Here, we answer the question: How to turn off the Permanent Hold on a Honeywell Thermostat? Of course this begs the question of why would permanent hold ever be ON in the first place? Well, the permanent hold feature on many programmable thermostats lets the user override scheduled temperature programs. Then they can set the temperature manually. Now when a thermostat is following its schedule, it is not on permanent hold. Thus, it changes its set temperature to what its program says at times of day, also dictated by the program.
But with the Permanent Hold function on, you suspend these scheduled temperature adjustments. Then, the thermostat stays at the displayed temperature setting either indefinitely.
So why would you ever want to put a Honeywell thermostat on permanent hold? Well, perhaps your house is too chilly on a cold winter night. So you’d like to stop your pre-scheduled temperature lowering just for that night. Or, maybe you don’t like the temperatures set by the current program, but don’t know how to change them. Thus you must wait for your tech savvy daughter’s next visit to get that done. In cases like these, using Permanent Hold is a handy solution.
How to Turn Off Permanent Hold on Honeywell Thermostat: Step by Step
We show here cancelling the permanent hold function on our Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat. In this demo, we start off with our thermostat set to Permanent Hold.
1. Go to the Honeywell Thermostat’s Home Screen
Here’s a shot of our t-stat’s Home page. The Hold button may say either Permanent Hold, or that Temporary Hold is in effect. It indicates temporary hold by saying when the hold will end.

2. Tap the Hold Button
Find the Hold button near screen center and bottom. Now this button should say Permanent Hold. But if you see no button, with the phrase Following Schedule, then your thermostat is not in permanent hold. So you need not turn off this hold.
Tapping the Hold button brings up the Hold Options screen, as shown following.

Pressing Cancel Hold stops Permanent Hold.
3. Tap the Cancel Hold Button
When you touch the Cancel Hold option, this turns off the permanent hold. Then the thermostat returns to Following Schedule mode. It again displays its Home screen.

But now, notice that the Hold button no longer appears. Instead, we find a link label that just says, Following Schedule.
4. Done with How to Turn Off Permanent Hold on a Honeywell Thermostat !
You’ve now learned how to turn off permanent hold on your Honeywell thermostat. Well, at least you know how to do it on the touchscreen multi color models anyhow.
Other Posts About the Honeywell Thermostat
- How to Set Temperature Range on Honeywell Thermostat
- Honeywell Thermostat Models Review
- How to Connect Honeywell Thermostat to Google Home
- Honeywell Thermostat Pictures Gallery
- How to Reconnect Honeywell Thermostat to WiFi