So many problems...

[DanKelly]

The initial problem was (and still is) my Next Doorbell (wired Gen 1) appeared offline in the app. [The site won't let me select Gen 1 from the dropdown.]

The top light was blinking green, with no blue (or yellow) ring light.

1. I tried rebooting it using the pin hole on the back of the device, but there was no change.

2. I checked for power issues but found none. (Can the green light be blinking, if the doorbell isn't getting power?)

3. I tried removing the device from the app and adding it back, but it appears that without the blue ring light, it will not connect.  And, now the device is no longer in my app.

4. I tried that a few more times, with the same results.

5. I tried unscrewing the power wires, waiting 10 seconds... I waited 30... An, screwing the power back in.  Same blinking green light with no blue ring light.

6. I tried factory resetting the device by holding the pin in the back for 30+ seconds. I held it for about a minute... after 10 seconds the green light stopped blinking, but I never saw another light come on or even blink.  After a little while the green light came on SOLID this time, but still no blue ring light.  I tried adding the device.  One thing I thought was strange was that it never asked me for wifi info, but just tried to connect...  which it never did.

7. I tried factory resetting a couple more times with the exact same result.

- Do I have a defective unit?  How can I tell?

- Would connecting it to the USB on the back allow for any repair/update/troubleshooting?

- Should the setup process have asked me for wifi information?

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I will start a separate thread about this, but just to let you know what else is happening...

I thought the camera connected to the Next Connect I have in my entryway. Reoved it from my app. And reset.  Quickly was reminded that that is for my Next X Yale lock... which got removed from my app.  And, now THAT also won't connect.

[MplsCustomer]

@DanKelly 

For the 1st gen Google Nest Hello Doorbell, a factory reset (NOT a restart) requires pressing the reset button AND the doorbell button while the doorbell is still connected to the doorbell wires. (They have the Restart and Factory Reset instructions in the same topic.)

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9252162?hl=en&sjid=14675044941484729796-NC#zippy=%2Cnes...

I don't know what a blinking green status light means; they don't list that:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9268073?hl=en-CA&sjid=14675044941484729796-NC#zippy=%2C...

Google Nest doorbells do NOT connect to a Nest Connect. We have 3 Nest Hellos, but no Nest Connect or Nest Yale Lock, so I don't know how to restore those.

[DanKelly]

Thanks for replying, and pointing out the different instructions for factory reset.

So, I just tried it, but nothing different happened.

The power is still connected.

First try, pressing the tiny button on the back, they quickly after the front button... after ten seconds the blinking green light went off...  i kept holding, but nothing else happened - no spinning blue, no flash of yellow.

(Instructions say: "Your doorbell will chime and its light ring will start spinning blue, then flash yellow, and then all the lights will turn off.")

Second, I tried pressing the button on the front first then quickly after pressing the button on the back... same result - the blinking green light went off, but nothing else.

Lastly, I tried pressing them in exactly at the same time...  same result. 

[MplsCustomer]

@DanKelly 

I don't have any further suggestions. We have 3 Google Nest Hello Doorbells. We got the first almost 6 years ago, and it failed and was replaced after about 15 months (back when the warranty was 2 years), but other than that, we've never had to reset any of ours.

If you want to contact 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.

[DanKelly]

Anyone else have ideas?

The original unit is likely dead. I bought a new unit.  It turns on at least, and the doorbell works.  But, it tells me that I need to reset it because there are some settings stored on the device.

But, it can't/doesn't reset.  I press and hold in the pin on the back and then press and hold the button on the front.

The yellow light starts to swirl then rings the doorbell then immediately stops.  All lights are off.

I held it in for longer than 60 seconds, and nothing else happens. No lights. no sounds.

This is such a horrible experience. My doorbell cam that I pay $8 doesn't work at all, and my lock no longer connects to the app either.

Nest, do better!!

[DanKelly]

17th time was the charm!

So, my old device never worked, but I bought a new one... that had problems resetting to factory.

I tried over and over and over to reset it.

I don't think it matters, but the final time, I turned my phone to airplane mode before resetting it. 

I pressed the back button (via pinhole) first and held it in.  Then pressed the front button.

IT made some weird sounds.

I counted to 20 while holding in  two buttons.

Nothing happened...  so I just waited and waited and waited.

Then, out of nowhere...  never did this before... it chimed and the light ring came back on.

Then the app allowed me to connect to the new doorbell.

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I wish I could tell you what worked.  Keep trying. Be patient. Don't hold it for a minute.  20 seconds is enough.

Then WAIT...   It's going to look like nothing is happening.  Just wait.

Eventually, hopefully, it will chime and be ready for use.

[DanKelly]

HEre's a youtube video on how to reset to factory settings... https://youtu.be/k-wjDTmZsJ0?si=pZZHMmBugv_VG1p6&t=136