Google Nest Camera with Floodlights - won’t work with voice, but works in app

[Opus9698]

I installed the Google nest camera with flood lights, and it was fully functional. I could control it with the app and I could control it with my voice through my Google nest speakers. All of the sudden this week I can still control the floodlights only in the app, but not through my Google nest speakers. When I say “Hey Google, turn on the floodlights, Google says “ OK… sorry, somethings wrong with that device.” Please advise on how I can get the floodlight control through my speakers again. Thank you.

[mserick]

Certainly this  EmersonB is AI in action. Ridiculous. Real people broke this thing that was working fine until you introduced new things. We are all way past your "suggestions." Fix the **bleep** thing. Do better Google.

[ddamas]

I think the worst part of this “troubleshooting step” is the laziness. You obviously haven’t read any of the issues people are having. Are you seriously thinking those of us that have came to this forum looking for a solution have not tried restarting the device? And then you go on to suggest a factory default? It’s honestly like you don’t even know the product you’re trying to help troubleshoot. These cameras with floodlights are usually mounted up high, where only accessible by ladders (and sometimes even then not easily accessible). So your suggestion to factory restart isn’t feasible because Google in their idiotic wisdom decided that the only way to factory reset the device is by physically accessing it. So yeah, factory resetting the device isn’t going to fix it when it’s a software update that Google broke it. Thank U, Next. 

[jjay]

You suggested " restarting your Nest Camera and Nest Mini speaker". The problem device here is a Google Nest Camera with Floodlight. You have not even read the previous comments to start with the correct product.

You provided instructions for "Visitor Announcements". No one has mentioned that feature and it does not even exist on the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight product, which is the product in question here.

You provided the steps to "Turn Do Not Disturb on or off". That feature is not related to the products involved here, and is not causing a problem.

You do not understand the products involved nor the problem, and the suggestions you have made will only waste peoples' time and make them feel worse about Google as a brand.

You have not provided "the basic troubleshooting steps before diving in to a more technical solution", you have made us all feel that Google's products are of a lesser quality as a result of your response.

You asked "have you tried resetting it to the factory default?" and yes, we have. What, pray tell, would you suggest after resetting it to the factory defaults?

You and any further recommendations you make will have no credibility within this community because you obviously do not understand which product is involved nor what specific functions are working incorrectly.  Again, your responses only tarnish the Google brand.

[Tbonecook]

Caught the Billy Madison quote!  Haha. And yes, they could do at least a quick read through to see that people here have tried all of those things already! Google updated their software and broke it, what we want is a date when a software patch will be released!

[forestranger]

I have the exact same issue. I can make it work by saying to set the floodlight to 0% or 100% as per the excellent advice above (thanks so much). But this is a work around. It needs a proper fix. 

[mparent426]

The workaround is a great idea! However when you tell google to turn floodlights to 0%, the next time they go on, when it senses motion, will turn the floodlight on to 10%. You have to adjust the brightness again to the percent you want when it senses motion, people, etc. 

just another hassle with a product that should be smart enough to turn on/off

Google, we need a fix. 

[ronburley]

Hey Team! I've been having the same problem as you all... Google Cam with Floodlight worked as expected until a month or so ago, but then stop responding to voice commands for the floodlight. I renamed, reinstalled, and all that... but no joy. Having read through your comments I tried an idea... and it worked! I put the "Floodlight Off" command in an automation that I titled "Make Me Happy." (Of course, you can name it anything you want.) Voila! When I initiated the command via voice control... the floodlight went off.  Haven't tested all variations yet, but though you'd like to try this for yourselves.   

[jjay]

Yes, Ron, that's a great, known workaround.  However, the Google product fails here also.  If the floodlight is already turned off (and this is true only for the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight product) then the Assistant will respond with "[lightname] is already off"

But yes, that's a good workaround.  Thank you for your contribution.  In your single comment, you have done more to resolve the issue and to help Google users than Google themselves have done.

[petmak]

Likely going down the same path as Nest Secure - 600+$ down the drain.  Had an Apple issue today - called, answered in 2 minutes, solved issue in 5.  Done with Google hardware.  Time for a Ring floodlight camera.

[Wilhelm]

I like everyone here has had the issue since around Christmas and when I called support this issue was so fresh the rep was speechless when he heard my hub max respond she couldn't access the flood.  The one thing that has worked flawlessly for me is telling her to turn on BOTH floodlights.  then suddenly she has no issues turning the one above my garage and my backyard one on.  even works with telling her BOTH off.  Sadly I only ever need 1 on when I take the dogs out 😞  Hoping for a solution soon

[Fluxburner]

Same. Bookmarking

[actingwizard]

It’s crazy this is a Google product not working with a Google product. Been broken for months and still not working. 

[jjay]

Yes, it is.  And we have no recourse for a refund.  They sold us a product that didn't promise features, and we bought it.  And I pay for Nest Secure atop all of this!  And Google One!  Ugh.  We would get better support if we had bought a toaster.

[Thesirman]

Well i just installed mine only to find out about this problem after the fact. How have they still not fixed this yet. Do better gooogle. 

[Jauro]

Same problem over here too! Been onto customer support but no fixes so far 

[ByronP]

Hi folks,

Thank you for posting.

I understand that this has been frustrating; we are still working on it. If the above steps provided in this thread didn't work, Please fill out this form, and our team will reach out to you soon for further assistance.

Regards,

Byron

[jjay]

Thanks Byron. I have completed this form each time I have been asked. Do you think that will help?

And to be clear, none of the above steps have helped in any way and frequently the steps were not relevant to the product in question. 

[ByronP]

Hi jjay,

Thank you for your post, and yes, our dedicated team will reach out to you soon for further assistance with this issue. I really appreciate your patience with this concern.

Regards,

Byron 

[mserick]

I don't know why I'm responding, but I'm notified every time someone posts. None of the "Steps" that have been suggested are even related to the issue. The Floodlight does NOT WORK with Voice. Simple. Fix it. Read the comments. Filling out forms hasn't helped either. You have not addressed the issue in over 4 months.

[Syranetic]

I came back to look at this thread to see if there was any progress after months of a basic feature being broken in the voice command that used to work. Big surprise... no fix yet from google! Probably too busy redesigning the UI in gmail again.

[Ted4311]

still no fix.... Issue since December. FIX IT! I am regretting investing into Google home products 

[Topcat1960]

I found if I use my phone with voice command for the floodlight it works, strange because it won't work from any other Google device.

[Ted4311]

100% it works with phones. Watch and hubs no go. Just annoying