Four cams, can’t setup/install. “Can’t connect to joining device”.

[Mkoenig4]

So frustrated. Need help.

At our new house, I have two Google Nest Learning Thermostats, one wired door bell, two outdoor cams (wired), and one floodlight cam (wired). All were purchased new in the last 4 months. I have Google Wi-Fi with 3 mesh points. I have a very good measurable Wi-Fi signal in the areas of the cams and thermostats. The two thermostats are successfully connected and controllable in the Nest app and the Google home app. I had the doorbell cam working at on point. I have not been able to setup the outdoor cams or the floodlight cam. Those are setup via the Google app. For all 3 cameras, I get stuck at the same point. It says, ”Connecting to joining device” tries for 2-3 mins, then says “Something went wrong. Try again.” Trying again never works. I’ve tried:
Resetting the cam to factory settings.
Disconnecting the cams from the wired connections and moving them close to the connecting device (the doorbell).
Restarting my phone, turning bluetooth off and on, moving my phone closer to the connecting device, making sure phone and connecting device are on the same Wi-Fi.
Restarting the router.
Most trouble shooting steps I have tried multiple times on all the cams.

I then removed the doorbell from the Home in the app and retried with the outside cams but setup still always stops at the same point. It can’t connect to the “Joining device”. So, I’ve tried removing and reinstalling the Doorbell cam and it now stops and the same point in the setup. I tried resetting that to factory setting and it still doesn’t work. So, now the doorbell cam isn’t working either.

I’ve spent many hours over a few days but I have 4 Google Nest cams that I can’t set up. They can’t connect to joining devices. And, I’m using Google’s Wi-Fi. A solution would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

[EmptyNester]

Hi Mkoenig4,  

I'm an end user like you.   Many people have reported this same problem on this forum.  It seems to be a known bug and Google has not yet offered a fix yet.    As I read thru message from other users it seems the easiest way around this problem is to use a different phone (like from another family member) to add the other cameras.  Install the app and log in with the same login and password you created for the account on a different phone.  Once you are in you should see the current camera already in your system.  Next user THIS phone to try and add the 2nd camera.    

Please return here and let us know if that worked.

Good luck

If this doesn't work the I suggest opening a support ticket so that you can speak with an actual google tech.  This being a user forum google doesn't respond here.  Here is the link to open a ticket: https://support.google.com/googlenest/gethelp

[Brad]

Hi there,

Thank you for your feedback! I am sorry to hear that you had this experience.  Just checking in to see how the conversation is going as there's been a lapse in activity on this thread. Thank you @EmptyNester for your help! 

Best regard,
Brad

[Deftquiver]

Man... I'm getting really frustrated with my choice to get into the google ecosystem... I already replaced my Pixel with an iPhone. My Google Wifi routers self destructed, and now that I'm replacing them with an Asus mesh wifi system, I can't get my google Cameras to connect. They really need to figure out their hardware/software offerings before more people start writing them off. I've run into unacceptable issues with almost all of my google products, and just 2 or 3 years ago... I was diehard google. I also find it kind of egregious that google wouldn't stand by their product when my google routers self destructed... but Costco did. I guess it's a good thing we have a traditional baby monitor while I figure out how the heck to get these cameras added to google home. 

[EmptyNester]

Yes, a lot of people have the same frustrations you are having.  

If you give your ASUS Mesh system the EXACT same name and WIFI password that you had for your Google WIIF rounter then everything should come back on line including the Nest products.  This will by far be the path of least resistance. 

But if you change either the WIFI name or password then you have to do a full factory reset to the nest products and re-add them back one-by-one which is very time consuming.  Make sure you do a full factory reset and not just a restart.  Here is a link with the instructions on how to do it.

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9252162#factory-reset

[Deftquiver]

Yeah, I did that at first, and had them connected, but I wanted to change it to boot off any old lingering devices. Thanks for the tip though.

[EmptyNester · Accepted solution]

Hi Deft,  I have the Eero mesh system and the app on the phone lets you see  every single device on your WIFI  and Wired network.   And it gives you the ability to PAUSE them so they don't have access to your system.   I'm guessing that the Asus system might as well.  I mention this because it may be A LOT easier than changing your password and needing re-add you nest devices.  If you read thru this forum you will see that often people end up not being able to re-add them.

[Brad]

Hi there,

Just checking in on this thread and the activity on it. We'll leave this topic open for another 24 hours in case there are any follow up questions or comments.

Best regards,
Brad