Deleted Nest account, how can we still use our wired outdoor Nest cams?

[KrisKT]

I tried dozens of times to migrate my husband’s Nest account to his Google Home account. Always got the error message that the migration assistant failed and to try again over and over despite following all of the suggestions in this forum (the 5 yr old Nest account was his usual gmail/Google account). Tried signing out and signing in for both accounts and no luck, so we one by one removed the cameras and doorbell from the account and then deleted his Nest account. We thought starting anew might be best since most of the cameras were 1st Gen and 4+ yrs old.

We went out and bought a new Nest doorbell and 2 new indoor cameras. They added fine to my Google Home account (we thought maybe something was just wrong with his Google Home account).

We have 2 outdoor wired Nest cameras that work great (as of yesterday before we deleted his Nest account) and we now realize they don’t even sell wired outdoor cams anymore. The wired has worked great for us in a northern snowy climate.

How can I use them?…. The Nest to Google migration did NOT work for us despite all of our efforts and following the tech support suggestions on this forum. And now we deleted his Nest account and there is no way to make new accounts now 😞

The outdoor cameras work great and we want to still use them! We are married and at the same address for 10+ yrs.

Any help is appreciated!

PROBLEM: Want to use orphaned Nest outdoor wired cameras that were on my husband’s now deleted Nest account and use them on my functioning fine Google Home account, 

[MplsCustomer · Accepted solution]

@KrisKT 

You say that you removed your Google Nest Outdoor Cameras from the Google Nest app, which should have factory reset them (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9252162?hl=en&sjid=13462956733475514891-NA#zippy=%2Cnes...).

If that's the case, you could try reinstalling the Google Nest app, logging onto the Google Nest app, selecting "Sign on with Google", and using your husband's Google Account. Once logged on, select Settings | Add Product, and then reinstall your Google Nest Outdoor Cameras, either by scanning the QR codes or by selecting "Continue without scanning" and entering the 6-character alphanumeric Setup Code printed on the cameras.

(The older cameras continue to work with the Google Nest app. But you want to install them in the same Google Nest "home/structure" you're using for your 2nd gen cameras and doorbells.)

[KrisKT]

Do I have to use my husband’s login to re-add the cameras to Nest?

I first tried with one of the old indoor cameras. It now shows up on Nest app, but not the Google Home account (same name to the house).

Since these are the old Nest cameras, will they never show up with the new doorbell and new indoor cameras on the Google Home app? I wanted them all to be together under the same Nest Aware group (to be 1 payment).

[KrisKT]

Ok I guess it just took time. After 30 minutes it showed up on the Google Home app! Thanks for your help and I will go add the outdoor cams now. I’ll post if they too had to be physically connected to an older OS Mac computer in order to be added.

[KrisKT]

Also, I had to connect the old Nest cam via USB to my older iMac running Monterrey OS  (I got an error message that the developer needs to update the .exe file for the newer OS). Spinning wheel a couple of times but now it does show up on the Nest app by itself, but not the Google Home app with the group of new cameras (the same and only Home listed on Nest and Google).

[KrisKT]

MplsCustomer solved my issue! It took some time, but everything is now showing up together on our Google Home account (old and new Nest cameras). 

The Migration Assistant did NOT work for us. So deleting each camera from my husband’s Nest account (and deleting the account and waiting a day), then logging back in using Google and manually re-adding each camera did work. 

The outdoor cameras could be added using the QR code with an iPhone. But I had to physically connect the old black indoor Nest cameras to my older OS iMac before they were updated and added.

I wish it had been easier, but thanks again for solving my problem MplsCustomer!!

[MplsCustomer]

@KrisKT 

I'm glad that worked. What you did is what Google Nest recommends when the "Google Account is already linked with another Nest Account":

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676?hl=en&sjid=7599895948797795575-NA#zippy=%2Cerro...

[KrisKT]

It was just overly complicated because I had a functioning Google Home account at a separate vacation address and he was linked to that house too. But our older Nest account was his account that I was also linked to. And the Migration assistant didn't work likely due to all of that. We had to simplify and delete everything associated with his old Nest account and then login via Google (after Nest account fully deleted) re-add cameras and then it all showed up for both of us at both places. Thanks again!

[MplsCustomer]

@KrisKT 

You're welcome. And I agree. It is unfortunate that Google Nest's migration assistant does NOT allow customers to migrate their Nest Account to a Google Account that is already linked to Google Nest devices. It means a lot of customers--like you--have to resort to manual processes, with all the glitches that come with those manual efforts.