Methods are disclosed for performing an update to a biometric access system. An instruction is received at a handheld device defining the update. An encoded signal is generated from the instruction to be transmitted to a biometric terminal from the handheld device. An acknowledgment is received from the biometric terminal at the handheld device that the encoded signal has been received and acted upon. Update information is transmitted from the handheld device over a network to a server to record the update.