Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, displaying its -Security Settings- screen, showing the -Remove Password- button with the -Change Lock Mode- button highlighted.

Locking Honeywell Thermostat Instructions

Some smart models of the Honeywell thermostats like the RTH9580WF we describe  here, have a locking mode.  This keeps curious fingers from adjusting t-stat settings without first punching in a password.  You create this secret code when  locking your thermostat.  Then, the t-stat asks you to enter this code to again open up access to settings such as temperature, scheduling, Wi-Fi, and general adjustments.  So here we give locking Honeywell thermostat instructions, with a demo on Honeywell’s RTH9580WF WiFi t-stat.  It’s easy to keep your t-stat secure with features like this.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF Smart Thermostat, front view after initial setup.
Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, front view after initial setup.

Locking Honeywell Thermostat Instructions

1. Tap the   MENU   Option 

Find the MENU button in top right corner of the screen, which then displays the main menu screen.  Once there, you may have to press the down-arrow button a few times to locate the  Security Settings  item.  The next picture shows the main menu, displaying this option.

Picture of the thermostat, displaying its main menu, with the -Security Settings- option highlighted.
The thermostat displaying its main menu, with the -Security Settings- option highlighted.

2. Tap the   Security Settings  Option

The   Security Settings   screen then displays, as shown next.

Picture of the -Security Settings- screen.
The -Security Settings- screen.

3. Tap the  Change Lock Mode  Button

This brings up the   Change Lock Mode   screen, as we see next.  Note that the Unlocked option is highlighted on that screen in a brighter blue.  This means that the thermostat is currently unlocked and that users can access all settings and schedules without unlocking it first.  We’re now going to lock it.

Picture of the -Change Lock Mode- screen.
The -Change Lock Mode- screen.

4. Tap the  Fully Locked   Option to Continue with Locking Honeywell Thermostat

This again displays the   Change Lock Mode    screen, but now, shows that  Fully Locked  option highlighted in the bright blue.  The thermostat will enter fully locked mode once you press the   Done   button in the next step.





Note that we could have tapped the   Partially Locked   button here instead, in which case   that  option would have been highlighted in the next screen shot.  But in this demo, we’re only showing what happens with the   Fully Locked   mode.

However, you establish partial locking in the same way as we see below in the Fully Locked case, except that after locking, you’ll have access to   some   of the thermostat’s settings.  These include namely, the current temperature setting on the Home screen.  But with full locking, you’ll be able to access  none  of the settings, without first unlocking the thermostat.

Picture of the -Change Lock Mode- screen, with the -Fully Locked- option selected.
The -Change Lock Mode- screen, with the -Fully Locked- option selected.

5. Tap the  Done  Button

This takes you back to the  Security Settings  screen, as the next picture shows.  Your thermostat is now in full lock mode.

Note that if you wish not to set up a passcode, you can skip ahead to step 9 below.  The thermostat will still be locked, even though you’ve not set up a passcode. So you won’t need a password therefore, to unlock it.  However, here we’re going to add one nonetheless, to demonstrate the comprehensiveness of the locking mechanism on Honeywell thermostats.

Picture of the -Security Settings- screen.
The -Security Settings- screen.

6. Tap the   Create Password   Button

The  Your Password has been Created   screen then displays, which shows a four-digit passcode that you’ll need to unlock the thermostat subsequently.

Picture of the -Your Password has been Created- screen.
The -Your Password has been Created- screen.

7. Write Down the Provided Password to Continue with Locking Honeywell Thermostat

Be careful not to misplace or forget this passcode.  Record it somewhere and keep it safe.  Without it, you’ll be unable to gain access to the thermostat controls.  Nor will you be able to reset the thermostat to factory defaults without calling Honeywell for help.





8. Press the   Done   Button

Tapping   Done   returns you to the   Security Settings   screen, showing that the   Create Password   button has now changed to the    Remove  Password   button.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, displaying its -Security Settings- screen, with the -Remove Password- option highlighted.
Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, displaying its -Security Settings- screen, with the -Remove Password- option highlighted.

9.  Tap the   Previous Menu   Button

The  Previous Menu   option returns you to the main menu, as shown next.

Picture of the -Main Menu- screen, with the -Home- button highlighted.
The -Main Menu- screen, with the -Home- button highlighted.

10.  Tap the   Home   Button to Continue with Locking Honeywell Thermostat

Find the Home link in the top left corner of the screen, as arrowed above.   This returns you to the thermostat’s home screen, as shown next.  The thermostat is now in fully locked mode.

Picture of the -Home- screen.
The -Home- screen.

11. Check that the Honeywell Thermostat Screen is Locked

Try tapping the up and down arrows that adjust the current temperature setting.  These buttons are circled in pink in the previous picture, at screen right. When the thermostat is indeed locked fully, any attempt to change the temperature produces the  Screen Locked   screen, as displayed next.  If you get this page, your RTH9580WF is locked, and cannot be adjusted at all without the passcode.  See below for how to unlock this locked Honeywell smart thermostat.

Picture of the Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, displaying its -Screen Locked- message.
Honeywell RTH9580WF smart thermostat, displaying its -Screen Locked- message.

12. Press the   OK   Button to Go Back to the   Home   Screen

You may view current thermostat status and settings while locked; you just can’t change anything.

13. Done with Locking Honeywell Thermostat Instructions !





What the Full Lock Mode Stops on Honeywell Series 9000 Thermostats

Fully locked Honeywell thermostats prevent any changes to settings at all, including the current temperature.

All locked modes (full and partial) disallow the following main menu items.  When locked, these do not appear when you view the thermostat’s main menu.

  • Create Schedule
  • Color Themes
  • Vacation Mode
  • Preferences
  • Temporary Schedule Changes
  • Wi-Fi Setup
  • System Setup

Either lock mode permits access to the following status menu items.

  • View Schedule
  • Weather
  • Equipment Status
  • Clean Screen
  • Security Settings

Partially locked mode disallows the same main menu functions as fully locked mode.  However unlike fully locked mode, partially locked mode allows you to change the thermostat’s current temperature setting.

Related Posts to Locking Honeywell Thermostat

  1. How to Turn Off Temporary Hold on Honeywell Thermostat
  2. Honeywell Smart WiFi Thermostat Manual RTH9580WF
  3. How to Reset Honeywell Thermostat RTH9580WF to Factory Default
  4. How to Cancel Schedule on Honeywell Thermostat
  5. Changing WiFi Network on Honeywell Smart Thermostat RTH9580WF

References for these Locking Honeywell Thermostat Instructions

  1. User Guide for the Honeywell 9000 Series Color Touchscreen Thermostats   from Honeywell

Change History

  • 2019-03-02: First published.