Nest app: iOS 12 or iOS 13?

[schase56]

UK residence

I'm just about to accept a quote for a new combi boiler, with could include a Nest Gen 3 Learning thermostat. The Google Nest website states iOS 13 as the minimum requirement for iPhones and iPads, but the Apple App Store states iOS 12. Which is it? I have an iPhone 6 that is on iOS 12 but can't run 13. The Nest app appears to install OK on my phone, but as I don't have a Nest yet I can't actually test it.

The App Store does state iOS 13 for the Google Home app, but I don't know if that app is also required to run a Nest thermostat.

[MelbaDT]

Hey schase56, 

Thanks for posting and welcome to the Google Nest Community and sorry for the confusion. 

If you're using an iPhone, iPod and iPad, our Nest app requires iOS 13.0 or later. It could be that it installed successfully on your iPhone running on an older iOS version but we won't be able to guarantee the full functionality of our Nest devices on it. You may refer to this link for more information: https://bit.ly/3H4QLrv

Best, 

Melba

[schase56]

Dear MelbaDT

Thanks for your reply.

My confusion stems from the fact that the current version of the Nest App in the Apple App Store is 5.67.0, which 'requires iOS 12.0 or later'. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nest-mobile/id464988855

I now have my new boiler installed and am running this version on my iPhone 6 (iOS v. 12.5.5). It's working for the most part (some problems with connections, occasionally requiring re-logging in, and I suspect that the mobile phone location feature for Home/Away Assist might not work properly. But most of the functionality is OK, which is good enough for now.

I was also able to install an older version of the app on my iPad 4th gen (iOS 10), with most of the functionality also working!

[MelbaDT]

Hi there, 

You're welcome and we understand where the confusion came from. We're glad that you're still able to make use of your Nest thermostat though there are some features that are not fully functional. If you're good with that setup, keep everything as they are. However if in the future, you will be upgrading mobile devices that runs on iOS 13 or higher, it will be a lot better so you can fully take advantage of all the features of your Nest devices. 

Cheers, 

Melba

[MelbaDT]

Hey there, 

Just checking back in if you still have some questions about your Nest thermostat. 

Best, 

Melba

[schase56]

Hi Melba

I'll always have lots of questions!

Still getting used to very different heating than I previously had (now: condensing combi boiler w/Nest Gen3 w/stand in living room; previous: non-condensing combi boiler w/non-smart wall thermostat in the hall). It's only been two weeks, though!

A question about the summer months: here in the UK, with my previous combi I always turned the central heating off for the summer months (both on the boiler and the timer). I might want to do the same with the new system, in order to save electricity (we're in the midst of an energy crisis in the UK). I know you can put the Nest into Off mode, but is there an easy way to turn it off completely so it's not drawing unnecessary power, since it doesn't need to function during this period? This might include turning off the HeatLink. Since my Nest is plugged into a wall outlet I don't know if it's possible to shut it down so it's not draining the backup battery. And if there is an easy way to shut th Nest+HeatLink down, how complicated is it to restart? And does it keep all of its settings and history if powered down?

[DragosC]

Hi there @schase56

If the Heat Link is not connected wired to the thermostat, you can unplug the Heat Link. However, the Heat Link consumes power only for the tiny LED at the top of it when plugged. You can set it to "OFF" and it should be alright. 

[schase56]

Thanks for your reply, but I'd like further clarification.

I'd like to turn off the heating in summer to reduce power consumption, but would also like an easy trouble-free startup at the beginning of the heating season.

My setup: combi boiler for heat & hot water; Nest 3rd Gen Learning Thermostat on stand plugged into electrical outlet, controlling only heat; wireless connection to Heat Link; Heat Link is mounted next to the boiler in the boiler cupboard and can't be powered down without completely shutting off the boiler (not an option as the boiler also provides hot water).

I'm in the UK.

Some possibilities for summer operation (do one or all of the below?), with questions.

1. Nest thermostat: set heating mode to Off
2. Heat Link: button press puts it into Manual mode
3. Boiler: turn heating mode off

Turning off thermostat 1) and boiler heating mode 3) seem fairly straightforward, but I wonder about putting the Heat Link into manual mode:

• What happens to the Heat Link connection to the thermostat? If Manual mode disconnects it, what is involved in reconnecting it? Any reconfiguration required?
• Is it OK to unplug the thermostat? Or will it drain down the backup battery? If unplugged, will it eventually lose its settings and require reconfiguration to re-establish a connection when plugged in?

Or should I just leave the thermostat plugged in and the Heat Link in normal operation, even when the heating/thermostat are not being used in the summer?

[DragosC · Accepted solution]

Hi there @schase56, the best solutions would be to turn off the heating mode from the boiler and from the thermostat as well.

It would not be recommended to unplug it, but you can do that as well if you don't need the thermostat as a thermometer in the house, it will not consume much power as it has a 4 V battery in it. Also, if you power off the thermostat, it will disconnect it from the Heat Link, it will not affect your hot water as it's a combi boiler with hot water on demand. 

The best would be to leave the thermostat plugged, but on heating mode "OFF" and it shouldn't do anything until you switch it back to heat manually. 

[DragosC]

Hi there, @schase56

I'm just following up on our last message. Do you still need our help? Keep us posted. 
 

[schase56]

Another question (I believe this has come  up in the forums and might be a bug):

I set Away mode manually and have the thermostat set to go to Eco when in Away mode, but it doesn't do this and I have to manually switch it to Eco when in Away mode (which makes Away mode currently useless for me, see below).

NB: I have 'Use mobile phone location' switched off for 'What decides if you're home', as I have an older iPhone 6 (iOS12) that seemed to have issues with Home and Away (the thermostat was occasionally switching to Away when I was at home and by the thermostat). Not unexpected, as the phone can't run iOS13.

[DragosC]

For this, I advice you to contact our live support team as they have the means to create a case for you and investigate further. Please reach out to us on chat/phone/social media by clicking here. Also, please make sure to mention you've worked with the Community team and use the link to this thread as a reference to avoid starting the process all over again.

[CristianC]

Hi there. Just checking in. Did you manage to reach out to our support team?

[schase56]

Sorry, haven't yet gotten around to it.

Part of the problem may have gone away, as it does look like the heating is now going into Eco mode when in Away mode. But my question is now twofold:

1. How long should it take before switching to Away mode using the sensors in the Nest thermostat (not via the phone location, which I've switched off, since I don't think it will work with my older iPhone 6 (iOS12)).
2. And should it immediately return to Home mode and turn off Eco if it senses activity?

All I could find on the Google Nest help is rather vague and doesn't give specific numbers.

[george_t]

Hi @schase56. Switching to Home should generally be as soon as motion is detected but switching to Away may take longer than expected if the thermostat has already learned a pattern of occupancy.

[AnaM]

Hey @schase56,

Can we help you with anything else?

[AnaM]

Hey there,

Since here was no response from you yet, I'll have to lock this thread for now. Feel free to open a new one if you need further assistance.