Setting up an ecobee thermostat means mounting it, connecting wires, powering it, joining wifi and registering it in the ecobee app. ecobee has a page for each thermostat's installation, including the Smart Thermostat Premium and Enhanced, and a wiring compatibility check. Before installing, turn off the HVAC breaker, photograph and label the old wires and check whether you have a C wire; if you do not and have at least four wires, use the Power Extender Kit included with most models.
The checks in more detail
Push each wire firmly into its connector, mount the thermostat, restore power and follow the on-screen setup, choosing your equipment type. Join wifi on the thermostat and register it with a code shown on its screen in the ecobee app, using your ecobee account. The register and unregister article explains how a thermostat is tied to an account, and if a previous owner registered it, they must unregister or transfer ownership using the move devices article. If the thermostat asks about equipment you do not have, check your settings under Main Menu, Settings, Installation Settings.
Add SmartSensors after the thermostat is online. If setup stalls, restart the thermostat and router and try again. Keep the registration code screen open on the thermostat until the app confirms, since the code times out. If setup fails at the wire check, a wire pushed in at an angle is the usual cause, so reseat it. Set up when you are not rushed and have the wifi password to hand.
Complete wiring, power, wifi and the app in order, checking each before the next, since skipping ahead makes errors hard to attribute to their cause. Choose the equipment type from your furnace and air conditioner labels, not from memory, since a wrong choice causes strange heating and cooling behavior that looks like a faulty thermostat. Write down the thermostat's model, its registration code and the date you installed it, since ecobee support asks for these first and finding them later means removing the thermostat from the wall.
Differential
Likely causes of “ecobee thermostats will not complete setup or pairing”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
No C wire
What separates it The thermostat has power problems during setup because there is no C wire
How to confirm Use the Power Extender Kit to make a C wire, and then start the setup again
- 2
A previous owner's registration
What separates it The thermostat cannot be registered because it is still registered to a previous owner
How to confirm Ask the previous owner to transfer ownership or unregister it, then register it on your account
- 3
Wrong equipment settings
What separates it The heating or cooling behaves oddly because the equipment settings are wrong
How to confirm Correct the equipment settings in Installation Settings, to match the equipment that you have
- 4
A wifi problem
What separates it The thermostat cannot connect because of a problem with the wifi
How to confirm Follow the wifi steps for the thermostat, checking the network, the band and the password
- 5
Loose wires
What separates it The thermostat is not powered because a wire is loose in its terminal
How to confirm Reseat each wire firmly in its terminal, then check that the thermostat powers on
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A photo of the wiring that you took before you changed anything
- The registration code shown on the thermostat
- The type of heating and cooling equipment you have
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTurn off the breaker
ReversibleTurn off the breaker for the heating and cooling system before you touch any of the wires.
Photograph and label wires
ReversiblePhotograph and label the wires on the old thermostat, so that you can match them on the new one.
Connect wires and mount
ReversibleConnect the wires and mount the thermostat, then restore the power at the breaker to switch it on.
Follow setup prompts
ReversibleFollow the setup prompts on the display, and choose the equipment that matches your system.
Join wifi
ReversibleJoin the wifi on the thermostat, choosing the network and entering the password when it asks.
Register in the app
ReversibleRegister the thermostat in the ecobee app, using the code that the thermostat shows on its screen.
Add SmartSensors
ReversibleAdd SmartSensors after the thermostat is online, and assign each one to the right room in the app.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Setup
- Each thermostat has its own installation page.
- Ownership
- A thermostat is tied to one ecobee account.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Smart Thermostat Enhanced, ecobee3 lite.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If registration fails, contact ecobee support and give them the thermostat's serial number
- !If the system is unusual, ask a pro
- !If a previous owner registered it, ask them to unregister
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
PEK install.
Register and unregister.
Ownership transfer.
Reconfigure after changes.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where do I register it?+
Register it in the ecobee app, using the code that is shown on the thermostat's display.
What if it was registered by someone else?+
If someone else registered it, they must unregister it or transfer it to you.
Do I need a C wire?+
You need a C wire, or you can use the Power Extender Kit to make one from the existing wires.
Can I set equipment later?+
Yes, you can set the equipment later, under Installation Settings on the thermostat.
Do sensors add later?+
Yes, you can add sensors later, once the thermostat is online and registered.
Can I set up without wifi?+
You can use the thermostat without wifi from the display, but the app will not be able to reach it.
Should I hire a pro?+
Yes, hire a qualified professional if you are unsure about the wiring or the equipment settings.