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I can only add my new device to Google Home not Nest

Courtknee
Community Member

I went to add another camera to my nest account that I have had for almost 10 years now. When I scanned the barcode it pops up saying I must add to through Google Home. I did and it went great I thought it would automaticly add it to my nest account. It did not. When I try to add it through nest it will not let me it just tells me I must add it through Google Home. Can anyone help me with this? On Google Home I cannot see history unless there was an "event" is that noraml as well? Any advice will be appreciated

9 REPLIES 9

MplsCustomer
Bronze
Bronze

@Courtknee 

Unfortunately, Google Nest decided that its new Google Nest cameras and doorbells released starting in 2021 would work ONLY in the Google Home app, and NOT in the Google Nest app OR on the home.nest.com website accessible from computer browsers. Further, they decided that the new Google Nest Camera (Battery) could only record 24/7 if it was plugged in with the optional power cable; when running on battery power, it can only record events. And after the 30-day free Nest Aware subscription expires, you can only see events that occurred in the last 3 hours.  (If you already have a Nest Aware subscription, your camera is automatically included, but on battery power you'll only get event history.) (The same is true of the Google Nest Doorbell [Battery] because it always runs off of the battery even when it is wired.)

Various other features are also not available for the new cameras because they work ONLY in the Google Home app.

Google Nest's Vice President offered this explanation for their 2-app approach back in Sept. 2021; there has been no update whatsoever since then, even though he said "we commit to being more transparent with you on where we are taking the camera portfolio":  https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Message-from-our-GM-Updates-for-our-Nest-customers/ba-p/...

We discovered all this when we bought a Google Nest Camera (Battery) in early Sept. 2021.  Luckily, we bought the optional power cable, so it is "Live" 24/7, and we have a Nest Aware Plus subscription for full 24/7 history for the last 10 days.

How do I get more of a history for the new camera? I have a nest aware subscription already for the older cameras. 

@Courtknee 

If your new Google Nest Camera (Battery) is in the same Google Nest "home" as your existing Nest Aware subscription, it should have automatically been added to your Nest Aware subscription. If you select your camera in the Google Home app and go to Settings | Video, under Video History it should tell you what kind of Nest Aware subscription you're getting for the camera.

You'll have to view history for the Google Nest Camera (Battery) in the Google Home app; select the camera and click on "History" at the bottom; on the next screen you can select "Full History" to see a list of events.  (If your camera is running on battery power, it will probably come up in "Idle" mode and you'll first need to select "Live".)

As I mentioned above, if the camera is running on battery power, you can only get event history even if you have a Nest Aware Plus subscription.

 

Tritian
Community Member

Same issue. I have 4 Nest Outdoor cameras and a Nest doorbell. I bought these for access to the 24/7 recording. I frequently scroll through this view.  I have an active Nest Aware subscription. 

I added the indoor cam to the Google home app. In there I can't see the 24/7 feed of the existing camera like i can in the Nest app. I can for the new camera though. 

The history view for all the nest camera is only events. What is the technical reason for this? 

Why even call this product a Nest camera? It is not. This borders in false advertising. 

Anyone up to join a class action suit?

Padruna
Community Member

Same experience  The same cameras in the google home app have lworse features than in the nest app.  Makes me not want to buy any more Google cameras since they cant be viewed in the nest app . 

Tritian
Community Member

I will 100% be returning this camera tomorrow. If I have to use a different app, the Wyze cam is a way better value. 

Allan-Ellard
Community Member

I also have this issue,  I was assuming I could set up a scedule for the cam (2nd gen wired) but it says to set up a scedule you need to use Nest App, but the device can apparently only be added to the Home app, which does not seem to have a scedule feature??

If I cant make a shedule, Its not useful for me.  I dont want to have to use the presence sencing, as that required backgroud activity to be on, and location on, which drains battery etc etc

Is there a workaround to making a schedule anyone knows of? 

 

@Allan-Ellard 

Unfortunately, scheduling is one of the features that is missing for the new Google Nest cameras because it is available only in the Google Nest app and the new cameras work only in the Google Home app.

aatienza
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey folks,

 

We hear you. Our team is working hard to deliver the best experience for our users — we'll take this as feedback. Keep your eye on the Google Nest Community page https://goo.gle/2JvnMRy for any updates. Please let me know if you have other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours if I won't hear back from you again. Feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.


 

Check out this link on how to file feedback.


Thanks,

Archie