“Waiting for Update” means your Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat is downloading and installing a firmware update pushed automatically from Resideo’s servers, not that anything is wrong. It typically clears in a few minutes to about 20 minutes depending on the size of the update and your Wi-Fi speed. Don’t interrupt it: don’t remove power, don’t pull the batteries, and don’t disconnect Wi-Fi while it’s showing.
Why your thermostat shows this message
Honeywell’s Wi-Fi-connected thermostats receive firmware updates automatically over your home network, the same way a phone or smart TV does. Updates can include bug fixes, security patches, or new features, and they’re pushed server-side rather than something you have to check for manually. While the update installs, the thermostat pauses its normal climate-control display and shows “Waiting for Update” instead, because it’s safely writing new firmware rather than trying to run the heating/cooling display at the same time.
How long is normal
Most updates finish within a few minutes. Larger updates, or a slow Wi-Fi connection, can stretch that to 15-20 minutes. The thermostat will typically restart on its own once the update finishes and return to its normal display automatically.
What NOT to do while it’s updating
- Don’t cut power at the breaker or unplug the system, and don’t remove batteries if the model has them.
- Don’t disconnect Wi-Fi or take the router offline mid-update.
- Don’t repeatedly press buttons trying to force it past the screen. None of these speed it up, and interrupting a firmware write partway through can leave the thermostat in a corrupted state that requires a factory reset (or, in rare cases, contacting Honeywell support) to recover from.
If it’s stuck longer than 30-60 minutes
At that point, the update itself has likely stalled rather than still being genuinely in progress. Check your router: restart the router (not the thermostat, to avoid interrupting a write that might still be happening) and confirm your internet connection is actually up, since a dropped connection mid-download can leave the thermostat waiting indefinitely for data that isn’t coming. If restarting the router doesn’t clear it after another 15-20 minutes, a power cycle of the thermostat itself, removing power for about 30 seconds, is the standard recovery step for a genuinely stuck update.
| Time waiting | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 20 minutes | Normal. Let it finish. |
| 20-60 minutes | Check your internet connection and Wi-Fi signal; restart the router if needed. |
| Past 60 minutes, router confirmed online | Likely a stalled update. Power-cycle the thermostat (30 seconds off). |
| Still stuck after a power cycle | Contact Honeywell support with the exact model number. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the update finish faster? No, and trying to (repeated button presses, power cycling early) risks interrupting the firmware write instead. The safest thing to do is wait.
Will my schedule and settings survive the update? Yes. A normal firmware update doesn’t touch your programmed schedule or settings, unlike a factory reset.
Is this the same as my thermostat needing a Wi-Fi setup? No. “Waiting for Update” appears on a thermostat that’s already connected to Wi-Fi and receiving data from it. If your thermostat won’t connect to Wi-Fi at all, see why a Honeywell thermostat won’t connect to Wi-Fi instead.
Do I need to do anything to trigger updates? No. Updates are pushed automatically as long as the thermostat stays connected to Wi-Fi; there’s no manual “check for update” step on the thermostat itself.
This guide is part of our full Honeywell Home Thermostat hub: wiring, setup, and troubleshooting for every current series.
