
Wondering why your Honeywell thermostat stuck on hold? Well, we got you covered here!
We understand how inconvenient it is for you when the Honeywell thermostat is stuck on HOLD and you are unable to adjust the temperature settings.
However, this guide is just for you, since it will provide you with various solution methods to help you regain control over your thermostat.
If the Honeywell thermostat is stuck on *HOLD* then you can easily stop this by turning the feature off. Depending on your model, press the Cancel Hold, Cancel, Remove Hold, Run Schedule, Schedule, or use the +/- button on the Honeywell thermostat screen.
Let’s dive in to find out more details about it!
What Does “Hold” Mean on Honeywell Thermostat?
The Honeywell thermostat has a permanent and temporary hold feature.
When your Honeywell thermostat is set on “Temporary Hold“, it indicates that the thermostat is instructed to maintain your HVAC system at a specific temperature.
The rule applies up until the next schedule change or until you manually cancel the hold.
On the other hand, when your Honeywell thermostat is set on “Permanent Hold”, it indicates that the thermostat will maintain your HVAC at a specific temperature indefinitely.
The only way to remove the permanent hold is by manually disabling the feature.
What is “Hold” Used For on Honeywell?
Both of the hold features are very useful especially when you are going on a long vacation, or want to override the thermostat’s schedule for a specific time.
It also helps you save a lot of money by restricting the excessive use of electricity and saving electricity.
Honeywell Thermostat Stuck on Hold? – Quick Solution!
If the Honeywell thermostat is stuck on hold then don’t worry because it is safe and doesn’t affect your thermostat performance and effectiveness.
However, you can easily remove the hold function from your Honeywell thermostat in a few simple and quick steps.
Here is how to remove the Hold from the Honeywell thermostat:
How to Turn OFF Temporary Hold?
If the Honeywell thermostat is stuck on Temporary Hold, proceed with the steps below:
Depending on your Honeywell Thermostat model:
- Press the Run/ Cancel/Run Schedule/Use Schedule/Remove Hold/Cancel Hold
- Locate and press ↵ the button to cancel the temporary hold.
- Press +/- to adjust the temperature, then press Cancel Hold.
How to Turn OFF Permanent Hold?
If your Honeywell thermostat stuck on Permanent Hold, try any of the below steps:
Depending on your Thermostat Model:
Press the Run/ Cancel / Run Schedule / Use Schedule / Remove Hold / Cancel Hold button on your Honeywell thermostat display screen.
For T4 Pro:
- Press the +/- or Up/Down button.
- Tap on Cancel Hold or Remove Hold.
For Lyric™ T5 Wi-Fi:
- Press Permanent Hold.
- Choose a Run Schedule.
That was how to remove the “hold” feature from your Honeywell thermostat. In case the process works you don’t need troubleshooting.
In contrast, if the hold is still there and it’s stuck, then you need to continue reading into the troubleshooting guide below.
Let’s jump right in!
Honeywell Thermostat Still Stuck On Hold?
If your Honeywell thermostat is still stuck on hold even after canceling it, then there may be hardware or software issues with your thermostat.
Don’t worry, try the following fix methods to troubleshoot and fix your thermostat stuck hold problem.
1. Replace the Thermostat Batteries
Sometimes the Honeywell thermostat doesn’t perform as intended when there are any issues with its batteries even if it is getting a full power voltage.
So, if you haven’t changed the batteries in your thermostat in a long time, then try replacing them because this will hopefully resolve the hold issue on your device.
Here is how to replace the Honeywell thermostat batteries:
- First, turn off your Honeywell thermostat.
- Flip over the thermostat circuit breaker.
- Locate the thermostat battery compartment.
- Take out the old batteries from the unit.
- Install a fresh set of AA or AAA alkaline batteries.
- Set up the battery compartment back to its place.
- Flip over the thermostat circuit breaker.
- Turn on your Honeywell thermostat and test.
Reminder: When you are done replacing your thermostat batteries then try to cancel the hold from your thermostat by following the steps we discussed earlier in this guide.
2. Inspect the Thermostat’s Wiring
Over time the unit wiring becomes corroded, loose, or damaged which later badly affects the device’s performance.
It is possible that your unit has a wiring problem and that’s why it is still stuck on hold, thus all you have to do is to perform a thorough wiring inspection!
Here is how to check the Honeywell thermostat wiring connection:
- Begin by turning off your Honeywell thermostat.
- Then, switch off your thermostat circuit breaker.
- Then pull off the display cover of the device.
- Locate and get proper access to the wiring.
- Verify that all of the wires are securely snug.
- If the wiring connections are loose, tighten them.
Reminder: Don’t forget to double-check the wiring colors to ensure wires are connected to the correct terminals.
3. Check for Any Software Update
Sometimes outdated software might impact the thermostat’s performance and restrict it from properly functioning.
Therefore, if your Honeywell thermostat is connected to WiFi then check to see if your device has any available updates, which can potentially solve the stuck “hold”.
Here is how to check for Honeywell thermostat software updates:
- Tap on the “Menu” button on the Honeywell thermostat.
- Go to the Settings menu using the unit arrow buttons.
- Scroll down from the menu and select “System Info”.
- Then find and tap on the option “Check for updates”.
- If any latest updates are available, tap on “Update”.
Reminder: When ready, use the steps at the beginning of the guide to manually exit the “hold”.
4. Manually Adjust the Temperature
The stock “hold” on your Honeywell thermostat might simply be a minor bug. So if you haven’t tried already, adjust the temperature manually.
It’s important to set a temperature lower than the current room temperature.
This might just be enough to override the Honeywell thermostat’s hold and resume the device’s functionality.
To change the temperature use the (+) and (-) buttons on the thermostat!
In case the stuck “hold” disappears, congratulations, the issue might just be solved.
In case the thermostat doesn’t respond, perhaps it’s a system bug that requires more harsh solutions. So, don’t worry, proceed reading the next solution…
5. Factory Reset the Thermostat
If all the above steps don’t work and your thermostat is still stuck on hold, then perform a factory reset on your unit to restore it to its default settings.
This process is an ideal solution that helps but permanently erases all configurations of your Honeywell thermostat.
Note: Factory reset of the Honeywell thermostat may vary between models!
Here is how to reset the Honeywell thermostat:
Method #1 Reset Honeywell Thermostat
- First, disconnect the Honeywell thermostat.
- Remove the faceplate of the thermostat.
- Hold and remove the thermostat batteries.
- Install both batteries in the opposite direction.
- Then simply wait for up to 10 seconds straight.
- Put the batteries back into the correct position.
Method #2 Reset Honeywell Thermostat
- Press the Menu button on your thermostat.
- Locate and press on “Advanced Setup”.
- Press on “Reset” and then select “Factory Reset”.
When you’re done with the factory reset, the hold feature will be disabled by default.
This makes this method guaranteed to work so try enabling and then disabling the feature.
Need More Help?
If none of the above steps resolved your thermostat hold problem then possibly the issue could be with your thermostat’s hardware, software, or another component.
In that case, you must contact Honeywell Support to diagnose the issue for you, or claim the product’s warranty! Best of luck!
Quick Recap:
If your Honeywell thermostat is stuck on hold, then press the Cancel Hold or Remove Hold button on your thermostat.
In case the hold isn’t removed from your device, then replace your unit batteries, check the wiring connection, and perform a factory reset.
For more Honeywell thermostat fix guides, visit our blog!

Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.