Migration to Google Home and nest aware

[DC2121]

I have multiple first generation NEST cameras set up at home-using the NEST app- and had the old Nest aware subscription, took a break, and now want to restart.

I see that I can no longer buy the 1st generation subscription, but now need to buy the 2nd generation subscription. To do so, it is saying I need to migrate to Google home.

If i do migrate- first, do the first gen cameras all still work fine through that new app? and second, can I still use the NEST app even after the migration? or will i only be able to use through Google home?

Basically, I want some type of nest aware subscription for two of my my first gen cameras and do not want to migrate if possible.  Can this be done?

[gregchea]

I'm sure more knowledgable people will correct me if I'm wrong, but I also have the original Nest cams and I'm still on a 1st gen subscription and using the Nest app.  I think the answers to your questions are:

1) No, the earlier Nest cams do not work fine in the new Google app - you get live video feed and that's it.

2) No, you cannot use the Nest app post-migration.

For those reasons I stayed on the Nest app with 1st gen subscriptions, but in the light of ever decreasing functionality and a 60% price rise, I'm in the process of shopping for alternatives!  You might find that Google eventually fully support the earlier cams in the Google app, but they've been promising that for a couple of years now and it hasn't happened yet.  Sorry not to bring more positive/helpful info.

[MplsCustomer]

@gregchea 

This statement is NOT true: "No, you cannot use the Nest app post-migration."

We migrated from a Nest Account to a Google Account in 2020 and are still using the Google Nest app (and the home.nest.com website) for all of our older cameras and doorbells, thought they also can be VIEWED in the Google Home app and on the home.google.com website.

[gregchea]

My apologies. That's what I was told by Google - if I migrate the account, I have to use the Google Home app that only allows viewing of a live stream, no history or events.  Evidently that's not correct. 

Also, Google now tells me I can view clips, or possibly history, or possibly only historic clips, but only with a Nest Aware Plus subscription. But it appears from Google's own table that those features don't work with the original Nest Outdoor cameras.  It's a confusing mess. Added to which the Nest app is less and less responsive and constantly interrupted by obnoxious popups wanting me to upgrade to this or that. 

[MplsCustomer]

@gregchea 

Below is a Google Nest Help topic explaining what you get with each subscription.

Without a Nest Aware subscription, you get snapshots for the most recent 3 hours for the older cameras that work in the Google Nest app, and event video history for the most recent 3 hours for the newer cameras that work only in the Google Home app.

I've never seen a pop-up in the Google Nest app in 4 years of using it. Maybe it's because you are still on a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription, which Google Nest has been trying to phase out since 2020.

We migrated from a Nest Account to a Google Account 3 years ago to get a lower price with the Nest Aware Plus subscription,  and we continue to use the Google Nest app.

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9681538

[gregchea]

Thanks for this. I genuinely appreciate you giving up your time to help clean up Google's mess.

The link is interesting and contradicts an earlier Google support doc, unless I misunderstand the current or former document - they are kind of hard to follow because of the sheer number of permutations of camera model and date, Nest account vs Google account, nest aware vs nest aware plus subscription, and nest vs Google home app...   it's almost designed to be as complex and unfathomable as possible, and the solution always seems to be to give Google more money.

If I understand correctly, the doc you linked to suggests:  If I migrate my Nest account to a Google account, and purchase a Nest Aware Plus subscription, my first gen Nest Outdoor Cams can still be used, with the Nest app, and will give me 24/7 video history and events and the ability to define areas, create and save clips etc...? 

That's roughly the same functionality as I currently "enjoy" with 1st gen Nest Aware and Nest account, and both subscriptions are about to be jacked up in price, and I can't believe Google will continue to support the old Nest app much longer, given they've show no interest or aptitude in getting the functionality into Home for these older cameras.  But it *might* stop the annoying pop ups telling me I'm standing in the way of progress every time I try to view my camera!

PS apologies to the OP for clogging up the thread. 

[MplsCustomer]

@gregchea 

Be sure to read the migration help topic (https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676) before you migrate from your Nest Account to a Google Account. We didn't have any issues, but other customers have had issues, particularly if they are already using a gmail account or are trying to migrate to a gmail account they are already using for other Google Nest devices.

I think it's going to take awhile for Google Nest to phase out the Google Nest app. They are just now getting ready to offer users the "opportunity" to try out moving their 1st gen indoor camera from the Google Nest app to the Google Home app (https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Nest-Cam-Indoor-1st-gen-expanded-support-rolling-out-in-...), but you have to sign up for the beta "Public Preview" version of the Google Home app. Google Nest says they're working on how to migrate the Google Nest Outdoor Cameras from the Google Nest app to the Google Home app, but there's no mention yet of migrating the Nest Hello Doorbells. (Note that these migrations are separate from the Nest Account to Google Account migration.)

If this all seems a bit bewildering, it is.  Google Nest is putting much of the transition burden on its customers, rather than just handling it automatically.

[MplsCustomer]

@DC2121 

You can keep a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription, but you cannot buy a new one:

"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

We migrated our Nest Account to a Google Account in 2020. All of our older cameras and doorbells still work in the Google Nest app, but can also be viewed in the Google Home app.

If you have multiple cameras and doorbells, the newer Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus subscriptions (which cover ALL cameras and doorbells in the same Google Nest "home/structure") are cheaper than the 1st gen subscriptions on multiple cameras.

Note that Google Nest has announced price increases for all of its subscriptions.

[EdmondB]

Hello everyone,

Checking in — we hope you've got the answer you're looking for. Let us know if you have more questions in mind.

Thanks for the input, @MplsCustomer.
 

Regards,
Edmond

[KGee]

This is still so unclear!  I have three outdoor cameras and three heating zones. All on 1st gen subscription. I understand my price will be reduced if I move to 2nd  gen Nest Aware Plus - but precisely what else will change??  It’s almost impossible to get a straight answer and seemingly impossible to any longer speak to a person!!!

[MplsCustomer]

@KGee 

This page shows what you get with each subscription:

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

[KGee]

Okay, but will I be using the same app as I have now?  If not, will my Nest thermostats also show up in the new app?

[MplsCustomer]

@KGee 

We have a Nest Aware Plus subscription, and we still view full video history for that subscription in the Google Nest app for our older cameras (and in the Google Home app for our 2 newer cameras).

Nest Aware subscriptions apply only to cameras and doorbells, and so should have no effect on your heating zones or your thermostats. If you're viewing them in the Google Nest app, you'll still be able to access them there.

I believe you have to migrate from a Nest Account to a Google Account in order to purchase the newer (since 2020) Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscriptions. Migration info here: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676

Once you've migrated from a Nest Account to a Google Account, you can ALSO see your older cameras and doorbells in the Google Home app, but full history and admin access is still in the Google Nest app. Also, you will ALSO be able to see your thermostats in the Google Home app, but the impression I have from other posts in this forum is that not all functions are available in the Google Home app.  (We don't have Nest thermostats.)

[EdmondB]

Hello everyone, 

Thanks for posting here in the Community. Once you migrate your account to Google, you will be able to access your Nest thermostat and Nest Camera on the Google Home App, and at the same time, you can still continue to use the Nest app. For those who still haven’t migrated their account to Google, you can still use the Nest app, but if you have an active 1st Generation Nest Aware subscription on your Nest Camera, it will be automatically canceled if you migrate your account to Google. Also, if you want to change some settings on the Nest thermostat or Nest camera, you still have to use the Nest app since the Google Home app is still not fully integrated with the older version of the Nest devices.

Thanks for the help, @MplsCustomer.

Let me know if you have additional questions.
 

Best,

Edmond

[EJSCMS]

I have a slightly different question: I have two Google home subscriptions for two different homes. I also have a nest aware subscription for a first GEN doorbell camera at one of those homes.  . I installed a second GEN nest hello camera. And I successfully added it to my Google Home subscription. 
Now I want to cancel my Nest subscription that was managing the first GEN camera and receive a refund for the balance of the subscription or have that balance applied to my Google Home subscription.  Nest will not allow me to migrate my account and I get the following error: 

“ “This Google about is already linked with another nest account. Please select another Google Account”. 

help! It has been frustrating trying to get this taken care of. Thank you.

[MplsCustomer]

@EJSCMS 

It sounds like on the home where you have a 1st gen Nest Aware subscription on a 1st gen doorbell, you installed a 2nd gen camera in the Google Home app and added a 2nd gen Nest Aware subscription; that action linked your 2nd gen camera to a second Nest Account, which is why you are now getting an error.

See the "Error message: Google Account is already linked with another Nest account" subtopic on the Help page below for your alternatives:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676

Once you perform one of those alternatives, you can then cancel your 1st gen Nest Aware subscription and receive a prorated refund.

[EJSCMS]

Thanks for clearly stating and understanding the issue. I followed the directions, and was able to delete the first GEN doorbell from my Nest account.  I signed out, then re-signed in, and I then tried to migrate the account to Google Home, but still get the same error message.

Should I now delete this nest account in order to get the refund? Will deleting this nest account in any way affect my  separate Google Home account that has the second GEN doorbell plus my other cameras? Seems like I’m very close, but they make it so hard to get this finalized. Thank you very much for the help.

[MplsCustomer]

@EJSCMS 

If, as I said earlier, if you had already installed a 2nd gen camera in the Google Home app and added a 2nd gen Nest Aware subscription; that action linked your 2nd gen camera and its associated Google Account to a second Nest Account, and you can't migrate to that Google Account.

I'm not clear from Google Nest's support page if you needed to remove your doorbell from the Google Nest app, versus just disconnecting it from power. But did you log out of the Google Nest app and then log back in using the "Sign in with Google" option and the Google Account you're using for your other camera, as indicated on the Support page? If you are able to do that, then you'll probably need to reinstall your Nest Hello Doorbell in the Google Nest app; you'll want to install it in the same Google Nest "home/structure" you're using in the Google Home app.

Once you've done that, then you should be able to cancel your 1st gen Nest Aware subscription. I'm not exactly sure how you do that, since it seems you have 2 Nest Aware subscriptions. If you have trouble canceling, you could try the "Contact us" link under "Nest Aware Premier Care" on the page below 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."

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

[DC2121]

I agree. still not clear to me. I just wanted to keep my old nest app and get a subscription for my 1st gen outdoor cameras- which appears cannot be done without migrating, which i didn't want to do.  I just ended up getting a couple new RING outdoor cams and used those to record the areas  I wanted, and left everything else on the old nest app, which i like...

[Wsln]

I agree. I have 3 thermostats, 3 cameras (2 outdoor) and a combination door lock. When I called and spoke to someone I could hardly understand, I was told that I would have to reinstall everything if I migrated my account to Google. Which, by the way, was a real pain in the neck the first time I actually have two homes because I couldn’t get three thermostats on one. So now in the app, I have to go to different places to see all three thermostats,

[EdmondB]

Hey everyone,

@Wsln, thanks for posting here in the Community. For migrating Nest accounts, there is no need to reinstall your Nest devices unless you are connecting all of your Nest devices to a new account. Once you migrate your account, all of your devices will still be paired to the migrated account. Here is a link to learn more about the migration FAQs about accounts for the Nest app.

@EJSCMS, 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.

Regards,
Edmond