New Feature Request: Be able to restart Google Nest Cameras via software

[mosesg]

To whom it may concern:

Please provide owners with the ability to restart the Google Nest Cameras via software - this should apply to all Google Nest Cameras - Doorbells, Indoors, and Outdoors cameras!  I have one Google Nest Cam (battery) and three Google Nest Cam with Floodlights.  I have the Nest Hello Doorbell and I have nine  Google Nest Indoor cameras.   Every now and then I have to restart the cameras because they occasionally are connecting (or getting stuck) to a Google Nest Wifi Pro Router that is further away than what is closer to the respective Google Nest Camera.  This happens if I happen to restart Google Nest Wifi Pro Network or there is power outage!  When this occurs I have difficulty viewing live video from any of the Google Nest Cams because they are trying to stream up the video feed but the connection is weak or not ideal!

I am left with having to manually (and times get the latter out) to get to the cameras to restart them so they can rescan for a better network connection to a Googe Nest Wifi Pro Router that is hopefully better or stronger (and closer to the respective Google Nest Camera).   Not only would this save me from falling from the latter but it would save me some time of having to restart the cameras manually!  This is huge time waster!!!

Come on this should be an easy request for you Google Nest Cam team!!!   Not to mention this feature should have been there from the beginning!  Good grief!!!

[mosesg]

I left out two important points:

1. The owner should be able to restart the cameras via software from Google Home, Nest App, home.nest.com, and home.google.com

2. For those who need to start the respective Google Nest Cameras manually as of Feb. 14, 2024, here's the link:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9252162?sjid=6311703999922730412-NA

[MplsCustomer]

@mosesg 

The ability to restart Google Nest cameras and doorbells from the Google Nest app and/or Google Home app would certainly be a nice feature.

However, I can't help but wonder why you've needed to restart your Nest cameras on multiple occasions. We have numerous Google Nest cameras (1st and 2nd gen) and doorbells starting in 2019, and except for one instance years ago while installing one of the cameras, have never had to restart or factory reset any of them for any reason, including power outages, internet outages, or restarting our internet router/modem or access points.  We have a Comcast/Xfinity router/modem and two Linksys routers (connected via Ethernet and configured as access points).

[mosesg]

@MplsCustomer 

I happen to restart the Google Nest Wifi Pro Network (e.g. when trying to troubleshoot an connectivity problem with my ISP - Verizon or Google Nest Wifi Pro router issue), restart a Google Nest Wifi Pro Router or one or two Points due to troubleshooting, or if there is power a outage!  When this occurs I have difficulty with the respective device(s) (e.g. Nest Hello Doorbell, Google Nest Cam indoor) because they are trying to stream up the video output feed but the connection is weak or not ideal!

You may not be experiencing these issues but apparently others have experienced this problem:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/New-Feature-Request-Be-able-to-sort-view-the-device...

@MichaelP provides a great write up of the problem!

"This is worst-case for a mesh network where, during a network reboot (or recovery from a power failure), the primary unit starts beaconing availability before the secondaries are available, so clients that are scanning hear from it first, jump on it, and then stay there (until they get rebooted)."

[MplsCustomer]

@mosesg 

Ah, I see. I guess I'm glad we don't have a mesh network.

I do agree that being able to restart Google Nest cameras and doorbells from the app would be very helpful. And the feature you requested in your other point--to be able to view which devices are connected to which access points--would also be helpful. We can't get that from our Xfinity router/modem; it reports any devices connected via Wi-Fi through one of our two Linksys access points as being connected via "Ethernet", apparently because the two access points are connected to the Xfinity router/modem via Ethernet.

[zoeuvre]

Hi folks,

Thanks for chiming in, @MplsCustomer.

@mosesg, I understand your frustration with the need to manually restart your Nest Cameras in order to improve their network connection, and adding mesh networks does not work either. 

You may ensure that your Google Nest Wifi Pro routers are strategically placed to provide optimal coverage and minimize connectivity issues. Consider factors such as distance, obstacles, and interference that could affect the signal's strength and stability. Instead of manually restarting the cameras, you can try power cycling them by unplugging them from the power source, waiting for a few seconds, and then plugging them back in. This can help refresh the camera's connection to the network.

Let us know if that helps.

Best,

Zoe