On the ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera a wrong time on an event, or a status that disagrees with the doorbell, is almost always the doorbell's location and time zone, or the app showing an old view. Open the doorbell in the ecobee app, check that the home's address and time zone are right, then pull down to refresh. Events are stamped when the doorbell sees them, so if the stamp is off by whole hours the time zone is the cause, and if it is off by exactly one hour around a clock change, the daylight saving setting is. Press the doorbell and compare the new event with the wall clock to measure the offset.
Differential
Likely causes of “ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera shows the wrong time, state or sensor reading”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The home's time zone or address is wrong
What separates it Every event is off by the same whole number of hours
How to confirm Correct the address and time zone for the home in the ecobee app, then press the doorbell once to see a fresh, correctly stamped event
- 2
A daylight saving change
What separates it Events are off by exactly one hour for a few weeks around March or November
How to confirm Confirm the time zone still has daylight saving enabled, then restart the doorbell by switching its circuit off and on
- 3
The app is showing an old view
What separates it The app says online or shows a last-seen time that does not match the doorbell's light
How to confirm Pull down to refresh, force-close the app and reopen it, then compare with the doorbell's own light
- 4
The doorbell lost its connection for a while
What separates it The status shows offline after a power cut or router restart, then recovers
How to confirm Give it a few minutes to rejoin; if it stays offline, follow the offline steps for this doorbell
- 5
Recordings tied to an inactive plan
What separates it Events show but there is no video to open
How to confirm Check that the Smart Security plan is active, since saved recordings depend on it
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The time shown on the event and the real time when you pressed the doorbell
- The address and time zone shown for the home in the ecobee app
- A screenshot of the event list next to a clock
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedPress the doorbell and read the time
ReversiblePress the button and compare the new event's time with a clock. Same whole-hour gap means time zone; one hour means daylight saving.
Check the home's location
ReversibleIn the ecobee app open the home settings and confirm the address and time zone.
Refresh the app
ReversiblePull down to refresh, then force-close and reopen the app if the status still looks old.
Restart the doorbell
ReversibleSwitch the circuit off and on, or remove the power at the breaker, and let it reconnect for a few minutes.
Check the recording plan
ReversibleIf events have no video, confirm the Smart Security plan is active.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Where the time comes from
- The network and the home's time zone, not the phone
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a fresh test press is still stamped wrong after the time zone is confirmed, contact ecobee support with the screenshot
- !If the status will not match the doorbell after a restart, contact ecobee support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Light and voice patterns.
Features, integrations and chime.
General ecobee wifi steps.
Subscription and notifications.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why are my doorbell events an hour off?+
An hour's gap in spring or autumn means the time zone is not following daylight saving. Confirm the home's time zone in the ecobee app and restart the doorbell.
Why does the app say online when the doorbell is not answering?+
The app can show the last state it received. Refresh it and compare with the doorbell's light; a restart clears most stuck states.
Will changing my phone's time fix the doorbell's time?+
No. The doorbell takes its time from the network and the home's location, not from your phone.