Google Indoor Camera Night Vision Too Dark

[LK18]

We just set up the Google Nest Indoor 2nd Gen camera as a baby camera. As you can see in the image below, the night vision is all but worthless due to focusing solely on the walls to left and right. Any idea how to fix this aside from moving the camera? We have a Nest IQ Indoor (2018) and it’s night vision is superb - never had an issue like this before.

Edit: this is apparently affecting a lot of us Nest users. If you are also having this issue, please add your voice below so we can get more notice by Google.

[MplsCustomer]

@LK18 

That's far darker than either our 2nd gen Nest Cam Indoor or our older Nest Cam Indoor.

You don't by any chance have "Night vision" turned off under Video in the camera's Settings, do you? Can you see whether the infrared LED lights on the camera come on at night?

[LK18]

Ok, since we are at the hospital waiting for the baby to come, I haven’t been able to check it out yet.

what I can say is this: after we reinstalled our old baby cam (Owlet) about two feet beneath the Nest, suddenly the Nest works. It’s almost like it’s using the Owlet cam’s LED for its own night vision.

[LK18]

Just coming back to confirm that, yes, night vision is on and the infrared LEDs are on too.

[Djross22]

I recently started having the same issue on several of my second generation indoor wired cameras.

Literally haven't moved them, suddenly I have the same issue.

Any advice?

[LK18]

See my reply to MplsCustomer above. I think it may be an LED issue because when I put a separate camera below the Nest cam, the Nest cam started to work (I think it was using the other cameras LED).

this is not a solution, but it may be a start! Let me know if you have any other leads.

[Cdbw]

I am having the exact same issue that started just 2 days ago. The nest camera doesn’t see as well in the dark. I wondered if it was from an update or something but no luck

[LK18]

Thanks for sharing! Hopefully Google sees this.

[TheBrent]

Ditto here.  Was working on several cameras and now half of them are really dark and the others are ok but I made no changes and never moved them

[dantheuxman]

I too started having the exact same issue 3 days ago. Night vision went way too dark (no problem with prior to this) and now, during the day, it flickers and the white balance is completely off. 

[LK18]

Thanks, we are not alone - apparently others have experienced this as well.

[Djross22]

Sounds like it might be an update issue.

[LK18]

Update to Google Home? It looks like there was an update about a week ago.

[Jamief1207]

Here to echo the recent issue. A couple of days ago, we noticed flickering on our camera feed during the day and the night vision looks awful now. I performed a factory reset and the flickering is gone but night vision still looks bad. Must have been an update. 

[LK18]

Thanks for sharing. I hope if we get enough attention/activity here, Google will do something.

[adrie]

Any news on the night vision, is there going to be another update. My indoor 2nd gen camera went black a few days ago. I do see the red LEDs at night coming on but image is completely dark. 

[LK18]

None that I have heard yet - let’s keep this post buzzing so Google takes notice.

[dantheuxman]

I have to mention that I have 3 of the latest gen cameras and so far, only one is having the problems we all have commented about. Anyone else have 1 out of multiple cameras messed up?

[MplsCustomer]

This is not happening to all customers (ours is still working fine at night) there must be more to the problem than just the latest update (or maybe we're not on the latest version yet). The screen shot shows our camera's software version. Our Google Home app version is 2.58.104, but I don't see how the app's version could affect night vision recording.

[LK18]

My camera is the same model and has the exact same software as yours in the above screenshot. My Google Home app is also the same.

[adrie]

what Is google do it about it ? I am ready to return my camera ?!

[TiffanyO1215]

My camera recently started this too. I'm hoping it'll get fixed soon. 

[LK18]

Hopefully Google sees this and addresses it!

[DJSuprimeW]

i have the same issues, at day. 3 camaras blurry screens with green tint and at night, night vission dark issues. 

[DJSuprimeW]

here few pictures from mine, and a short giff from the beginning of the issue.


from sharp to black/white/green flash to blurry and night vision issues. on 3 of my camera,s sorry for the badd q/giff

[LK18]

Thanks so much for contributing.

That’s so odd - frustrating for sure. When did your issues start?

[DJSuprimeW]

yw! and yes its frustrating... it begin on wednesday. in the day. the gif was the first symptom/blurray/night vision issues. 

[Jamief1207]

This is how mine looks at night! Really bright edges but the middle of the picture is super dark 

[LK18]

That really stinks! When did it start for you?

also, if you have a twitter, I @’ed Google in this post . If you can, please retweet it so we can get some traction on this that would be great!

[dantheuxman]

Looks exactly the same as mine. Thanks for sharing

[KarrieAnne]

Yup me too. 3 of my 4 are doing this too!!!

[LK18]

Thanks for sharing!! This is widespread!

[DJSuprimeW]

yes i got to few other threads and spread the link.. ^^ but thanks to you thread mate!! this needs to be fixxed by google itself!!  is... annoying... lol

[LK18]

I got a response from Google on Twitter so we will see how it goes.

[DJSuprimeW]

A Good to hear mate!  thanku!! what was google saying?... they know about this thread ?... 

[LK18]

I gave the URL, and so far it is generic stuff “what’s your serial number” etc. hoping for some more in depth attention soon.

[DJSuprimeW]

Good to hear! further some news about it... or not yet?... 🙂 

[CodeMonkey1981]

Nothing yet - getting tired of the 'ruined by Google' though.  I figure they have about a week for me, and if the camera is still useless in the dark, then I'm replacing everything with Amazon products when their October sale goes live.

[DJSuprimeW]

yeah i had the same... but problem is i have all google products...
2x google nest mini.
2x google nest hub.
1x google nest alarm.

2x google protect.

2x outside camera front and back.
4x indoor camera.

1x doorbell nest hello

1x tv chromecast.

1x google nest heating.

1x google nest curtains.

1x  google lights.

so its not that easy for me for doing google away and get some ring or other products. but yeaah same thoughts. its unbelievble that google does,nt fix this... 😞 

[CodeMonkey1981]

Hey I'm with you -

2x Chromecast with Google TV

4x Chromecast

4x Google home mini

1x Google home max

2x Nest Hub 

1x nest thermostat 

1x nest doorbell

1x nest protect 

4x nest cams (mix of indoor/outdoor models)

Even have a pixel 6

Fact is, they used to be great products.  Now every other day the Google Homes randomly say they aren't setup any longer.  Half the cameras don't work with night vision.  The doorbell can't do both video AND be a doorbell.

Google seems consistently unwilling to support their products.