For wifi, ecobee's setup guide covers setting up or changing the thermostat's connection. On the thermostat, open the Main Menu, choose Settings and Wi-Fi and choose your network, entering the password with care since it is case-sensitive; the thermostat shows the signal strength. ecobee's articles say the thermostat needs a 2.4 GHz network, with the Smart Thermostat Premium, Enhanced and Voice Control also able to use 5 GHz. If you cannot find the network, restart the router, check it is broadcasting, and make sure the band names are separate if you want to choose.
The checks in more detail
Signal strength under 75 percent can cause trouble, so move the router or add an extender. Turn off any router security setting that blocks new devices, such as MAC filtering, and check DHCP is on. If the thermostat is connected to wifi but not to ecobee's servers, the article for ecobee3 not connecting explains it can be a router setting or a firewall; restarting the router and thermostat usually fixes it. If you change router or password, use the change Wi-Fi option to connect the thermostat to the new network.
Keep the thermostat's software up to date, since updates arrive over wifi. Note that a thermostat without steady power may drop its connection. Test signal at the thermostat's wall with a phone, since the reading near the router says little about the hall. Keep the router away from microwaves and cordless phone bases, which crowd the 2.4 GHz band. After a router change reconnect the thermostat the same day.
When you change your wifi name or password, connect the thermostat that evening, because a thermostat left on the old network for weeks is easy to overlook until the app says offline. If your router offers separate band names, connect the thermostat to the 2.4 GHz name first, since that band reaches further through walls and gives a steady connection. A router with automatic channel selection can move channels overnight and drop weaker devices, so if the thermostat is fine by day and offline by morning, fix the channel in the router settings and see whether the pattern stops.
Differential
Likely causes of “ecobee thermostats will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak signal
What separates it The connection is unstable because the wifi signal is below 75 percent at the thermostat
How to confirm Move the router closer, or add an extender, until the signal at the thermostat is stronger
- 2
A wrong password
What separates it The thermostat cannot join because the wifi password was typed wrongly
How to confirm Retype the password carefully, remembering that it is case sensitive
- 3
Router filtering
What separates it The router rejects the thermostat because its security settings block unknown devices
How to confirm Check the router's MAC filter and DHCP settings, and allow the thermostat to join
- 4
Wifi but no server link
What separates it The thermostat shows wifi but says it is not connected to the ecobee servers
How to confirm Restart the router and the thermostat, then check that the router is not blocking its traffic
- 5
A power problem
What separates it The wifi drops off at times because the thermostat is not getting steady power
How to confirm Fix the power supply, by checking the C wire or fitting the Power Extender Kit
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The wifi network name and its band
- The signal strength shown on the thermostat
- The security settings on the router
- Whether the thermostat display shows online
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedOpen Wi-Fi settings
ReversibleOpen the wifi settings on the thermostat by choosing the Main Menu and then Settings and then Wi-Fi.
Choose the network
ReversibleChoose your network in the list and enter the password, taking care with capital letters and symbols.
Check signal strength
ReversibleCheck the signal strength on the thermostat, and aim for a reading above 75 percent for a steady link.
Check router filters
ReversibleCheck the router's filters and DHCP settings, since they can stop a new device from joining.
Restart router and thermostat
ReversibleRestart the router and the thermostat if the wifi shows but the servers are not reachable.
Change wifi after a router change
ReversibleChange the wifi details on the thermostat after a router change, in the same Wi-Fi settings.
Contact ecobee
ReversibleContact ecobee if it fails, and tell them the signal strength and what the display says.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bands
- Premium and Enhanced can use 5 GHz.
- Setup
- The thermostat shows signal strength on its display.
- 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 it cannot join after a restart, contact ecobee support
- !If the router blocks it, check the router
- !If it drops with power problems, check the wiring
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Wifi setup and change.
Offline and disconnecting steps.
Black screen and power.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where do I set wifi?+
Open the Main Menu on the thermostat, choose Settings, and then Wi-Fi to set up the connection.
Is the password case-sensitive?+
Yes, the wifi password is case sensitive, so capital letters must match exactly.
Why wifi but no servers?+
That usually points to a router or firewall setting that blocks the thermostat's link to the servers.
Can MAC filtering block it?+
Yes, MAC filtering can block the thermostat, so allow it in the router's list of devices.
Can power cause drops?+
Yes, weak power can make the wifi drop, so check that the thermostat has steady power.
What is a Power Extender Kit?+
A Power Extender Kit is a kit that creates a C wire from your existing wiring, for systems that have no spare common wire.
Does the Power Extender Kit work on every system?+
No, it works only on 24 volt AC systems, so check the voltage of your equipment before you rely on it.
What does Reset All do?+
Reset All returns the thermostat to its factory settings, so wifi details, schedules and preferences must be set up again.
What is a Comfort Setting?+
A Comfort Setting is a preset, such as Home, Away or Sleep, that holds a set of temperatures for a time of day.
What is a hold on an ecobee?+
A hold is a temporary override of the schedule, which ends at the next schedule change or at a time that you choose.