How to Use an ecobee Switch+

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

In This Guide

You'll Learn:

  • Basic use of your Ecobee Switch+.

Before We Begin:

  • Have your smartphone or tablet with the Ecobee app installed.
  • Have your smartphone or tablet with the Amazon Alexa app installed.
Ecobee

2. Use Choice

Your Ecobee Switch+ has a large variety of features and options available to learn about.

Ecobee Switch+

3. Install the App for Your ecobee Switch+

We have a separate guide available to take you through installing the Ecobee app.

Ecobee

Show Me How

Clicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.

4. More Information

More features and greater compatibility is always being added to your Ecobee device through updates.

You can always visit https://support.ecobee.com/ for more information on the features and abilities of your Ecobee device.

5. Install the App for Your Amazon Alexa

We have a separate guide available to take you through installing the Amazon Alexa app to explore the service.

Amazon Alexa

Show Me How

Clicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.

6. Manual Operation

  1. To turn the light on or off, you can operate the switch manually by pushing the main button on your Ecobee Switch+.
Ecobee Switch+ with main button highlighted.
  1. You can also use the Alexa commands: "Alexa, turn [switch name] on." or "Alexa, turn [switch name] off."

7. Smart On and Off

Your Ecobee Switch+ will automatically switch off your lights after a set time, using built-in sensors to tell when the room is empty.

  1. Open the Ecobee app.
Ecobee
  1. Select Smart Features, then Smart Off.
  2. Select how long the lights should wait before turning off when the room is empty.
Ecobee App Smart Off settings with time highlighted.

8. Indicator Lights

There is a light bar at the top of your Ecobee Switch+ that changes, to indicate some basic information about the switch.

Listening & Active

Ecobee Switch+ Listening

Light Blue
Your Switch+ is listening to you speak.

Thinking & Speaking

Ecobee Switch+ Thinking or Speaking

Light Blue, Pulsing Darker Blue
Your Switch+ is thinking, or speaking to you.

Microphone Off

Ecobee Switch+ Microphone Off

Red
Your Switch+ microphone is off, so it cannot hear you to respond. Use the Ecobee app on your smartphone or tablet to turn it back on if you wish.

Notification

Ecobee Switch+ Notification

Yellow
Your Switch+ has a notification, and is trying to get your attention. Check the Ecobee app on your smartphone or tablet to see the message.

Pairing

Ecobee Switch+ Pairing

Amber
If solid, your Switch+ is ready to pair to a new device.

If flashing, your Switch+ is actively pairing to a device.

9. Use Night Light

Night Light is a smart feature that helps you locate your ecobee Switch+ on the wall when it's dark. It automatically turns on the small light located below the switch when the room is dark, and automatically turns it off when there's enough light in the room to see again.

ecobee Switch+ Night Light.


The ecobee Switch+ can operate indoor or outdoor lighting and the Night Light feature can be enabled for either of them.

To change the type of lighting your ecobee Switch+ operates:

  1. Tap the Info symbol ( circle around lower case i ) in the top right.
Info icon highlighted in Smart Features options of ecobee app.
  1. And choose the type of lighting your ecobee Switch+ operates.

To enable or disable Night Light:

  1. Toggle the switch on the right to turn the feature on or off.
Toggle switch highlighted for Night Light feature in ecobee app.

10. Use Do Not Disturb

Do Not Disturb is an option of the Smart On feature. Smart On automatically turns on your light when you walk into a dark room, using occupancy and daylight sensors. If Do Not Disturb is enabled, Smart On doesn't activate between its set times

  1. The Smart On feature is only available when your switch is set to operate indoor lighting.
Indoor light features highlighted in Smart Features options of ecobee app.
  1. If the switch is set to operate outdoor lighting, you can change the operation mode if you tap the Info symbol ( circle around lower case i ) in the top right then select indoor lighting.
Info icon highlighted in Smart Features options of ecobee app.
  1. You need to have Smart On enabled for Do Not Disturb to take effect. Toggle the switch on the right to the on position.
Toggle switch for Smart On feature highlighted in ecobee app.
  1. Tap where it says Smart On to enter the configuration settings.
  2. Go to Do not disturb.
Do not disturb option highlighted in Smart Features of ecobee app.
  1. Toggle the switch on the right to turn the option on or off and set the activation time interval.
Toggle switch and set times highlighted for Do not disturb feature in ecobee app.

11. Basic Commands

Alexa answers your basic questions using the Internet to find you the answers, and perform simple tasks.

Go ahead and try out these commands:

  • Alexa, what's the news?
  • What's the traffic like?
  • Alexa, set a timer for 20 minutes.
  • Play music by David Bowie.
  • Alexa, what movies are playing?
  • Find me a nearby sushi restaurant.
  • Alexa, create a to-do list.
  • Alexa, create a shopping list.
  • Add toilet paper to my shopping list.
  • Alexa, how hot is the sun?

12. Example Music Commands

Your Amazon Alexa device responds to your voice, and can perform a variety of actions to play music for you.

Example Music Commands

Simply say these commands near your Alexa device.

  • "Alexa, play some music."
  • Your Alexa device will use your previous play history, as well as various charts, to choose some music for you and play it.
  • "Alexa, play [song] on my [other device]."
  • If you have multiple Alexa-enabled devices, Alexa will accept the command from wherever it hears you, and then play music using the other speaker system.
  • If you want Alexa to play on a certain device, rather than the Alexa device itself, specify it like this each time.
  • "Alexa, play music by [artist]."
  • Your Alexa device will try to find music by the artist you say.
  • While playing "Alexa, next."
  • Skip the song currently playing, and move on to the next.
  • "Alexa, Restart."
  • Your Alexa device will restart the song you're currently listening to.
  • "Alexa, play [station] on [service]."
  • Alexa will use the service you mention, and try to play the station you mention.

Alexa understands a huge number of different commands. If you're not sure, simply try saying what you want, and it will try to help.