Electronic locking system
For more comfort and safety in our residential homes
The Studierendenwerk Thüringen is introducing the "iLOQ" electronic locking system in all its residential homes. This means that smartphones becomes the primary key in the future: the “iLOQ” app can be used to open all relevant doors – from the building entrance and individual rooms to common areas such as the bike storage room or laundry room. This creates a modern and convenient solution with the highest security standards for approximately 120 properties with a total of about 14,000 doors.
The most important advantages:
The transition of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen’s residential homes to the digital locking system offers students many advantages:
- There is no longer a need to carry multiple keys.
- Key handover also becomes significantly simpler, as it can be done digitally and from anywhere.
- Thanks to digital key activation, key handover is not only simpler but also possible outside of our business hours, such as on weekends and holidays, through automated activation.
- Digital keys can be created for visitors, such as relatives, partners, or friends, for a specific time window. Such a guest key automatically deactivates once the defined time window has expired.
- The special encryption of the “iLOQ” system ensures maximum security and prevents digital keys from being copied or shared without authorization.
- If a smartphone is ever lost, the digital key stored on it can be deactivated immediately. Furthermore, there is no longer any need to replace lock cylinders if a key is lost, thereby avoiding high costs as well as the time and materials required for such replacements. A new key can be sent quickly and easily to a new smartphone or replacement device.
- The “iLOQ” digital locking system also excels in terms of sustainability by operating in a particularly resource-efficient manner: The lock cylinders do not require batteries but function via a small electrical impulse sent from the smartphone. However, so little power is drawn from the device’s battery that the consumption is barely measurable, and the lock continues to function even with a low battery level of 5 percent.
- Tenants without a smartphone or with a non-NFC-enabled device, which will be required for unlocking in the future, can alternatively receive a “KeyFob” (transponder).
- Here you can find a listing of smartphone types without NFC.
Do you have any questions?
On this page, you will find answers to frequently asked questions as well as instructions and explanatory videos on how the “iLOQ” locking system works. Tenants will be informed directly by their respective case managers via email about the specific schedule and workflow for their dormitory. New tenants will receive all the necessary information before moving in.
Using with an iPhone
Using with an Android smartphone
FAQ about the electronic locking system "iLOQ"
Before first use
The Locking is done via the "iLOQ" app on your smartphone.
A digital key is stored in the app. This contains all the locking rights you need in your everyday life – similar to the thoska card used in some facilities.
1. Open the app on your smartphone.
2. Hold the NFC interface of your smartphone against the lock cylinder head until it flashes green.
Note: The position of the NFC interface varies depending on the smartphone, e.g., centrally in the device or at the level of the camera. When using the iLOQ app for the first time, the integrated NFC finder helps you locate the interface on your device.
3. Turn the knob (towards the hinges) to unlock and press the latch to open the door.
Note: Doors with a rotating knob must be actively locked in the same way (turn the knob in the opposite direction). Depending on the door/lock cylinder, simply closing the door may not be sufficient.
- Download the iLOQ app to your smartphone. It is available for Android and iOS.
- To activate your personalized digital key on your smartphone, you will receive an email from your facility manager with a verification link. You will receive this before you move in or before the new lock cylinders are installed. Attention: You must confirm the link on your smartphone within 72 hours.
If you hav any problems or questions, please contact your facility manager.
Your smartphone should fulfill the following requirements for the "iLOQ" app to work:
- SMS and internet capable
- NFC capable (can be found in the phone settings or checked with special apps)
- The phone must not be rooted. This means that there must be no manufacturer-imposed usage restrictions (e.g., certain pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted by the user, etc.).
- In the settings or phone information, the phone or device status must be “official.”
- The latest operating system version must be installed (Apple iOS 15 or higher, Android OS 5.0 or higher).
If you don't have a smartphone, you can get a "KeyFob" (transponder). Therefore please contact your facility manager or the responsible officer for your case. They will be able to provide you with further information.
First, check your spam folder. If you can't find the email there, contact your facility manager oder the responsible officer for your case. They can resend the verification link and help you directly if necessary.
If the verification link has expired, it can be regenerated easyly. To do so, please contact the officer for your case or your facility manager.
Did you confirm the link on a different device (desktop, tablet, etc.)? Your digital key will only be activated if you confirm the verification link on the same device on which you installed the app.
If your key still does not work via the app, please contact your facility manager.
With the digital locking system “iLOQ”, there is no longer any need for a personal key handover. Once the digital key is stored on your smartphone, you can move in at any time, even on weekends and public holidays.
You will receive all the information you need before you move in, but here is a quick summary of the most important points: First, download the “iLOQ” app to your smartphone. Shortly before your move-in date, you will receive a verification link by email to confirm your registration. Once you have successfully verified your digital key, it will be ready on your smartphone – no matter where you are.
If you terminate your rental agreement, the end of the contract will be stored in the “iLOQ” system and the digital key on your smartphone will automatially become inactive on the corresponding date. A traditional key handover is therefore only necessary if you use a “KeyFob” (transponder). Please return this to your facility manager when you move out or hand over the room.
Please note: Whether you have a digital key on your smartphone or a “KeyFob,” in both cases you must hand over the room to the responsible facility manager before or upon your final move-out, as well as before or after your move-in. Please schedule an appointment with your facility manager for this purpose.
If you haven’t had a good experience using the digital key on your smartphone and would like to use an alternative, you can get a “KeyFob” (transponder). This is still possible later. The “KeyFob” will then replace the digital key on your smartphone and cannot be used alongside the app. If you would like to use a “KeyFob,” please contact the officer of your case or your facility manager.
If you find Wallet & Apple Pay, you are almost done with the check.
- Open Settings
- Tap Wallet & Apple Pay
- If you can add cards, NFC is available
Note: is your Phone an Iphone 7 or higher? Then you have NFC included.
Android:
On Android, searching in the settings is the fastest way.
- Open settings
- Search for “NFC” at the top.
- If a result appears, NFC is available
If you are already in the NFC menu, check the switch and the payment function.
- Open the NFC menu
- Check the NFC switch
- Check “tap to pay”
Important: Not every Android smartphone has NFC. Especially on lower-priced models, it is worth doing the quick check in the settings
Handling in everyday life
The "iLOQ" key can be used not only for your apartment or room door, but also for various other access points in your residence hall. Depending on the building and its facilities, these may include the building entrance, connecting doors, bicycle storage and laundry rooms.
A battery level of 5% is enough to unlock the door. If your battery is completely dead, you might be able to ask a friend or roommate to charge it for you until it reaches the required minimum charge. You should also take advantage of the charging stations available on campus and in the libraries during the day. Carrying a power bank is another way to charge your smartphone on the go if needed.
If your smartphone is broken or lost, your facility manager can temporarily provide you with a replacement key ("KeyFob"). As soon as you have a new smartphone, you can obtain a new digital key. If you have simply locked yourself out, your facility manager can let you into your room during our business hours.
Outside of our business hours, please contact the emergency response service responsible for your residential home. You will find their contact details on a notice in the display case in your residential home.
If you change your smartphone, the digital key must be verified again on your new device. To do this, contact your facility manager. The old key will be automatically deactivated as soon as the new one is activated.
For security reasons, digital access rights cannot be passed on to other people independently. If you want someone to be able to enter your apartment (e.g., to care for your plants), please contact your facility manager or the responsible officer for your case. They can create a temporary digital key.
The responsible facility manager can adjust your digital key at any time, e.g., for a short-term move to another room or building in the event of an emergency. If you have an approved request for moving to an other of our residential homes or apartments, the responsible officer for your case will adjust your digital key.
A “KeyFob” (transponder) for the fire department is programmed accordingly and stored in a fire department key depot. This ensures that authorized access is possible at any time in case of an emergency.
The lock cylinders work without batteries. This means that battery maintenance is completely unnecessary.
You can get a guest key for visits from friends, family, or similar people. This allows your visitors to create a guest key on their own cell phone (the visitor's) for a limited period of time using the "iLOQ" app.
The officer for your case can create guest accesses and send them via email to the relevant persons. These guest keys can be set with specific dates, so that they automatically activate on the start date and deactivate on the end date. The request must be submitted at least 7 days before the desired start date.
If there is another way to access the room, the door with the damaged cylinder may be able to be opened from the inside.
If only the antenna (black head) is damaged, it can be replaced without having to replace the entire cylinder.
If the entire cylinder is damaged, it must be broken open.
The "iLOQ" lock cylinder only requires a brief impulse from your smartphone via the app for each locking operation. Power consumption is so low that even after hundreds of locking operations, there is hardly any noticeable effect on your smartphone battery. Experience report from one of our facility managers: after using the iLOQ app on around 300 doors in the course of a day, the battery of his smartphone remained unchanged.
General information about the iLOQ system
The system is very easy to use, as its primary function is the intuitive opening and closing of doors. Using the app on your smartphone and holding your smartphone up to the lock cylinder activates the door's locking mechanism to open it.
Certain door events are stored for a limited period of time, but are not systematically evaluated. The data is not used for performance or behavior monitoring. It is used exclusively to check for technical malfunctions or to investigate security-related incidents.
Access to the limited, stored information is strictly regulated: only a small group of people are authorized to do so and must still submit a detailed request before viewing the data. In addition, two authorized persons must be present when viewing the data in accordance with the dual control principle.
All data protection regulations (in particular the GDPR and applicable state regulations) are of course complied with.
In short: storage serves the security and functionality of the system—not the surveillance of individuals.
No, your room door / apartment door can only be opened with your own digital key. Property management, facility managers, or service providers can only access your room / apartment with your consent or at your request.
No, the systems are secured with AES-256-bit encryption - a level of security that banks and government agencies also use. Each access right is individually encrypted and cannot be copied.
The special locking cylinders also function during a power outage, as they do not require a direct power connection. During the locking process, they draw the necessary energy directly from the smartphone.
The smartphone does not need a permanent online connection to lock the cylinders. The system is designed so that doors can still be accessed using a smartphone and the “iLOQ” app, even in the basement or in the event of connection problems, for example.
In everyday use, digital keys are actually much simpler and can potentially save you money, because:
- they cannot be copied without authorization,
- a digital key can be blocked immediately if lost,
- a replacement key can be provided quickly and inexpensively if lost,
- if the key is lost, you do not have to pay to have the lock cylinder replaced,
- if you are locked out, the door can be opened without damage.
Which buildings will be next to make the switch
In March 2026, the switch to the digital “iLOQ” locking system was already implemented at the Seidelstraße 18 dormitory in Jena as a pilot project. With the help of feedback from the tenants and involved staff members of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen, valuable insights were gathered for the subsequent properties. Among other things, the FAQs on our website were updated, and important details were taken into account for the planning and communication processes.
The next residential homes in Jena are scheduled for late May / early June:
- Residential Home Clara-Zetkin-Straße 19
- Residential Home Spitzweidenweg 11
- Residential Home Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 8
- Residential Home Jenertal 4
- Residential Home Kötschauweg 2a
- Residential Home Moritz-Seebeck-Straße 15
- Residential Home Siegfried-Czapski-Straße 2
Preparations for the renovation of the locking system in additional dormitories are scheduled to begin as follows:
Starting in late June 2026 in Weimar:
- Residential Home Belvederer Allee 21a
- Residential Home Carl-Ferdinand-Streichhan-Straße 4 and 4a
- Residential Home Leibnitzallee 10, 10a, and 10b
- Residential Home Windmühlenstraße 31 and 33
Starting at the end of June 2026 in Erfurt:
- Residential Home Klingenthaler Weg 12, 12a, 14, 16, and 18
- Residential Home Marcel-Breuer-Ring 3, 5, and 7
Starting in early July 2026 in Ilmenau:
- Residential Home Max-Planck-Ring 2, 4, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d
Starting in late July 2026 in Jena:
- Residential Home Karl-Marx-Allee 1, 3, and 5
- Residential Home Stauffenbergstraße 2 and 2a
All other residential homes in Jena, as well as in Erfurt, Weimar, Ilmenau, Nordhausen, and Schmalkalden, will also be gradually converted to the digital locking system over the next two years. Tenants will be informed of the specific process in advance via email.
Why “iLOQ”?
Traditional keys, key cards, thoska – over the years, various locking systems have become established in our portfolio, as not all buildings and premises have met the same technical requirements and conditions. Preparations for the conversion of the locking system began in the summer of 2025, when the challenges and potential for optimization of the existing locks were identified. Solutions and requirements for a new, uniform system were developed and comprehensively evaluated as part of a feasibility study. With the specific objectives and defined requirements for a new locking system in place, a call for tenders was issued. Kontec Sicherheitssysteme GmbH's “iLOQ” system was the most convincing of the applications submitted and optimally meets the previously set requirements. With “iLOQ,” you get a simple, digital, and sustainable locking system that simplifies everyday life for all users.