Nest cam not working with the Nest app

[chowpappy]

What do I have to do to make this overpriced paperweight work with the Nest App? I paid $5 for the App and it won't set up my outdoor cam. It says 'plug it in with a USB and if installation doesn't start immediately click the Home Icon and follow instructions" ....The Home Icon does nothing but ask if I'm away. There's already a ton of money invested in camera and apps. Is there a way to make this work or do I need to hunt down receipts and get my money back?

[Rubes]

If you have one of the 2021 nest cameras, those devices are only compatible with Google home app. Also both the Google home app and nest app are free. Not sure what you paid five dollars for?

[chowpappy]

The Nest app. isn't free according to the Microsoft store. They want $5 for it. I want this camera to be monitored from my computer, not from a phone. So the Microsoft Nest App. doesn't work with the Nest Cam. WTF?! Trying to download 'Google Home"....I get a goofy pop up that says, "Google Home will be installed soon"...whatever that means. I feel like I'm back fighting Windows 3.1 trying to get a game to work. Lowe's is getting their lemon back. 

[Berserkfrank]

Yeah this is bulls**t,  we use these as baby cameras and need them to work with our pc.  Fix this now google!

[Berserkfrank]

sorry this actually is making me even more furious.  We have always enjoyed being able to have all our cameras up to monitor the baby while we are at work.  This was a lot of money invested in products that we assumed would continue to work with the better app.  No offense to the google app, but the camera controls are not even close to being as good as the nest app.   Google come on and bring it back to the better app

[chowpappy]

Okay, so it isn't just me fumbling with junky software. We're caught in the middle of power games between Google and Microsoft. Found a website that says the cams only work with tablets or your phone. It didn't stop Microsoft from selling me a dud app. I guess Lowes is going to eat the price of this camera when I return it. 

[MplsCustomer]

@chowpappy 

It looks like you bought "Monitor for Nest" on the Microsoft store. I have no idea what this product is, but the free home.nest.com website allows you to monitor and administer Google Nest cameras and doorbells from your PC, EXCEPT for the new Google Nest cameras and doorbells released in the fall of 2021. The same is true of the free Google Nest app (in IOS and Android versions). The new Google Nest cameras and doorbells--to the annoyance of us existing Google Nest customers--work ONLY with the free Google Home app and cannot be accessed from your computer at home.nest.com.

Google's explanation, along with numerous customer reactions, can be found in these blogs in this forum:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/New-Cameras-and-Google-Home-app/ba-p/4632

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Message-from-our-GM-Updates-for-our-Nest-customers/ba-p/...

[ssmmav10]

My Nest Outdoor Cam configures with Google Home but isn’t configuring with Nest App itself. It’s stuck at the last 4 digits of SN. They don’t appear in the list 

[MplsCustomer]

@ssmmav10 

I'm not sure what's happening in your case.

The Google Nest Outdoor Camera (https://energywisemnstore.com/nest-cam-outdoor-single-unit/) is no longer sold by Google and can only be set up in the Google Nest app.

The Google Nest Camera (Battery) (https://store.google.com/us/config/nest_cam_battery?hl=en-US) was released starting in 2021 and works ONLY in the Google Home app.

(Google's names for their cameras makes things confusing.)

There have been a few posts mentioning issues with the last 4 digits of the Serial Number. Most have no solution listed. I think one of them was able to resolve it by updating their Google Home app, but I can't find that post.

[ssmmav10]

Thanks for your response. I have the Nest cam (battery). Based on your response I guess it can be setup in Google Home App only. The setup is partial on Nest App. 

Their instructions are maddeningly unclear 😊

[MplsCustomer]

@ssmmav10 

Yes, things are unclear.

As customers keep discovering, the newer Google Nest cameras and doorbells released starting in 2021 work ONLY in the Google Home app, and NOT in the Google Nest app or on the home.nest.com website even though they are still called "Nest" cameras. The video feeds for the older cameras and doorbells can be viewed in the Google Home app, but they cannot be configured there; the older cameras and doorbells are still configured in the Google Nest app or on the home.nest.com website. All of the cameras and doorbells can be viewed on Nest Hubs.  (And the camera in the Nest Hub Max is administered in the Google Nest app.)

Google Nest's rationale for its 2-app approach can be found in this blog in this forum, along with considerable customer reaction:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Message-from-our-GM-Updates-for-our-Nest-customers/ba-p/...

Good luck with your setup.

[Brad]

Hey folks,

Thank you for your feedback on this issue, I fully understand the frustrations of not having your new Nest Cams in the Nest App or available on https://bit.ly/3HtBgJC web app. I can imagine having to use two different apps at the moment is quite daunting, and could lead to frustration. 

However, the new Nest cameras and doorbell are exclusive to the Home app because we wanted to create an integrated experience with your speakers and displays. A Nest Aware subscription applies to all of your cameras, speakers, and displays in the same home structure. Thank you for your continued patience, and support. I am more than happy to assist you further with this inquiry if you wish. Please let me know.

Best Regards,

Brad.

[James]

Hey folks,
Thanks for visiting the Community.
Since this thread hasn't had activity in a while, we're going to close it to keep content fresh.
We hope you were able to get the help you need but if the issue persists feel free to create a new thread, and provide as many details as possible so that others can lend a hand.
Best regards,
James