pick your fitment when you order. Choose tubular latch and the adjustable 60/70mm McGrath tubular latch (MLATL6070SS) comes in the box - that is the one for a bored door with a single round latch bolt. Choose mortice and the 60mm-backset, 147mm-faceplate McGrath mortice (MLM6050HSS147) comes in the box instead - that is the one for a door cut with a mortice pocket. Either way you pay nothing extra for the fitment; only one of the two is supplied.
The mortice side has three alternatives for doors already cut differently: a 180mm-faceplate version of the same body for a taller existing pocket (MLM6050HSS180), and two euro-profile bodies with an 85mm pitch and 240mm faceplate for doors cut for a euro case, at 60mm (MLEM6085SS) or 70mm (MLEM7085SS) backset. Add the one your door needs to your order from the Accessories table on the main page; measure the door edge first - how to measure your backset and standard backset sizes in Australia cover it. The four mortice bodies are pictured and dimensioned below.
Not the size of the spindle - both are 8mm square. It is where the spindle hub sits in the mortice case: high up on a high-spindle body, lower down on a low-spindle one. The NX5 takes the high-spindle bodies (MLM6050HSS147 and MLM6050HSS180), because that is where the lever spindle comes through on this lock. The low-spindle body looks near enough identical on the shelf but belongs to the NX1 and Albion - fit one to an NX5 and the spindle will not line up with the hub. When you order a spare, check the item code, not just the backset and faceplate.
Mortice Dimensions - A to G as marked on the reference drawing
McGrath NX5 - Product Brochure and Datasheet
The ten pages of the McGrath NX5 datasheet, rendered for reading here. The one-page brochure and the current two-page Technical Specifications sheet are downloadable from the PDF Downloads section and the PDF Files tab. Where a figure on pages 2 or 8 differs from the specifications on this page, the 2025 sheet is correct.
PDF Files - McGrath NX5 Digital Smart Lock
Current 2025 two-page spec sheet - the source for every figure on this page: hardware, enrolment, capacities, power, operating environment and warranty (spec table on page 2).
Ten-page 2022 supplier document. Use it for the latch and mortice drawings, safety and general usage notes, door preparation and handing, exploded parts view and handle reversal. Its specification tables are the older generation - the 2025 spec sheet above is authoritative on figures.
One-page A4 sales sheet: unlock methods, open mode, dimension thumbnail and McGrath Locks brand overview.
56-page platform manual behind the McGrath Locks App: adding a lock, eKey types, passcode types, IC card management, fingerprint management, transferring a lock at handover and gateway setup. Generic TTLock edition - screens match the McGrath Locks App apart from branding.
Page links open the PDF at the page named in most browsers; Adobe's Chrome extension may open at page 1 instead. The McGrath Locks App itself is documented on our TTLock App User Manual page.
McGrath Locks Warranty
Warranty Summary
How to Make a Claim
- Contact Terry's Tradies Pty Ltd and its associated websites, trading names, and subsidiaries (the place of purchase) within the applicable warranty period.
- Supply your proof of original purchase - a receipt or tax invoice is required.
- Provide a clear description of the fault and your contact details.
- You may be asked to return the product for assessment before a remedy is determined.
- McGrath Locks will, at their discretion, repair the product, replace it with the same or an equivalent model, or provide a refund of the purchase price.
Exclusions
This warranty does not cover:
- Normal wear and tear
- Products that have been disassembled
- Damage caused by improper handling, incorrect installation, misuse, abuse, neglect, modification, or accident
- Installation by unlicensed persons (including non-licensed locksmiths or technicians)
- Products not used in accordance with the supplied instructions
- Cosmetic damage that does not affect functionality
- Labour or installation costs related to the removal or reinstallation of products
- Exposure to conditions outside normal environmental use
- Work completed before warranty approval
- Damage caused by battery leakage, battery failure, or force majeure
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if they fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure. This warranty is provided in addition to your rights and remedies under the Australian Consumer Law.
2 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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NX5
Fantastic Lock and easy to use for my kids and family
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McGrath ML NX5
Perfect digital lock. Product is excellent quality. Extremely happy with purchase, delivery and communication with Terry’s Smart locks.
Confused? Overwhelmed? We get it.
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