One of the greatest innovations of the 21st century is smart devices like ecobee. The technology has become quite popular due to its efficiency in automatic controls. Nonetheless, you might find that the ecobee does not connect to the WiFi, thus inhibiting automatic control. What could be the reason?
There are many reasons why an ecobee thermostat has trouble connecting to WiFi, including a problem with the router, bad WiFi encryption, or too weak a signal for the thermostat to connect to the network. It is also possible that you’re inputting the wrong WiFi password or credentials.
There are several reasons why your ecobee is not connecting to the WiFi. We will first discuss some critical insights on ecobee. Next, we will elaborate on why it is probably not connecting to WiFi. Keep reading to learn more about this smart device.
What to Do If ecobee Won’t Connect to WiFi
Imagine a scenario where your ecobee does not connect to the WiFi. As we have explained earlier, such an issue is significant as it bars you from accessing most Smart Devices features.
Several issues can prompt the device to not connect to WiFi. Let’s explore each one of them in depth.
1. No Power
Your ecobee could not be connected to the WiFi because it is not well connected to a power source. Hence, you need to check if the power connection is fine. If everything is okay, check if you have switched the power on.
Several issues could cause disconnection from the power source. It could be that there is a problem with the wiring. Also, possibly, children could have disconnected the devices while playing. Or maybe, you have not done the wiring appropriately.
The good thing about a power issue is that it is easy to fix. You only need to identify what is causing the disconnection and fix it quickly. Hence, when troubleshooting for ecobee’s WiFi connectivity issues, it’s best to start by checking the power connections.
2. Your Router is Disconnected
Your WiFi router power source could be dysfunctional. Also, there could be a challenge in the link-up between the router and the internet source. Hence, you need to confirm if everything is alright regarding the router connections.
Sometimes, you’ll find that the router is on and not connected to the WiFi. It could be due to a configuration problem. In such a case, you will need to ask for assistance from your internet provider. Also, check if the ethernet cable is correctly connected.
If you have some expertise in internet connection, fixing router connectivity is something you can easily do without requiring any assistance. If you don’t know how to do it, call a technician to sort you out.
3. You are Entering the Wrong WiFi Password
Verify that you are writing the WiFi password correctly. Many passwords are lengthy and complicated. Therefore, there is a chance that there are some parts of the password that you have mistyped.
A long and complex password is not a bad idea, especially in deterring others from accessing your WiFi. Hence, we will not advise you to shorten it as doing so will compromise security. Instead, just be keen when entering it so that you input the correct password.
It’s also imperative to double-check to avoid inputting it repeatedly without success.
4. Poor Signal Strength
ecobee devices are pretty sensitive to the strength of your signal. You, therefore, need to ensure that you have a solid connection to enable efficient functionality. You can check if the signal strength is at the right levels from your ecobee device.
Click on the ‘MAIN MENU’ tab on your ecobee thermostat and select the ‘ABOUT’ function. Next, click on the ‘WIFI’ button. It will show the strength of the signal. It will be troublesome if it is below 75%, and your ecobee will not connect to the WiFi.
You can also check the signal strength from your laptop. For example, if you use a Windows OS, the signal strength will be accessible from the desktop toolbar. If you have an Apple device, you can check the signal strength from the AirPort Utility App.
5. Incompatible Router Broadcasting Network
WiFi networks will broadcast on various bands. Hence, maybe your ecobee device is not connecting because it is connected to the incompatible band. There are two main bands via which WiFi routers broadcast. First, there is the 2.4 GHz and then the 5 GHz. The connectivity of your ecobee device to either of the bands will depend on its compatibility.
Let’s look at each one of them in detail.
2.4 GHz
The band has a relatively long range. Hence, you can comfortably use it in connecting devices that are placed far away from the router. Nonetheless, it features quite a short bandwidth. Therefore, it is slow, and you will not get a strong signal when you connect your device to this bandwidth.
5 GHz
Bandwidth range decreases with increasing frequency. Hence, a bandwidth of 5GHz will have a shorter range than the 2.4 GHz band mentioned above. Nonetheless, despite its short range, its bandwidth is fast. Hence, if you use data-intensive devices that require proximity to the access point, 5 GHz is the ideal bandwidth.
Can ecobee Connect to 5 GHz WiFi?
ecobee smart thermostat with Voice Control will connect to either a 5GHz or 2.4 GHz. Nonetheless, all the other ecobee thermostats, except for Smart SI, EMS SI, EMS, and Smart, will not connect to 5GHz WiFi.
Some ecobee devices, such as the ecobee Smart Thermostat, operate effectively with a dual-band router. Such a router broadcasts at both 5 GigaHertz and 2.4 GigaHertz. However, for most other ecobee devices, a 2.4 GigaHertz bandwidth is the only range they can connect.
Therefore, you must set your router to the right bandwidth if it is dual-band. If you are using a single band router, make sure you have set it at 2.4 GigaHertz.
What if WiFi is Still Not Connecting?
You might find a scenario where your WiFi is still not connecting on the ecobee Smart Device even after performing the above tests. The most probable cause could be that you are using an outdated router configuration in such a case.
Wrong Router Encryption
Also, maybe your ecobee is not connecting because you have the wrong encryption. Formerly, ecobee devices would work well under TKIP encryption. Nonetheless, this has since changed after ecobee updated its systems to improve on security features.
Now, all ecobee Devices can only connect to a WPA- AES or WPA2-AES encryption. If you are using a modern router, it is most probably already updated to this configuration. Nonetheless, if your router is the old-school kind, you will have to update it. The aim is to ensure that you set it to an AES, not TKIP.
For an old router, follow these steps:
- Log to the router. You must have administrator access to perform this action.
- Go to settings and identify the WPA or WPA2 encryption.
- Next, change the WPA or WPA2 encryption from TKIP to AES. Your router will now be ready for use with any ecobee Smart Device.
ecobee Trouble Connecting to Your Device?
If you have trouble logging into your ecobee app, there are two main reasons. First, it could be that you are inputting the wrong login credentials. Also, it is possible that your thermostat is not registered and thus not ready for use using ecobee Smart technology.
So what do you do in case you keep having trouble connecting to your device? Check out these remedies.
1. Confirm Your Thermostat is Registered
First, you need to verify if your thermostat is registered as if it is not, it will not connect to the ecobee app. Click the ‘MAIN MENU’ button on the thermostat. From the details on the menu, check if there is the ‘Registration’ option.
If you find it, then you need to register your thermostat. If you had previously registered it, it might have been deregistered. Hence, in such a case, you must register the thermostat to continue using it.
If your ecobee is unregistered, don’t worry, the registration process is easy. Follow these steps.
- Obtain the Registration Code: First, obtain the registration code from the thermostat. Click on the registration tab on the main menu. You will be prompted to connect to your WiFi. Once connected, the thermostat will generate a four-digit code that expires in an hour. Write it somewhere as you need it in the next step. For the following steps, you can either opt to use the ecobee App or the Web Portal.
- Register via the ecobee App: Download the ecobee App from the app store and create an account by entering your details. Also, enter your home address information. Next, add your Ecobee Thermostat by inputting the registration code you generated from the thermostat. Your ecobee will now be registered and ready for use.
- Register via the Web Portal: Registering via the portal option is also straightforward. First, go to the ecobee registration page. Next, select the ecobee model you want to register and enter the code you generated from the thermostat.
2. Confirm Login Details
You must log in to the ecobee app using the login details that you used mainly during registration. Therefore, ensure that you input the correct email address and password.
It is possible to misspell the email address during registration. In such a case, your ecobee will register to a nonexisting email or one that you have no access to. If you find yourself in such a scenario, do not worry. You can still reset the registration from the thermostat.
To deregister the thermostat, click on Settings from the Main Menu. Then, select ‘reset,’ and it will prompt you to reset the thermostat registration. Once deregistered, you can register it again using the right details.
Also, it is imperative to check the email address that you used during registration by contacting ecobee. If you are sure that this is the email you registered with but still can’t log in, consider resetting the password.
3. Reset the Password
Launch the ecobee app or enter the ecobee website from your internet browser. Next, click the ‘Forgot Password’ button. It will instruct you on how to recover your ecobee password via a link sent to your email.
4. Log via the Portal
Once you have recovered your password, you can log in to the ecobee website via the web portal. It should be easy if you input the ecobee sign-in credentials appropriately. You should also be able to log in to the app using the same credentials.
Suppose you find that you can log in to the web portal, but you can still not sign in to the ecobee app; the app could be outdated. Uninstall it or update the app from your app store.
Does ecobee Need WiFi to Work?
Any ecobee thermostat will still function even when there is no internet connection. Hence, you do not necessarily need to connect it to a WiFi network. Nonetheless, without a connection, you will not realize the functionality of the device’s features.
Hence, when you use an ecobee without connecting it to the internet, your thermostat will be similar to any conventional temperature control device. Some of the features that will be inaccessible in the absence of a WiFi network include:
- You will not make any control or get a notification from your mobile device. Also, it will be impossible to access the ecobee website.
- It’ll also be impossible to use voice control via a smart speaker. Most smart speakers require an internet connection to function.
- Additionally, it’ll be impossible to use the geofence feature without a connection.
Therefore, without a WiFi connection, you have to adjust the temperatures physically. It’s such an issue that smart devices such as ecobee seek to solve. It transforms the conventional thermostat into a device that you can control even remotely. Hence, having a WiFi connection is one of the fundamental prerequisites of an effectively working ecobee.
ecobee Keeps Going Offline?
You might find that your ecobee keeps going offline, especially if you have connected it to a Plume network. It can also be occurring when you have it connected to some other network. So what could be the problem?
According to information on Plume’s website, the network providers keep optimizing their networks regularly. Often network providers will shift to 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz. Also, it is common for them to shift to both. The aim is to improve network connectivity in a particular location. As a result of the constant change, the network’s bandwidth keeps changing.
Unfortunately, ecobee is not adaptive to this change which is why it keeps going offline. The device may go off and fail to connect automatically, especially if there is a shift to an incompatible bandwidth. Hence, it will require you to fix it manually.
ecobee Lost Connection to WiFi?
So what is the solution to this challenge? It’s pretty easy. All you need to do is to have the right firmware.
ecobee is aware of this challenge, and they have, as a result, released firmware to counter it. You need to upgrade your ecobee device to the latest firmware to avoid this challenge. For instance, if you have ecobee 4, you should upgrade your device’s firmware to version 4.2.0.171. For those with ecobee 3, the compatible firmware is version 3.70.992.
If you have an ecobee 3 with version 3.8.0.501, you will have to wait for ecobee to develop an upgrade to facilitate channel change.
ecobee Unable to Obtain IP Address?
Another common issue with ecobee is that you may find that it cannot automatically detect the IP Address. Unfortunately, ecobee does not explain how to fix this issue.
However, a user on a Reddit community claims that you can fix it by assigning the ecobee a static DHCP Lease. So when you assign a DHCP Lease to the ecobee, its IP Address will remain valid forever.
Consequently, you’ll have fully solved the problem. We are not sure about this method, but it’s worth trying out if you’ve tried everything and it’s still not working correctly.
How do I Reconnect my ecobee to WiFi?
Sometimes, you may have to reconnect your ecobee to the WiFi manually. For example, if your network provider keeps changing the bandwidth, your ecobee will disconnect now and then. We have so far provided several solutions to handle the issue.
Nonetheless, you might find that you still need to reconnect the device to the WiFi. But all is not bleak if that is your case, only that you’ll have to do it manually. Here are the steps to follow:
- On the ecobee Thermostat’s home screen, press the menu button and click on the settings tab.
- Next, scroll to the WiFi button on the settings page and select it.
- You must ensure that your WiFi is switched on to allow the connection.
- From the WiFi button on the settings menu, select the name of your WiFi and click. It will connect. If you have a Wi-Fi password, you’ll be prompted to enter it before it connects.
How do I Reset my ecobee Thermostat WiFi?
You ecobee could be connected to the WiFi but still not access the servers. The most probable cause of such a challenge is an issue in the security configuration of the server. Hence, you need to check if you have it connected to the ecobee site.
On the main menu of the ecobee thermostat, click ‘About.’ Next, click on ‘WiFi.’ If it is connected, it will indicate ‘Connected to ecobee.com.’ If you do not get this message, you need to reset your ecobee thermostat.
First, remove the ecobee thermostat from where you have it attached for approximately two minutes. Make sure you switch it off during this period. It will reset.
Next, reconnect the ecobee to WiFi by selecting your WiFi network, as explained above. If it does not connect, try connecting it to your mobile hotspot. If it connects to the mobile hotspots after failing to connect to your WiFi, your WiFi has a firewall prohibiting connection to the ecobee servers.
You can solve this challenge by contacting your router manufacturer. The manufacturer will then advise on preventing the prohibition of connection to some outbound sites such as ecobee.
What Is an ecobee Thermostat and How Does It Work?
It’s a smart device that controls the home climate via the integrated coordination of digital control, smart sensors, and third-party input. The fundamental essence of an ecobee thermostat is that it improves energy efficiency in the home environment.
Also, an ecobee system enables you to have control of your home temperature from wherever you are situated. You can achieve this by controlling it from your smartphone even when you’re not at home.
ecobee does not only deal with thermostats. It also manufactures home monitoring equipment and air filters. Also, their thermostat’s remote sensors are helpful in temperature control and in checking occupancy.
ecobee Thermostats will work by first linking to a WiFi connection. Once connected, you can now operate it from ecobee’s mobile app. Also, you can use any other third-party device which is activated to work with ecobee.
Among such devices include smart speakers, smart vents, and motion detectors. Therefore, by controlling these devices, you can perform any function on the thermostat without necessarily being physically present.
Final Thoughts
Controlling your ecobee thermostat is straightforward, especially when everything is perfectly working. However, you may have several scenarios when it cannot connect to the WiFi. We have laid down some of these possible situations.
Also, we have highlighted how to counter each of the challenges. Therefore, follow our insights, and all your ecobee connection issues should be a thing of the past.
