Need help accessing Nest Protects via USB connection as suggested

[Mackie77]

I took my six down checking options suggested via another of my threads about the withdrawal of support 4/8/2024(Nest Secure) and everything downstream.  While putting these back online one of my the Protect Entry Codes was scraped/disfigured bad enough that only the first 4 of 6 characters can now be read. As was the part of the QR, it no longer works either. 

That leaves me with 'how can I change the WiFi?  

There are a couple posts about people using a Windows machine and File Explorer via USB.  Does anyone have a 'slightly more detailed procedure' how to do this that can be shared?

I insert the micro-USB (=MICRO) after taking the batteries out as one person suggested.

The Protect pulls enough power from the USB connection to say 'hello'.  In fact it even allowed me to perform a hard reset and it talked a lot.

However after that I cannot figure out how to get the Entry Code from the text file that is said to be contained within.  

Windows 11 does not see the 'USB device' best I can tell.  Nothing shows up as a storage device either. How can the 'guts' of the Protect be reviewed in this manner?  Anybody able to do this?

I also tried accessing via USB from a MAC and iPAD.  Can someone tell me where and how to look for the file?  I must be missing something basic.  

Bricking these in this situation is a half-ass design in my opinion.  Obviously I have physical access.  And there is an entry code not obtainable in any other manner while I have it physically in my hand?

There was mention of a duplication of the entry code on the battery tab.  Not on mine.

Any ideas?

[zoeuvre]

Hi Mackie77, 

Yikes! I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble with retrieving the entry code and changing the WiFi on your Nest Protect. Here some steps that may help: 

1. Ensure that you are using a micro-USB cable that supports data transfer, not just charging.
2. Make sure the Nest Protect is in a state where it is ready to connect via USB. This usually involves removing the batteries, connecting the micro-USB cable, and then reinserting the batteries.
3. On a Windows, open File Explorer and check if the Nest Protect appears as a connected device or external drive. It may appear under "This PC" or "Devices and drives." On a Mac, check if the Nest Protect appears as a connected device or external drive on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar.
4. If the Nest Protect is recognized as a storage device, you should be able to browse its contents and look for any text files that may contain the entry code. The file may not be named explicitly as "entry code," so check for any relevant files or folders.
5. If you're unable to find the entry code file or if the Nest Protect doesn't appear as a storage device, it's possible that the method you're attempting to use for accessing the internal files may not be supported or applicable to your specific model or firmware version.
    

Let us know how it goes.

Best,

Zoe

[Mackie77]

Almost perfect, see my POST, solved !

[Mackie77]

Solved(with help) in later POST by me, just now.

[Mackie77 · Accepted solution]

A couple of you helped push me in the direction that enabled me to solve this...by combining all of the responses....

Net: Yes, I have personally connected Protects from our previous home/wifi to our new one.

Easiest way:

Use what came with the product.  The Entry Key printed on the back, but during install/removal ours became unreadable (on 1 of 6).

I could still see 4 of the 6 characters yet that still left me with over a thousand hit/miss trys by guessing or spending $125 for a new device.  On to an alternative solution...

Multiple people suggested just 'powering it up', these related to IP6 exchange of information.  I have a very new setup but was not going very far on this one.  Consider it smoke at best.  It relates yet does not solve anything.

LOTS of people 'said' they used the serial number instead of the Entry Key since I could see that.  When I pressed on how do you input a 16 character SN in a 6 character install screen they all went quiet or told me I had a device to old or not up to date, all proved to be false, even for a 2015 device.  Smoke as far as I was concerned.

Multiple people said to use a USB cable and connect it to a laptop so forth and so on.  Getting close here but a Laptop has nothing to do with it.  Any recent Windows device would work as well as a MAC jumping to the solution however...

Many said to take out the batteries first and then try, still not recognized

Multiple people said my micro-USB cable was not rated for data.  Well, there are some that are if purchased today but I have an old and new one that turned out just fine.

Jumping to the solution hooking up by USB did work.  The key however was that as yo connected it with or without batteries, new cable or old the secret was yo have to hold the NEST Protect test button for at least the initial 5 seconds.  Best I can tell is that this  is what the engineers do to get access to the PROTECT as they worked on it.  It, at that point, and only if you initially held the TEST button show up as  storage device to a Windows 11 machine.  Simply used File Explorer at that point, browed the 2 files visible.   One was a CONFIG file in ASCII text of about 25 lines, located near the end, between <key>ParingCode</key> in the following string value.  If I was not about 20 hours into this TREK I would not be surprised that I could have simply edited it there with NOTEPAD but I was not that brave.  Instead I made not, then went back to the normal install method and used that value.  Configured it as new, it came right up, connected to the other 5 siblings and tested ok.  Done.  

Good luck and presto you save $125 a shot.  Amazing it was so hard to fine Google!

[EmersonB]

Hi folks,

@Mackie77, that's awesome. We truly appreciate your efforts explaining here what you've done. We're glad to know that you're able to resolve it. In case you have additional questions or concerns, you know where to find us.

I appreciate the help, Zoe.

Regards,

Emerson