Added additional Nest cam

[Tori39]

We added an additional Nest Cam today to our existing four Nest cams.  I now find out I cannot get Nest Aware on the new camera unless I migrate to Google which I do NOT want to do.  Is there any way around this?  I should not be forced to do something I don’t want to do just to be able to use Nest Aware.

[MplsCustomer]

@Tori39 

You need a Google Account in order to add a Nest Aware subscription to a new camera or doorbell.

If you added one of the Google Nest cameras released starting in Sept. 2021 that get installed in the Google Home app (like the battery camera, the floodlight camera, or the 2nd gen indoor camera), then the old 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions are not available on those cameras, and you need either a Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription (introduced in 2019), which apply to ALL cameras and doorbells--old and new--in the same Google Nest "home/structure". For these subscriptions, you need a Google Account.

If you added one of the older Google Nest cameras that are no longer sold by Google Nest and are installed in the Google Nest app, you can no longer get a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription, because Google Nest quit selling those subscriptions as of July 13, 2023 (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159). So to cover those, you would also need the Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription that requires a Google Account.

So yes, you would need to migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account. (It's not so bad; we migrated in 2020 and are still using the Google Nest app for all of our older cameras and doorbells.)

This page lists what you get with each subscription:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/13318581

[Tori39]

We bought a 1st Gen camera.  So we still have to migrate to get Nest Aware on it?

[MplsCustomer]

@Tori39 

I think you might.

We haven't purchased a 1st gen camera since late 2021, but the post below says:

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

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159

I don't know if there's a way to add a new camera to an existing 1st gen subscription; I think you can't do that, but am not sure.

You could try the "Contact us" link under "Nest Aware Premier Care" on the page above to "Get 24/7 access to Nest Aware Experts on the Nest Customer Care team. They’re available to answer questions, help you access features, and manage your subscription."

[Tori39]

Ok, thank you.

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi folks,

@Tori39, thanks for posting in the Community. I'd like to check if you were able to get in touch with our support. Please let us know if you still have questions or concerns, as we'll be willing to help.

I appreciate the input, @MplsCustomer.

Best,

Jenelyn

[Tori39]

Thanks.  One person replied and pretty much confirmed my fears.  I can’t get Nest Aware on our new camera unless I migrate to Google which I refuse to do.  Seriously considering just getting rid of all our Nest cams and buy cameras from another company.  So fed up with this nonsense.

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi Tori39,

I understand. We’re always looking for ways to improve. Be assured that we're taking note of your feedback. If you ever change your mind, we'll be here to help.

Kind regards,

Jenelyn

[MplsCustomer]

@Tori39 

We migrated from a Nest Account to a Google Account in 2020, mostly because it reduced the price for a Nest Aware subscription on several cameras, but also for the improved security (though some might dispute the latter). I don't use the required gmail account for email purposes except when it is required to access things like Google Nest, Google OneDrive, Google Docs, and this forum.

For us, the migration process went smoothly; the only real change was using different email credentials to log on. We've been more frustrated by the fact that, while Google Nest asked US to use their infrastructure, THEY failed to bring all Google Nest devices into one infrastructure. Two years after purchasing a Google Nest battery camera, and later a 2nd gen Google Nest indoor camera, we STILL have to use both the Google Nest app and the Google Home app to manage our cameras and doorbells.

That said, I don't want to abandon our investment and change platforms. I'm still hoping Google Nest finds a way to bring existing Google Nest app functionality into the Google Home app. I know that's a lot, as customer @C22   has documented in detail in this thread:

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Cameras-and-Doorbells/New-quot-Nest-quot-cameras-DO-NOT-WORK-...

[C22]

Wow - I actually didn't know that Google was also refusing to activate old cameras on Nest Aware anymore as well.  What an absolute racket.  I'll add that to my list of abandoned features next time I post about this.  That said, I don't know how much longer my account is going to last - they LOCKED their own pinned post as soon as I posted my list of their staggering 81% missing features on the Google platform.  

@Tori39 sorry you had to find out like the rest of us that Nest is dead under Google. At least you have a 1st gen camera that technically can scrub through at least a few days of video - unlike their new cameras that can't scrub at all.

I cracked open Photoshop to help the Google marketing department update their current gen camera packaging. 

Also, in case you didn't see my other thread, he's an image of their current list of missing features between the Nest platform and the Google home "platform."

Total number of features in the NEST app or on the NEST WEBSITE:  47

• Features supported in the NEST APP: 45 / 96% | GRADE: A
• Features supported on the NEST WEBSITE: 42 / 89% | GRADE: B+
• Features supported in the GOOLE HOME APP: 9 / 19% | GRADE: F
• Features supported on the GOOGLE HOME WEBSITE: 4 / 9% | GRADE: F

This is their stats BEFORE I take them dropping 1st gen Nest Aware support into account.  I'll need to do some research on that and update my chart.  

[MplsCustomer]

@C22 

If you've migrated your Nest Account to a Google Account, or have always logged onto the Google Nest app with a Google Account, then older Google Nest cameras and doorbells CAN be included automatically in a (2nd gen) Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription. It's just the 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions that can no longer be added.

[C22]

Nobody wants to migrate their cameras to Google Home.  The Gen1 cameras don't even remotely behave properly inside the Google Home app.  You can't scrub videos and you can't save clips. Two of the most BASIC requirements of a camera based security system GO AWAY of you migrate from the NEST app to the Google home app.

So in truth, the only functional Nest Aware product that behaves like a proper camera based security system is a combination of 1st gen cameras + 1st gen Nest Aware.

[MplsCustomer]

@C22 

There currently is no option to migrate from the Google Nest app to the Google Home app. Google Nest is just now getting ready to let customers TEST OUT migrating their 1st gen Google Nest Indoor Cameras (and no others) from the Google Nest app to the "Public Preview" version of the Google Home app: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Nest-Cam-Indoor-1st-gen-expanded-support-rolling-out-in-....

We migrated our Nest Account to a Google Account 3 years ago. We continue to use the Google Nest app, and we have the (2nd gen) Nest Aware Plus subscription, which works just like the 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions except for how long video history is saved--and at a better price.

I would like to see the Google Nest app functionality you have carefully itemized ported over to the Google Home app BEFORE Google Nest migrates cameras and doorbells from the Google Nest app to the Google Home app. That has NOT yet happened; Google Nest's posting above regarding testing out migrating 1st gen Google Nest indoor cameras to the Google Home app refers customers to a list of "Nest app only features" that are STILL not included in the Google Home app (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/13038234#zippy=%2Cnest-app-only-features), and their list is not complete.

[EdmondB]

Hello everyone, 

@C22, i'd like to jump in here and check if you've seen MplsCustomer's response. Let us know if you need more help by replying to this thread.

Thanks for the help, @MplsCustomer. 

Best,
Edmond