Is my Enterphone buzz code the same as my unit number?

Often not. Many buildings assign a separate 3 or 4 digit directory code, partly so the panel does not advertise which suite a name belongs to. Your building manager can tell you yours, and it is the code to give guests and couriers.

Can I see who is at the door before letting them in?

Standard Enterphone panels are audio only, so you identify visitors by talking to them. If your lobby has a camera, it usually feeds a separate concierge or security system rather than your phone.

Can I take my name off the Enterphone directory?

Usually yes. Ask your building manager to show initials, a unit label, or nothing at all while keeping your buzz code active. Guests then dial the code directly instead of scrolling for a name.

Blog / How to Use an Enterphone: Buzz Codes, Answering, and Opening the Door

How to Use an Enterphone: Buzz Codes, Answering, and Opening the Door

By Ty · 2026-10-21

You just moved into a building with an Enterphone at the front door, and the first delivery driver already called you asking how to get in. Or you are the visitor, staring at a panel with a scrolling name list and a keypad, wondering what to press. The system is simple once you know the three steps, and most of the frustration comes from the resident side not being set up for how people actually arrive.

Here is how an Enterphone call works from both sides of the door, and how to make it less dependent on you catching the phone.

How to fix it

For visitors: find the resident’s name in the directory, or enter their buzz code on the keypad if you have it. The Enterphone places a phone call to the resident. Talk to them through the speaker, and listen for the door to unlock, usually with a buzz or click. Pull it open while it is released, since it relocks after a few seconds.

For residents: when the panel calls, answer like any phone call and press the door release key, which is 9 on most Enterphone panels, though your building can set a different key. Hold it for a moment instead of tapping. Hanging up without pressing anything leaves the door locked. Give guests your buzz code ahead of time so they are not scrolling through names in the cold.

Once you know the basics, the real question is who answers when you are busy, out, or in the shower.

Option	Pros	Cons
Answer the Enterphone call yourself every time	Free, you talk to every visitor	Missed call means a guest or courier stuck outside
Meet visitors at the building entrance	Full control over who comes in	Only works when you are home and free
Lend a fob to your cleaner or dog walker	They come and go without calling you	Hard to revoke, replacement fees if lost
Google Voice number on the Enterphone directory	Free, can ring more than one phone	Someone still has to answer and press the key
Lowkey	Rings every phone in your home, auto buzzes in expected guests, 4-digit guest passcodes, entry log	Quick one-time setup with your building

If visitors are rare and you are usually home, answering yourself is fine. If deliveries and regular helpers depend on you picking up, automation saves the most hassle. Our guide to forwarding an Enterphone to your cell covers how the directory number gets changed.

Where Lowkey helps

Lowkey for Enterphone takes the “someone has to answer” step out of the system. Your building programs your Enterphone entry with your Lowkey virtual number, and from then on a buzz rings the app on every phone you add. Expecting a delivery? Unlock the door in the app and the next buzz is let in automatically. Guests can type a 4-digit passcode on the Enterphone keypad after selecting your name, and passcodes for regulars can run on a schedule and expire when you choose. It works with any buzzer that dials out to a phone number, covering most Enterphone panels, with no hardware to install.