Push alerts & other Nest App functionality

[Rukiddingme]

Added new floodlight cam and in doing so inadvertently switched 2 existing cams to Google Home. Didn’t mind seeing all footage in one place, but I stopped getting push alerts, ability to configure activity zones, and ability to control how much video to see outside of recorded event.
Frustrated tried to see if I could just put older IQ cams back on Nest app to get push alerts back, which worked, but now events are only still photos. 
Any advice on how to get push alerts to work on Google Home App for older IQ cams, and any info on when Google Home App functionality might be restored to same as Nest App since it appears I can’t get back my old subscription on Nest App, since it’s now past 2023 deadline that allowed it with all of the functionality I came to appreciate

[MplsCustomer · Accepted solution]

@Rukiddingme 

I'm not sure what you did, but there is no way to "switch" the older IQ cameras to the Google Home app. (We have both old and new cameras.)  They can only be installed in the Google Nest app, though they can be livestreamed in the Google Home app and on the home.google.com website. You can only get notifications for the older IQ cameras through the Google Nest app.

If you do NOT have a Nest Aware subscription, with the older cameras you only get snapshots for the most recent 3 hours.  You should be able to access history for all cameras and doorbells in the same Google Nest "home/structure" as your Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription (except for the old 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions, which apply only to specific cameras.)

Are your cameras all in the same Google Nest "home/structure" as your Nest Aware subscription? In the Google Nest app, you can go to Settings | Nest Aware to check your subscription.  In the Google Home app, you can go to Settings | Subscriptions | Nest Aware.  You can also to to this page to check your subscription:

https://store.google.com/subscriptions

I don't know what 2023 deadline you are referencing.

If you can't resolve this, you could try the "Contact us" option 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

[Rukiddingme]

@MlpsCustomer,

Thanks for the quick reply. 

I have Nest IQ cams (1x outdoor, 1x indoor), and the newer Nest floodlight cam that I just added to the ecosystem. Perhaps the older IQ cams (4years+ old) are new enough that I can just enter product key from both devices and add them to Google Home, however, I don’t recommend it.

The functionality on cams in Google Home, as I have anecdotally been hearing, and reading, isn’t nearly as good as in Nest app IMHO, and apparently others too. Not sure when they will at least on par with Nest app, but they have had quite a few years to work on it, so doesn’t seem to be a priority, and thus appears that it isn’t even a lateral transition, although one would think/hope a much improved Nest App functionality would be available and exciting. 

So, as it turns out, despite me continually trying to check on my Nest Aware (NA) annual sub, thinking it could be one of the potential problems, I was unable to see how to renew my sub for my 2 IQ cams, so assumed the sub was still active. It was definitely active on my floodlight cam, as 30-day free trial, but apparently my NA annual sub must’ve lapsed on 2 IQ cams during the process of trying to configure the best way to work with 3 cams. Only after totally removing both IQ cams from the App was I given/found the opportunity to purchase a NestAware sub.

From what I can gather I believe the best way to work with my set-up appears to be in 2 different apps (‘Nest” for IQ cams, and “Google Home” for Floodlight cam). However, if you know for sure that I can get Nest App functionality with my Floodlight cam I’d be more than happy to switch it over too, and not deal with Google Home App until they can make it the very least as good as the Nest App.

Thanks again for your reply, insights, and info

RUkiddingme

[MplsCustomer]

@Rukiddingme 

I'm glad you were able to get your Nest Aware subscription straightened out. Maybe part of your difficulty is that you had the old 1st gen Nest Aware subscription on your IQ cameras.

Yes, the functionality in the Google Home app is still not as good as that in the Google Nest app.

No, you cannot add your Nest IQ Cameras to the Google Home app. Google Nest is only just now getting ready to allow customers to move ONLY their older indoor cameras to the Google Home app on a trial basis if they sign up for the "Public Preview" beta version of the Google Home app (https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Nest-Cam-Indoor-1st-gen-expanded-support-rolling-out-in-...).

Yes, the only thing you can do now is to use 2 different apps for your cameras. We've had to do that ever since getting a battery camera in Sept. 2021. And no, you cannot move your floodlight cameras to the Google Nest app, though other customers have asked for that.

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi folks,

Thanks for reaching out. I hope you got the answer you're looking for. Please let us know if you still have questions or concerns, as we'll be willing to take a closer look and assist you further.

I appreciate the help, @MplsCustomer.

Best,

Jenelyn