Push notification missing thumbnail

[Goingnuts]

 

 

I have a nest doorbell and nest hub max. 
I decided to test to move the nest hub max camera from the nest app into the ios google home app. 

since then when i get a push i can see thumbnail exist in the push notification center list (if thats the correct word, were you see all notification from different apps) but if i click and hold so it is enlarged the thumbnail is missing. This is no issue on any other apps like arlo, eufy,reolink, homeassistsnt,tapo and nest. It worked on nest before i mived the camera into home app. 

[virnab]

Hi Goingnuts,

Thank you for reaching out to our community! I understand that after moving your Nest Doorbell and Google Nest Hub Max into the Google Home app, the expanded thumbnails in your iOS notifications are no longer appearing; I appreciate you clarifying that this behavior is specific to the Google Home app and is not occurring with your other camera applications. I’m ready to assist you in investigating why this functionality changed after the migration.

To help me figure this out, please answer the following questions:

• Which version of iOS are you currently running on your iPhone?
• Are you using the latest version of the Google Home app? If not, this Google Nest Help Center article provides helpful instructions: Update the Google Home app.
• In your iOS Settings under "Notifications," is "Show Previews" for the Google Home app set to "Always"?
• What country are you located in?

Please keep me posted.

Best regards,

Virna

[Goingnuts]

Iphone 16 with ios 26.3.1
Latest google home app/vr
App has all notifications set to on/allow
Located in Sweden

[virnab]

Hi Goingnuts,

Thank you for your prompt response and patience.  I want to ensure I’ve explored every possibility before we proceed with further troubleshooting, so I would appreciate your collaboration to provide me with the following information:

• Is the missing thumbnail occurring for all the Google Home app notifications or only for specific event types (e.g., motion, person detection)?
• Are push notifications still coming from the Nest Doorbell as expected, or is the issue limited only to the Nest Hub Max camera?
• Does the thumbnail appear correctly inside the Google Home app event feed, or is it missing there as well?
• Is this behavior happening on all iOS devices or only on a specific device?
• Have you tested on a different network (Wi-Fi vs mobile data)?
• Was any change made to iOS notification settings (e.g., notification preview style, privacy settings) around the same time?

I’ll get back to you as soon as I have a definitive update.

Best regards,

Virna

[Goingnuts]

"Is the missing thumbnail occurring for all the Google Home app notifications or only for specific event types"
I have no other notifications that include a thumbnail other than that nest max camera (that worked when it was on nest)

• Are push notifications still coming from the Nest Doorbell as expected, or is the issue limited only to the Nest Hub Max camera?"
  Nest doorbell notifications work fine coming from the nest app. As mentioned, only when I moved the hub max to google home this issue started for that device only. Eufy, reolink, arlo, tp etc all have working thumbnails in the notifications.

• Does the thumbnail appear correctly inside the Google Home app event feed, or is it missing there as well? In the activity tab in google home app there is a small thumbnail, not possible to enlarge by holding in the app as far as I know and just tried.

• Is this behavior happening on all iOS devices or only on a specific device? Tested on 2 different iphones and same issue. 

• Have you tested on a different network (Wi-Fi vs mobile data)? Yes. Same issue.

• Was any change made to iOS notification settings (e.g., notification preview style, privacy settings) around the same time? No changes done. Enlarging thumbnail / notification works on all security/camera apps except google home. 

7m ago on reddit someone wrote

I have had iOS 26 for a few weeks now and just updated to the official release yesterday. As the title states when I get a notification I could long press on it and see the short clip without opening the app. This is now broken in iOS 26 on my iPhone 16 Pro Max. When you view it, it is a static image that just flashes like it is trying to play.

Nest notifications previews still work just fine….go figure.

And google support replied from official account they are working on it. Last reply was just 1 month ago with users having the same issue writing "Still happening". https://www.reddit.com/r/googlehome/comments/1niiyxy/ios_26_thumbnail_previews_broken_on_notificatio...

[virnab]

Hi Goingnuts,

I apologize for the delay in my response; I appreciate your timely reply and the comprehensive information you've provided. Based on the details shared, I recommend performing the following troubleshooting steps to ensure the thumbnail previews are visible in your iOS push notifications for the Google Home app:

• Remove and re-add the Nest Hub Max camera back into the Google Home app.
• Force close and reopen the Google Home app.
• Sign out and sign back into the Google Home app.
• Ensure your iOS notification settings are set to “Always Show Previews.”
• Check that Google Home app notification permissions are fully enabled (including banners, lock screen, and previews).
• Reboot the iOS device.
• Toggle notifications off and back on for Google Home.
• Test your notifications on both Wi-Fi and mobile data to check for network-specific issues.
• Update the Google Home app to the latest version.
• Reset the app cache by uninstalling and then reinstalling the Google Home app.
• Test with another iOS device, if available, to isolate any device-specific behavior.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Virna

[Goingnuts]

Alright. Thanks for the info and list. Most of them already tried and not gonna do the rest. Ill live with no image in the enlarged thumbail.

[virnab]

Hi Goingnuts,

Thank you for the update. I understand you’ve already worked through most of the troubleshooting, but these additional steps will help us isolate the problem for a final fix. 

If you complete the recommended steps, just give me a shout once you're done, so I can move forward with your case.

Best regards,

Virna

[Goingnuts]

New iphone 17e, latest ios, newly downloaded google home app. Same issue.