An ecobee thermostat belongs to one ecobee account, and sharing follows from that. ecobee's register and unregister article explains a thermostat is registered to an account, and its move and transfer ownership article explains how to hand a thermostat to a new owner: the current owner unregisters it or transfers it before the new owner registers it. To let others control the thermostat, they can install the ecobee app and sign in to the same account, though sharing a password is not ideal;
The checks in more detail
ecobee also offers ways to add people through account permissions and through integrations such as Alexa and Apple Home, where each person uses their own voice or home account. Apple Home sharing lets home members control the thermostat through the Home app. If someone cannot see the thermostat, check they use the right account, that the thermostat is registered and online and that any Apple Home invitation was accepted. If you move out, unregister the thermostat so the new owner can use it.
A factory reset does not release account registration by itself. Guests can use the thermostat's display without the app. Keep account security in mind and use a strong password. Keep a list of who has access and review it when someone moves out. A new user who sees nothing may be signed in to a different account. Ask each new person to try one change to confirm access.
Agree in the household who changes the thermostat and when, since two people adjusting it against each other looks like a fault but is only a disagreement. An unregistered thermostat can still heat and cool from its display, so if the app disappears after a move, the thermostat is fine and only the account link needs fixing. A tenant and landlord sharing one thermostat should agree who owns the account, since a thermostat registered to a former tenant is the most common reason a new resident cannot use the app.
Differential
Likely causes of “ecobee thermostats shared users or family members cannot control it”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A previous owner's account
What separates it A new owner cannot register the thermostat because it is still on the previous owner's account
How to confirm Have the previous owner transfer it or unregister it, then register it on the new account
- 2
The wrong account
What separates it The thermostat is not visible in the app because you are signed in to the wrong account
How to confirm Sign in with the account that the thermostat is registered to, on the phone that you are using
- 3
An Apple Home invitation not accepted
What separates it A member cannot control the thermostat because an Apple Home invitation was not accepted
How to confirm Resend the invitation, and ask the person to accept it in their own Home app
- 4
A shared password
What separates it There is a security risk because the account password is shared with other people
How to confirm Use separate home members instead of sharing one password, so that each person has their own access
- 5
An unregistered thermostat
What separates it The thermostat does not show in the app because it has not been registered to an account
How to confirm Register the thermostat in the ecobee app, using the code shown on the thermostat
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The ecobee account that is signed in to the app
- The status of any Apple Home invitation
- The exact model of the thermostat
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck registration
ReversibleCheck the registration in the app, to see which account the thermostat is attached to.
Sign in with the right account
ReversibleSign in with the right account on the phone, since the thermostat shows only on its own account.
Use Apple Home sharing
ReversibleUse Apple Home sharing for other members of the household, so each has their own access.
Transfer before selling
ReversibleTransfer the thermostat before selling it, by unregistering it from your account in the app.
Use a strong password
ReversibleUse a strong password on the account, and change it if it has been shared with anyone.
Review who has access
ReversibleReview who has access regularly, and remove anyone who no longer needs to control the thermostat.
Contact ecobee
ReversibleContact ecobee if you are stuck, and tell them the account and the model of the thermostat.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Ownership
- One thermostat, one ecobee account.
- Members
- Apple Home can add household members.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Smart Thermostat Enhanced.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the previous owner cannot be reached, contact ecobee support
- !If the app does not show it, check registration
- !If sharing is needed, use Apple Home or Alexa members
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Register and unregister.
Ownership transfer.
Apple Home pairing.
Alexa problems.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Can two people use one thermostat?+
Yes, two people can use one thermostat, either through Apple Home or by sharing one account.
How do I hand it to a buyer?+
Unregister it or transfer it to the buyer, so that they can register it on their own account.
Does a reset release it?+
No, a reset does not release it by itself, so unregister it from the account as well.
Can guests use the display?+
Yes, anyone in the home can use the thermostat's display, without needing an account.
What if someone else registered it?+
If someone else registered it, they must unregister it before you can register it yourself.
Does Alexa need an account link?+
Yes, Alexa needs the ecobee skill linked to your account, so link it in the Alexa app.