ButterflyMX Building Access

Columbia Residential strives to make building access simple, secure, and welcoming. Many Columbia Residential buildings are equipped with ButterflyMX, a mobile-friendly video intercom system that enhances convenience while safeguarding resident privacy and safety. 

With ButterflyMX, residents are able to: 

  • Answer video calls from visitors directly on their phone
  • Grant access remotely, even when away from home
  • Use Alexa or Siri voice commands to open doors
  • Create Visitor Passes for friends, nannies, or dog walkers
  • View a log of past visitors and deliveries 

Because this feature is not available in every building, residents are encouraged to review their Building’s information page to confirm eligibility. 

Please note: Registering for ButterflyMX is optional—existing key and/or door attendant access remains unchanged. 

Registration Guidelines 

To ensure smooth access, please follow these guidelines: 

  • Affiliates: Use the [email protected] email listed in the Housing Portal.
  • Household Members: Only list family members who live with you full-time. Each must have a name and unique email address in the Housing Portal to sync with ButterflyMX.
  • Visitors: Do not list visitors as occupants. Instead, create a Visitor Pass through the app for short-term guests, babysitters, nannies, or dog walkers.
  • Subtenants: Access is automatically granted based on approved sublease dates entered in the Housing Portal.
  • Privacy: By default, names are hidden in the intercom directory to protect resident anonymity. Guests can search for residents by name, but scrolling through the directory is disabled. Residents who wish to display their name may update their preferences directly in the ButterflyMX app. 

How to Register 

  1. Update your Housing Portal profile with current occupancy information, including valid email addresses. For additional information on this process, please review the Updating Your Tenant Profile instructions.  

       Please note:  

  • Affiliates must use their [email protected].
  • Only full-time household members should be listed as occupants.
  • Short-term guests should not be listed as occupants—use the Visitor Pass feature instead.
  • Subtenant information should not be entered on the tenant profile page, ButterflyMX access will sync automatically from approved sublease dates.
  1. Watch for a registration email from ButterflyMX once your Housing Portal information is synced.
  2. Download the ButterflyMX app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
  3. Log in using the email you provided in the Housing Portal. 

Visitor Access 

Residents can easily grant entry to friends, family, and service providers through the Visitor Pass feature in the ButterflyMX app. This allows safe, temporary access without adding these guests as permanent occupants. 

Privacy and Security 

ButterflyMX protects resident privacy by removing names from the public intercom directory. Guests can search for residents by name, but scrolling through names is disabled. Residents who wish to display their name may adjust this in the app. 

All visitor activity is logged, and entry is limited to registered residents and approved guests. 

Support & Resources

Columbia Residential and ButterflyMX provide multiple avenues of support:

Commonly Asked Questions

Will I lose access to my building if I don’t register for ButterflyMX?

No. Your existing keys and door attendant access will remain the same.
Registering for ButterflyMX is optional but strongly recommended, as it will replace the current intercom system.

How do I update my information so I can access ButterflyMX?

If you are an affiliate:

Update your information in the Housing Portal using these instructions. Your information will sync to ButterflyMX within 24–48 hours, and you’ll receive a registration email. You must provide an email address—you will not sync without one.

If you have family members who live with you full-time, include their information in your Tenant Profile as well. Remember to include their names and emails so that they can also sync to the system. 

If you are a nonaffiliate resident who does not have access to the Housing Portal:

Please reach out to [email protected] for assistance. 

I don’t have access to a mobile phone, how do I gain access to the building?

Existing building entry methods like keys and door attendants will remain the same. However, if you would still like to use the ButterflyMX intercom, we can connect your account to your landline. Visitors who buzz your apartment from the panel will be able to ring your landline directly, and you will be able to open the door for them by pressing the number “9” on your phone’s keypad. 

For assistance setting up your account with landline access, please reach out to [email protected] via email or visit the Columbia Residential Office in person for assistance.

I just moved in. How long until I’m added to the system?

New residents sync to ButterflyMX within 24–48 hours of their confirmed move‑in date. Once synced, you’ll receive a registration email to the email you listed in the Housing Portal. Residents will not sync prior to moving into their unit. 

I can’t find my registration email. What should I do?

  1. Verify your email address in the Housing Portal.
  2. Wait 24–48 hours for the sync.
  3. Check your inbox and spam/junk folders.

If you still haven’t received the email after the waiting period, email [email protected] for assistance.

I previously registered for ButterflyMX but now I can’t log in. What should I do?

First, confirm that the email in your Housing Portal matches the one you originally used to register.

  • If it matches, you don’t need a new account. Try deleting the app, reinstalling it, and logging in with your original credentials.
  • If it doesn’t, you will either need to change your email in the Housing Portal to the original one you registered with OR create a new account with the email address you provided in the Portal.

My spouse/child doesn’t have access. Can you add them?

Full‑time family members must be listed in your Tenant Profile in the Housing Portal. Make sure they are added in the Occupants section with valid email addresses. They will not sync without an email address. Once they sync, they will receive their own registration invite to the email you have provided. 

How will my subtenant get ButterflyMX access while I’m away?

Subtenants are granted ButterflyMX access for the duration of their approved sublease. They will receive a registration email to the address you provided for them in your sublet application. 

My subtenant has additional occupants who need access. What should I do?

After the main subtenant registers for ButterflyMX, they can create Visitor Passes for their additional occupants in the app. These passes automatically expire when the sublease ends.

My roommates' visitors/deliveries keep calling me. How can I fix this?

Visitors/Delivery people should use the search bar at the top of the ButterflyMX panel to search for the specific resident they’re visiting.
Searching for a resident by name will automatically filter for their call button, allowing the visitor to call that person directly without mistakenly notifying their roommates. 

You and your roommates can also create Delivery Passes for your own accounts. This can be shared in your delivery instructions and will allow delivery people to gain entry to the building without having to ring your unit directly. Each Delivery Pass is unique to a user and will not notify other residents of the unit.   

For recurring visitors, you can also create a Visitor Pass that is unique to that guest. Using this Visitor Pass will not notify other residents of the unit. 

I want to create a Visitor Pass for my guests. Do I have to include all of their personal information? 

Visitor Passes only require a name and a means of contact (either email address or phone number). You do not need to include your guest’s full name to create a Visitor Pass, you only need to label the Pass based on your needs (e.g. “Nanny”, “John - Dogwalker”, etc.). We recommend you always name your Visitor Passes clearly so that you can easily track and manage access to your building.

I want my name to be visible on the ButterflyMX Directory so people can find me more easily. How do I change it? 

All residents are automatically opted into Anonymous Naming for their privacy and safety. If you would like your full name to be shown on the panel’s directory, you can do so by changing your “Display Name Preferences” in the ButterflyMX app. If you have any trouble doing so, please reach out to [email protected] via email for assistance.

I don’t want to use my phone to open my door. Can I use a Door Pin instead?

Yes, you may use a customized Door Pin in the ButterflyMX app to gain entry to your building. 

NOTE: Door Pins are for Resident Use ONLY. Door Pins should never be shared with guests or delivery people for safety reasons; please create a Visitor Pass or Delivery Pass for them instead.   

The ButterflyMX panel isn’t working. Who should I contact?

Notify your building’s superintendent immediately. They will coordinate repairs and work to restore service as quickly as possible.

Columbia Residential is dedicated to supporting residents every step of the way. ButterflyMX is one of the many tools designed to make daily life more convenient while maintaining a safe and welcoming community.