How your lock is locked

When you start a lock, How it’s locked says where your key is. Most members use the honor system. Members with a lockbox can let CageCheck keep the code, or link a smart box.

The choices

• 🤝 Honor system: your check-ins are your word. Nothing to set up. This is the default.
• 🗝 My keyholder has the key: your keyholder holds the key in person. You only see this when you have a keyholder.
• 🔢 Combination lockbox (Beta): your key goes in a combination lockbox, and CageCheck keeps the code until you're released. See Combination lockboxes.
• ⏲ Timer box (Beta): your key goes in a timer box you set yourself. CageCheck records it, but it can't see or open the box.
• 📶 Smart lockbox (Beta): a box CageCheck can talk to (R+D Chastity Lockbox, TTLock or igloohome). Releases unlock it or give you a one-time code. See Smart lockboxes.

You only see the Beta choices when CageCheck has switched them on. If they aren't there, they aren't available yet. If you're self-managing and no Beta choice is on, there's nothing to choose and the honor system is used.

What every Beta lockbox asks for

Beta means new and still being tested. A box can run out of battery, lose Wi-Fi or break, and a company's servers can go down. You need a confirmed email address to use one (CageCheck may need to reach you about your way out), and you set three things before 🔒 Start lock works:

1. Maximum lock time, from 1 day to 90 days. Your lock ends on its own at that point and you get your way out, whatever else happens. A day before, you get "Your lock reaches its maximum time tomorrow". Your keyholder can still release you sooner.
2. Your fail-safe: a way out that doesn't depend on CageCheck, your keyholder, Wi-Fi or the box. Choose one:
   • A sealed spare key I can reach (a numbered, tamper-evident bag works well)
   • The box’s own emergency unlock (smart lockboxes and timer boxes)
   • An override key kept elsewhere
   • I can break it open
   • The time capsule (combination lockboxes; see below)
   • Something else (describe it)
3. Tick I can reach my fail-safe at any time, and I’ll use it (or emergency unlock) if I need to get out. I understand this is Beta.

You can add details, like where the spare is or the bag number. They show on your lock page and to your keyholder, so you can both check it's still there.

Your way out

However your lock is released or ends, CageCheck gives you your way out straight away:

• Combination lockbox: your code (or your photo of the dials) is shown to you.
• Smart lockbox: the box is told to unlock, or you get a one-time code to type on its keypad.
• Timer box: CageCheck can't open it. It opens when its own timer runs out, or with your fail-safe.

That happens when:

• your keyholder releases you, for a while or for good
• you use Emergency unlock, or End lock if you're self-managing
• your lock reaches its maximum lock time
• your lock ends on its own after days without a check-in (see When a lock ends on its own)
• you release yourself because your keyholder has been away a week (see If your keyholder is away)
• a moderator ends your lock

If you close it by mistake, it stays on Home for 3 days (Your last lockbox code → Show) and in your History (Show my code).

If your account is ever suspended, a Beta lockbox lock ends first and your way out is emailed to you: a private link to that lock only, which works for 7 days. Getting out is never paused, either: if your account is paused because your email isn't confirmed, Emergency unlock and your code are still on the paused screen.

On your lock page

A card under your timer shows how you're locked, marked Beta: your fail-safe, when the lock ends on its own at the latest, and what CageCheck has (your code, or your box and what it reports).