Nest hello Doorbell swap-out

[benny5]

The battery on my current Nest Hello 1st gen doorbell is failing, this coupled with the deterioration of the front facia has forced me to replace the unit. I know the battery can be replaced but it’s a real pain and you run the risk of damaging other components in the process.

Having decided to do a like for like replacement I'm wondering if anyone has done a straight swap on these units?

I’m relaxed about the hardware changeover as I carried out the original installation. It’s the impact on my Nest A/C, where I have an outstanding subscription, that I’m trying to figure.

I need all my A/C details and nest setting to be carried over to the new unit, so do I just ‘add’ the replacement unit to my Nest App A/C and then ‘remove’ the old device?

I don’t want my subscription to disappear in the process.

[MplsCustomer · Accepted solution]

@benny5 

I don't know what you mean by "Nest A/C" but I can share what I know.

We have three 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbells. The small internal battery on all three has now failed, and the facia on all three is also peeling. We've turned off the "Indoor chime" on all three (which prevents the doorbell from going offline when the doorbell button is pressed--the chief result of the failing battery) and rely instead on "Visitor announcements" (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7672451) on our Nest Hubs and Nest Mini. And we purchased silicone "skins" on Amazon to cover the peeling shards on the facia.

What happens with your Nest Aware subscription depends on which subscription you have. If you have the older 1st gen Nest Aware subscription, which covers only specific 1st gen Google Nest cameras and doorbells, then you will have to cancel that subscription (for a pro-rated refund) and purchase a 2nd gen Nest Aware subscription or a Nest Aware Plus subscription (which covers ALL 1st and 2nd gen cameras and doorbells in the same Google Nest "home/structure" and which we've had since 2020). Also, if you have not already done so, you will have to migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account (which we did in 2020); see this Help topic: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676?.

And if you have a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription that you need to cancel, you will also lose any video history.

Note also that the 2nd gen Google Nest Doorbells work only in the Google Home app, and NOT in the Google Nest app. (We've had to use both apps since getting a 2nd gen battery camera in 2021.) You will need to remove your old 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell from the Google Nest app and install the new doorbell in the Google Home app, and none of your settings will carry over.

And the 2nd gen doorbells have a different aspect ratio (3:4) than the 1st gen Nest Hello (4:3), so the camera view will be taller and narrower.

[benny5]

Thank you for your detailed response.

Just to clarify a few points;

My installation is the 1st gen Google Nest Hello.

I have the 1st gen Nest Aware subscription.

I’m still using the Google Nest app. (Not migrated to the Google Home app)

The replacement will be a 1st Gen Google Nest Hello. (Therefore, like for like substitution).

In the absence of a Nest Hub/Mini I need to retain the Indoor chime.

Given all of the above and the fact that the hardware type will remain unchanged, do you believe a subscription cancellation and a fresh install will be necessary?

Perhaps naively, I though it may be possible to Add/Remove the units and then reset the operating parameters.

Regards,

Benny.

[MplsCustomer]

@benny5 

Again, this is just what I know.

Google Nest hasn't sold any 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbells in the United States for a couple of years now.

You cannot transfer your current 1st gen Nest Aware subscription to a new doorbell:

"As of July 13, 2023, Nest will no longer sell new subscriptions of 1st gen Nest Aware. Any subscriptions that you currently have will continue to renew."

"You have a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription if you have separate subscriptions for each camera in your home. If you have one camera with a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription and another camera without a subscription, you can’t move the subscription between your cameras. Once a subscription has been assigned to a camera, it can’t be moved to a different one."

"If you have a camera with an existing 1st gen Nest Aware subscription and you want to use the same account to set up Nest Cam (battery) or Nest Doorbell (battery), you’ll need to migrate your account. When you migrate your account, your 1st gen Nest Aware subscription will be disabled."

"If you want to keep your 1st gen Nest Aware subscription on your existing camera, you can set up Nest Cam (battery) or Nest Doorbell (battery) using a different Google Account."

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9228198

(Google Nest has been trying to get us to move from 1st gen Nest Aware to 2nd gen Nest Aware since 2019.)

There is no way I know of to transfer settings from one doorbell to another, and you will lose your video history.

[benny5]

I’m indebted to you for that insight.

I’m based in the UK where the 1st Gen Google Nest Hello continues to be widely available.  

It’s pretty disappointing to discover that I can’t roll-over my A/C and subscription. Had I known this at the outset than I would have pursued a different solution.

Thank you once again.

Benny.

[benny5]

I’ve swopped over to a replacement bell and as expected I’ve lost my Nest Aware features. What I didn’t expect was to lose sight of my subscription so can’t cancel and claim a rebate.

Any suggestion as to how I might overcome this issue would be appreciated.

[MplsCustomer]

@benny5 

You could try contacting Support:

1. Go to https://support.google.com/googlenest/gethelp.
2. Select a category/product family, and type in a brief description of the issue, then click "Next".
3. Click "Other", then click "Next step".
4. Under "Resources", just click "Next step". (Clicking one of the listed links will bring up a Help page.)
5. Under "Contact options", choose to get a phone call or chat with the team, depending on availability in your country.

[Erniem64]

The UK subscription model isn't based on the type of doorbell or camera, you can have a number of camera's on it.

I have 5. Nest hello, 2 x outdoor, 2 x old indoor and a nest max hub.

I am recently seeing connection issues with my nest hello after a number of years, so will probably switch it for a new model doorbell .

[benny5]

My issue is the original subscription, back in 2019, was for a single Doorbell then classified as a Nest Hello.

Subsequent to that the billing structure appears to have changed and I have been advised that subscription is not transferrable to another product and the only alternative I’m left with is to cancel and start with a new sub.

And this is where I’ve hit a brick wall. For the past three weeks I’ve been exchanging online chats/messages/e-mails with no success. Each time they promise a 24/48-hour response; however, nothing ever happens.

My only remaining option appears to be a ‘Charge-Back’ from my the issuer of my payment card for failure to meet their obligations under the contract.

They appear to be one of the worst organisations I’ve had the misfortune to have to deal with.

[Erniem64]

Did you go through this.

https://store.google.com/gb/product/nest_aware?hl=en-GB

I switched from single to nest aware plus a few years ago

[benny5]

This an extract of the current T's&C's.

"As of July 13, 2023, Nest will no longer sell new subscriptions of 1st gen Nest Aware. Any subscriptions that you currently have will continue to renew."

"You have a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription if you have separate subscriptions for each camera in your home. If you have one camera with a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription and another camera without a subscription, you can’t move the subscription between your cameras. Once a subscription has been assigned to a camera, it can’t be moved to a different one.