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Tried setting up automations

Ivbeenfiguring
Community Member

‎10-11-2025 02:04 PM

 

I'm experiencing an issue with my brand new nest cam 3rd gen and need assistance troubleshooting I've set up a routine in the Google home app to turn on my kitchen light when motion is detected by the camera the routine is configured as follows trigger kitchen camera detects motion action turn on kitchen light we've confirmed the camera is online and detecting motion within its view we've also walked through the routine set up multiple times to ensure it's configured correctly despite these efforts the kitchen light does not turn on when motion is detected what further troubleshooting steps can we take

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2 REPLIES 2

OpethNJ
Community Member

‎10-14-2025 05:52 AM

Have you tried creating the same automation via Script Editor so you can at least easily see if the starter is getting triggered? 

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kcruzgonzalez
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

‎10-14-2025 03:58 PM

Hello @Ivbeenfiguring,

 

Thank you for posting on the community. I understand you are having an issue getting your new Nest Cam (3rd gen) to trigger an automation that turns on your kitchen light, despite confirming the camera is online and correctly detecting motion. Let's work together for a solution.

Here are the most effective troubleshooting steps we can take to get this working, starting with the simplest.

While the camera is detecting motion in the feed, we need to ensure the correct setting is enabled to send that trigger to the automation engine.

  • Open the Google Home app.
  • Tap on the Kitchen Camera tile.
  • Tap Settings (gear icon) in the top right.
  • Go to Events > Seen events.
  • Under Events, make sure that Motion (or all other motion) is selected and active. If you have activity zones set up, ensure the relevant zone is also configured to detect motion.

Recreate the routine (Check for a Better Starter)

Sometimes a glitch occurs in the routine itself. We'll delete and recreate it, paying close attention to the starter option available.

  • Delete the existing routine.
  • Start a new household routine.
  • For the starter, select Device status > find your Kitchen Camera > look for a specific starter event.
    • Crucial check: When you select the camera, you may see different options like "Detects any motion," "Detects person," or just "Detects motion." Try to select the most generic "Detects motion" option to ensure all movement acts as a trigger.
  • For the action, confirm it's set to turn on the light.
  • Save the routine and test it again.

Test the action separately

We need to confirm that the action part of the routine is communicating correctly with the light itself.

  • Create a new, simple, temporary personal routine.
  • Set the starter to something simple and guaranteed to work, like a voice command: "Hey Google, test camera light."
  • Set the action to turn on the kitchen light.
  • Say the voice command.
    • If the light turns on: The light and its connection are fine, and the problem is definitely with the camera's motion event triggering the routine.
    • If the light does NOT turn on: The issue is with the light/switch itself or its linking to Google Home. Try manually turning the light on/off in the Home app to check the light's connection first.

Please let me know the results of Step 2 and if the advanced Script Editor workaround gets your light working. We can then focus on why the standard routine failed.

 

Regards,

Kevin

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