NEST CAMERA UNABLE TO PUT ON TIMER

[Gilly1958]

I have two older NEST cameras which are fab and I can programme to go on and off when I want each day. I bought a new Nest Camera yesterday and find it unbelievable that I cannot set a timer for it to be on and off. THIS must be a backward step as Nest products prior to this were able to do this on the app.

Please can someone in programming Google HOME sort this out!!

[MplsCustomer]

@Gilly1958 

Scheduling is one of several camera features that is not available in the Google Home app, along with sound notifications for anything other than some and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as the features listed below that Google Nest lists (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/13038234#zippy=%2Cnest-app-only-features), as we discovered when we got a battery camera 2 years ago:

[EmptyNester]

You may want to consider purchasing some used Nest Gen 1 cameras from eBay sellers so that you can stay in the NEST app until such time that the Google Home app gets the features we need and love.   I have done this twice and it has worked out great.

[Tonycv51]

Am in the same annoying position. This post here from Google actually states the functionality has been added but it's never appeared in the home app automations for me, even with preview set on the camera never appear in the list of devices to add to a routine.  In the long meantime, I'm using some WiFi plugs with the indoor cameras to achieve the same thing - I happened to have a couple of spares but would be doubly annoying to shell out extra for what should be basic functionality for the camera in the home app

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/New-Google-Home-Automation-Features-for-Smart-Home/ba-p/... 

[Tonycv51]

I should add I bought the first of 2 cameras assuming the functionality was available, and a 2nd based on the above update from Google that it was being rolled out, but that was over a year ago...

In case someone from Google ever looks at these forums here's some specific text from the Google update 

• Camera scheduling, lock and arm 
  • Example: At 9:00 PM every day, turn the outdoor camera on, lock the front door, and arm the security system.

[Tonycv51]

OMG - just tried adding a completely new automation routine and the cameras were there as devices to be added.  It didn't seem to work on an existing routine I'd been trying to edit to do this

My apologies to Google !

[Tonycv51]

Now seems to work for me - instructions from Google bard

Google home script to turn on indoor wired nest camera at midnight

1. Google Home script to turn on an indoor wired Nest camera at midnight, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the + button in the top left corner and select Routines.
3. Tap the + button in the top right corner to create a new routine.
4. Enter a name for your routine, such as "Turn on indoor camera at midnight."
5. Tap When this happens > Add trigger > Scheduled time.
6. Select 12:00 AM and then tap Select.
7. Tap Add action > Google Nest > Camera > Select device.
8. Select your indoor wired Nest camera and then tap Next.
9. Tap Turn on and then tap Next.
10. Review your routine and then tap Save.

Then add a 2nd automation to turn the camera off eg at 8.00 am

[Gilly1958]

I don't have a + in the top right in my google home APP so this won't work for me IT just has devices no routines anywhere.

As i said this is a backward step but thanks for trying

[Tonycv51]

Sorry think the instructions are off. Just went in to the home app to check -  Click on automations on the bottom menu and a blue add button should appear on the bottom right. Click on that and hopefully instructions are then accurate. You need to add 2 automations - one for on and one for off.  This can be a set time or based on sunset / sunrise 

I do have preview set on in the home app but assume this is standard for the cameras to be available in the home app now. 

It looks like the older cameras can also be set this way as they appear in devices to add to the automation but my older ones are outdoor ones and are on all the time

[Tonycv51]

Screenshot of the "add"

 

[Tonycv51]

And screenshot of the on automation if you've not used them before

 

[Gilly1958 · Accepted solution]

Thank you I shall

try it out sounds like it should work 

appreciate your help

[Gilly1958]

Well I tried and I could not get it to Rouen on the camera as device did not show up where it needs to I. Automations

i give up for now but thanks for trying

[EmptyNester]

I just tried to play with the automations.  It looks like it has a lot of potential but I'm disappointed to see that you can take an action based on a motion event on the camera.