Why Is My Honeywell Thermostat Not Connecting to Wifi?

Most houses have smart thermostats that need a Wi-Fi connection to experience all the features and possibilities fully. But if your thermostat is not connected to the Wi-Fi, there might be some issues. 

Common reasons behind a thermostat not connecting to Wi-Fi include unstable Wi-Fi connection, weak strength, thermostat outside the Wi-Fi range, many interferences, wrong mobile application, or phone app and firmware not updated. 

If your thermostat still doesn’t connect to the Wi-Fi after troubleshooting these problems, call an expert for help. This guide shares all the possible reasons behind the problem and how to troubleshoot them. 

Understanding how the thermostat works with Wi-Fi

If you have a Wi-Fi or wireless thermostat, you would want a Wi-Fi connection. 

There are several features in the Honeywell thermostat, for example, Energy Saving via power use report, monitoring the room temperature and humidity, changing the background color, and locking the screen.

Without the connection, you cannot fully experience all the features. Additionally, you won’t receive correct readings.

These thermostats connect to the IP address of your Wi-Fi connection, just like your mobile phones and laptops. 

The thermostat will work in the same way as the other thermostats work. 

Since the smart thermostat works with your Wi-Fi, it will also connect to your smartphone, and you can control it through your phone via mobile apps. 

So, instead of standing in front of the wall to set the thermostat, you can use your phone and set the settings. 

With smartphones, you can manipulate the thermostat remotely. 

To set up the thermostat with Wi-Fi and your smartphone:

1. By reading the manual, find out how to put the Wi-Fi thermostat into the Wi-Fi setup mode. When you finish it, the thermostat will start sending a wireless signal. 
2. Take your phone and install the required application for the thermostat. It will help you to connect the thermostat to the Wi-Fi. 
3. Go to the available networks in the phone and select the network labeled as your Wi-Fi thermostat. It will connect the thermostat to your phone but disconnect the mobile from the Wi-Fi. 
4. Open the web browser on the phone. Here, you will receive guidance to connect the thermostat to the internet. Select the internet connection name and enter the password. The Wi-Fi thermostat will be connected to the internet.
5. Now go back to the smartphone and reconnect the mobile with the internet. At this time, both the phone and thermostat will be linked together and connected to the internet. 
6. Now, you need to use the thermostat’s application on your phone to control the programming.

Even when you make these connections correctly, there will be times when your Wi-Fi thermostat will not show connected to the Wi-Fi.  

Primary reasons include:

• Unstable internet connections.
• Weak Wi-Fi signals
• Thermostat outside the router range
• Wrong or outdated application
• The problem with the thermostat or the router connection
• Too many interferences

Fortunately, these problems can be solved with a few easy troubleshooting steps, and that is what I will share here. 

Let’s talk about the problems and their solutions one by one.

Unstable Wi-Fi connection

Sometimes unstable connections do not connect the thermostat to the Wi-Fi. 

In that case, it is common to see no internet or Wi-Fi connections in the thermostat. 

So, before you try anything else, ensure a stable network connection.

Also, check whether the router is on and can send enough signals to the thermostat. 

To confirm this, try connecting other devices to the Wi-Fi network. 

If that works, try reconnecting the thermostat to your Wi-Fi. 

If there is still a problem, reset your router. 

If the problem persists, maybe the thermostat is the problem, not the Wi-Fi. 

Weak Wi-Fi strength

Sometimes weak Wi-Fi signals also interfere with the connection between the thermostat and the Wi-Fi. 

Even if your thermostat has signals, it will be too low for the device to work at its full potential. 

The reason could be that there is some problem with the Wi-Fi’s signal, the thermostat is outside the Wi-Fi range, or too many interferences are weakening the connection.

Try resetting the router and reconnecting the thermostat with it. 

See if the thermostat is outside the Wi-Fi’s range, try to bring it within the range, or add another router close to the device for full connectivity. 

Clear the interferences, too, for a good connection. 

Incompatible Wi-Fi band

Another problem about which I recently learned is the Wi-Fi band.

Most Wi-Fi routers will have two bands – 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. 

The 5 GHz gives you the highest strength with the fastest speed. 

But the thermostats are incompatible with this band, resulting in connection failure.

2.4 GHz is the band that is compatible and connects with most thermostats. 

Check the router’s band and see the frequency.  

If you have 5 GHz, it does not connect with the thermostat. 

So, it would be best to have a 2.4 GHz frequency. 

To connect the thermostat to the correct frequency, separate the Wi-Fi frequency, access the router’s options through a web browser, and search for the IP address. 

Open the login page, and use the admin and password for logging in. 

You will find the Wi-Fi tab in the ADVANCED NETWORK SETTINGS in most router settings. 

From there, find the Wi-Fi frequency and change it to 2.4 GHz. 

Restart your router to apply the changes. 

Test your Honeywell thermostat to see if it got connected to the network.

Thermostat outside the range

If your Honeywell thermostat is outside the range of the Wi-Fi connection, your thermostat will not receive any signal. 

The farther the router is from the thermostat, the weaker the connection. Physical barriers also make the connection weak.

So, ensure the thermostat is near the Wi-Fi and within the range. 

Try shifting the location of the thermostat or the router, bring them close to each other (at least within each other’s range) and reconnect them. 

The problem with the Wi-Fi router 

Sometimes, the problem is in the Wi-Fi router, such as loose wires, technical issues, or connectivity problems. 

Even after multiple tries, the problem sometimes persists. 

In that case, try restarting the router. 

When nothing works, restarting or resetting solves maximum issues. Try the following solutions:

1. Restart your router by unplugging it for 5 minutes. Once your device feels cold, plug it back in and reconnect the power adapter. 
2. Reconnect all the cables in the configuration and connect your thermostat again.
3. If you have another Wi-Fi router, try connecting the thermostat to that. If the thermostat works, it means the previous Wi-Fi is at fault. Consult your expert. 
4. Try connecting your thermostat to the phone’s hotspot. It will tell you whether the Wi-Fi is at fault or the device. 

The problem with the thermostat 

Since it is an electronic device, a thermostat is prone to several issues. 

Sometimes, it becomes tough to identify why the thermostat is the problem behind the connection. 

If you are having such issues, reset the thermostat. 

To reset the thermostat, you need to Power Cycle it for 30 seconds or press and hold the RESET button for 30 seconds. 

If this 30 seconds reset method does not work for your model, consult your thermostat’s manual for the right step. 

Another method for your Honeywell thermostat is:

1. Remove the thermostat from the wall.
2. Open the battery compartment and remove the batteries from it. 
3. Please keep them in the opposite direction for 5 seconds. 
4. Take them out again after 5 seconds and put the battery correctly.
5. Please turn on the thermostat and reconnect it with the router.

Remember that factory resetting the thermostat will delete all the enabled features in your thermostat.

So, after the resetting, set up all the settings again.

Your thermostat should connect to the Wi-Fi. But if it doesn’t, call an HVAC expert for help.

Also read: Why Is My Honeywell Thermostat Flashing Cool On?

You are not using the right app

The Honeywell thermostat works with some applications on mobile phones. 

You need to have these apps to connect the thermostat to the Wi-Fi. 

Two apps are Honeywell Home App and Total Connect Comfort App. 

However, you cannot use just one for all. 

The models that work with Honeywell Home App might not work with Total Connect Comfort App.

The Honeywell Home App works with the Honeywell T-series and Round Smart Thermostat modes. 

The Total Connect Comfort App works with VisionPRO, Prestige, Wi-Fi FocusPRO, and Wi-Fi programmable thermostats.

So, before you troubleshoot when your thermostat does not connect to the Wi-Fi, ensure you have the right app on your phone. 

You are using an outdated mobile app

Apps out of date will not work. 

Therefore, when the app receives a new update, you must update it.

Some bugs create issues and interfere with the connection between the Wi-Fi and the thermostat. 

As a result, your thermostat does not get a Wi-Fi connection.

When you update the apps, these bugs get removed and fixed, further improving the connection between the thermostat and the Wi-Fi.

Check for the updates in your apps in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. 

Find the apps that need an update and update the apps that link the Wi-Fi to the thermostat. 

Then try reconnecting the thermostat with the Wi-Fi.

If you are still having a problem, try reinstalling the app. 

When nothing works, reset works the best. 

It clears all the problems and interferences and helps the thermostat to connect to the Wi-Fi faster. 

The thermostat firmware is not updated

Many users have reported that the recent firmware updates have fixed maximum Wi-Fi issues. 

If you have not updated the firmware, the thermostat will create issues while connecting with the Wi-Fi. 

So, check whether the firmware is updated. 

To update the firmware of your Honeywell thermostat:

1. Open the thermostat app on your mobile phone. 
2. Go to the FIRMWARE tab. 
3. Click on the SCAN FOR UPDATES and wait for the checker. 
4. If there is any update available, it will show the updated version. 
5. Click the DOWNLOAD NOW and update the firmware. 

The thermostat will restart 1-2 times during or after the update. 

After that, reconnect it with the Wi-Fi. 

Also read: 11 Reasons Why Your Honeywell Thermostat Is Blank

Too many traffic interferences

Too many interferences can weaken the connection between the Wi-Fi and the thermostat. 

So, when your thermostat is not connected to Wi-Fi, the reason is that you have other devices sharing the same network. 

The more devices you add to the network, the more disturbances you will have while connecting the Wi-Fi to the thermostat. 

I faced this same problem once. In my 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, I had connected too many devices, and then I found out that the thermostat was not getting connected to it. 

So, I removed some connections and then reconnected the thermostat with the Wi-Fi, and it connected instantly. 

That is when I understood the reason behind the Wi-Fi connection in my thermostat. Too much interference can weaken the connection.

So, if you have such a problem, remove some connections from the Wi-Fi. 

Or, you can allow the router to use another Wi-Fi channel than the other one you use with the other connected devices. 

It is not only the connected devices that create interferences but also other barriers like physical or environmental factors. 

Ensure there are no such barriers, like metal, concrete, or other materials, near the router and that the thermostat is within the Wi-Fi range. 

Wi-Fi connectivity drops

Sometimes, your thermostat won’t stay connected when the Wi-Fi connectivity drops. 

Even after trying to link multiple times, it won’t connect it.

For this purpose, disconnecting and reconnecting the thermostat to the Wi-Fi can solve problems like resetting. 

Try the following steps to reconnect it:

1. Make sure you have the right app on your phone. 
2. Please open it and set up the application. 
3. Click on the Wi-Fi setup tab and view the list of possible connections. 
4. Click on the Wi-Fi network and insert the security key. 
5. Wait until the thermostat displays the message that the connection is secured.

The problem might be with the app if there is still a problem. 

Consider reinstalling the app again or updating it.

To reinstall the app:

1. Go to your storage unit on the phone.
2. Find the app and delete it. 
3. Go back to the Play Store or Apple Store, find the app, and install it again. 
4. Set up the app and connect the thermostat to the Wi-Fi.

Final thoughts

Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats are one of the popular thermostats with solid connections. It can methodically recognize the issues and help you repair them efficiently. Smart thermostats have several features, but you can only enjoy these if you have a Wi-Fi connection connecting to the thermostat. 

So, if you ever find that the thermostat is not connecting to the Wi-Fi connections, try troubleshooting it by checking for a stable connection, using the right app and keeping it updated, updating the firmware, resetting the router and the thermostat, clearing the traffics, and using 2.4 GHz band. 

If you still have a problem, call an expert to help you find the right problem.

Reference: Smart Thermostat

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