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Nest Cam 1.69 Update ruined night vision even more

SuperAdam
Community Member

So Google updated their nest cams AGAIN and further ruined Night vision, day time HDR got a bit better but nowhere near as good as it was with 1.65 software, I about had it with Google, look at these picture and tell me if I'm imagining things, the picture on top is the new 1.69 software and the one on the bottom is the 1.67 software just a few minutes before the update, look how fuzzy and grainy everything is with the update, it's like everything is out of focus, STOP MESSING WITH THE CAMERAS GOOGLE, we paid money for this, it's literally unusable at night now. 

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1 Recommended Answer

EdmondB
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey everyone,

We recently began to roll out a software update for Nest Cam (battery), Nest Doorbell (battery), and Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) that addresses an issue where some users experienced decreased video quality when operating in low light environments. This update will be rolling out to all users over the coming weeks. 

Best,
Edmond

View Recommended Answer in original post

576 REPLIES 576

I totally agree. Why the update is taking so long is beyond me. I'm actually surprised that more people aren't complaining. Maybe they've moved on to other platforms. 😕

Akrieg
Community Member

This isn’t my problem but shame on you Google for not providing replacement chime connectors for purchase. Very poor customer service!

JohnD2
Community Member

When can we expect the actual fix, since the update mentioned here did not appear to fix a thing with the continued night vision quality issues that have been around since at least May of last year?  Thanks.

I just got off the phone with Nest technical support to get an update on our collective problem. Sadly, the customer service person I spoke with was unaware of this issue and has never received any calls relating to a nighttime video quality problem. He asked me to email him a few of my Nest Battery and Floodlight camera photos, which he said looked fine to him. If the Nest technical support team doesn't know good video quality from bad, how can they be expected to help Nest customers?  Ridiculous. 

I then emailed the Google Nest tech support person a link to this thread and a link to Google 9 to 5, which also covered this issue. https://9to5google.com/2023/10/27/google-nest-cam-blurry-night-vision/. Thankfully, that article includes a before and after firmware update photo, which clearly shows the problem. 

Since this gentleman couldn't help me, I asked to be connected to Tier 2 support. After waiting on hold for nearly an hour, he finally said he spoke with Tier 2, who are unwilling or unable to talk to customers. He said that they are aware of the problem and that the Google Nest team is working on a firmware upgrade. Sound familiar? 

If somebody is filing a class-action lawsuit, please post the link in this thread so we can participate. I think the best thing for all of us is for Google to sell the Nest division to a company willing to develop and support a premier product, which the Nest brand used to be. My advice is that Google sticks with stuff it knows, like search engines, and leaves the hardware to the experts. 

I’m really surprised that more people aren’t complaining. Do you think there’s something about our setups that’s contributing to the nighttime quality problem we’re all having?

i just accepted that nothing will be done to be honest. I dont use my cameras for security so its not as urgent for me as it is for some of you guys. Just annoying as its not what i initially signed up for.

When I started this post it gained momentum quickly and Google did release a "fix" which hardly fixed the problem but I just ran out of patience, these cameras were unparalleled when they were on software 1.65,also the way Google has been firing their employees I lost all hope that this issue will be fixed. 

I totally agree. How sad is it that we've gotten to this point with a once great product? 😕

But I do appreciate you calling attention to this problem. If it weren't for your post, many media outlets, like 9 to 5 Google, wouldn't have picked up on it.  Sadly, they never followed up on the fix. 

Any update on when this bug fix will be released its now February 2024?

I suspect that, if it was going to be fixed, it would have been by now.  Personally, I’m looking for reasonable alternatives to Google Nest to replace the cameras.  Something with good enough quality that is actually supported.

Adj
Community Member

It’s so frustrating for all of us who have invested in these cameras and their nest aware subscription only to have it be worthless now. Please share the cameras you end up with!

Jaso31
Community Member

Has this been fixed yet

as I have a brand new nest battery camera and if turn night vision off  for a while it’s Great as there is enough street light and it’s clearer in color as night vision is terrible quality for face 

but after a while it goes complete pixelated and it’s not the WiFi 

JohnD2
Community Member

Unfortunately, no, it hasn’t been fixed, and there doesn’t appear to be an indication that it will be in the near future.

However, Google has stepped up its efforts in recent months in terms of its desktop and mobile apps, so hopefully, it is re-engaging with its smart home products. Maybe the rumors of Apple entering this space are making Google nervous. 😊

Especially since Apple has some extra cash now that it has shuttered its EV project.

SuperAdam
Community Member

It's still 1.69 but the channel number changed to 388143, the previous channel number that was bugged was 376297, one of my cameras received the update but not the other one that  actually needs it. 

Iano23
Community Member

Likewise.

Bang on 1am GMT 1 of my 3 cameras went offline and came back with much better focus.

I prefer not to use nightvision. Still v1.69, hopefully the other 2 cameras aren't far behind 

Iano23
Community Member

Screenshot_20231129_060910_Home.jpg

Screenshot_20231129_060934_Home.jpg

deezid
Community Member

Seems like the heavy noise reduction is fixed. Waiting for the update as well.

My 7 floodlight cams are still awful 😞

What is the new version number?

It is still v1.69, but openmaster is 388143 for the update (it was 376297 for the blurry version)

pebceb
Community Member

None of mine yet.  Although one is offline now (floodlight camera) and has been for a while.

Same here. I wonder how much longer. 

Adj
Community Member

2 of my 8 cameras switched to that other channel. One is a doorbell camera, one is a floodlight camera. Not sure if I see much of a difference, I’ll have to do some comparisons today. 

Can confirm 143 is back to normal on reviewing my footage. I have two cameras. One looks way better, the other unchanged.

is there any way to force a firmware update?

pebceb
Community Member

Good to hear. Still waiting for mine. 

deezid
Community Member

Mine just went offline

Wendi83
Community Member

Same. My doorbell is good but my 3 camera's are not.

Phunksession
Community Member

Reporting Back- Flood light cam is back to normal! Outdoor cam hasn’t improve yet, will check tonight again. 

#

Parisstudio
Community Member

Nothing for me. Camera still on 1.69 and grainy 

The version remains at 1.69, but changes from openmaster 376297 to 388143.

I have 3 battery camers and 2 doorbells, and only 1 has received the update yet.

They'll be pushing out in batches so may take a few days to get round all the devices.

 

 

NH_Living
Community Member

Two outdoor cameras are still grainy/awful. Very disappointed in Google. 

RavenManiac
Community Member

Same here. Little to no improvement. Ridiculous.

GoogolDoc
Community Member

Looks like the Nest Cams haven't quite received it yet, my doorbell is golden and the outside Cam is still old.

Phunksession
Community Member

Outdoor battery cam still blurry as well. 

deezid
Community Member

Mine is still on the buggy 376297 firmware even though it went offline yesterday for a few minutes.

 

Guess the doorbell didn't want to update then 🥴

chaybee
Community Member

Same exact thing happened to me 😔

Ebaker10
Community Member

Unfortunately for us it appears to be better then before but is still HORRIBLE quality. If this is what they believe is to be the fix then I will remove these. Its very simple, this is a security system that can not focus at night. If you were to have an incident forget showing this as proof. The most it will show is a blob on the screen stealing/vandalizing your property. If you expect to see license plate number forget that also. You won’t even be able to tell whether it’s a car, bicycle, or a school bus just a blob on the screen. I have seen cheap setups from the box stores that have far better quality then what I’m seeing right now and for 1/3 the price… I will now let all my friends and family know these are not a wise purchase and to search elsewhere. So very disappointed and I still haven’t received a email from google updating me on what they are doing to fix the issue. I’ve learned more here in this thread with what’s going on then the “experts”.