Forgot Nest PIN- now what?

[roden1016]

Recently my home had a power outage that lasted three days.  This power outage fried a surge protector that had our home internet wifi modern/router connected to it- this resulted in us needing to hook up a new one.  Stupidly, I attempted to use the new router/modem username and password that is listed on it and began to 'remove' both my nest thermostat and nest doorbell from my google account, thinking I'll just 'add' them back on the account and connecting it to the new internet username and password...I chose to do this originally because I was locked out of the actual nest thermostat because I couldn't figure out what my PIN was to unlock it in order to have control....well, after freaking out a bit, I decided it best to just change the new modem/router log in info to my old one so everything automatically connects using the old 'auto' sign-in...which worked, expect for the two devices I had 'removed'.  I have other nest thermostats (2 others) that have connected and work fine...I can 'unlock' via the app but since I dont know the PIN, can't do it manually....this is where it gets tricky because the one thermostat I removed I can't get into...its working keeping the original settings I had programmed, but I have no control over it if I want to change.....AND....my nest doorbell I removed, I can't add as new because it auto attempts (with no other option to use) to connect to the nearest google product to help install....which just so happens to be the thermostat I can't enter the PIN in for....any help on how to reset (I tried holding down button on dial for 10 seconds and it does restart, but doesn't allow me to add it as new- it stays locked needing a PIN) the PIN or how to unlock it would be great.

[David_K]

If you can't control it using the app anymore, you'll need to reset it using a computer.

1. Connect the Nest Thermostat display via USB to a computer.
   
   
2. Verify that the Nest Thermostat mounts (appears as an attached drive icon).

• If the Nest drive will not mount: Restart the thermostat and the computer.
• If the Nest drive still won't mount: Connect another device to the cable to see if it appears as an installed device.
• If it doesn't appear, use a different cable/port/computer.

If the Nest drive is successfully showing up on your computer, can you see a technicalinfo.PLIST file? If you get this far let me know and I'll ask a community specialist to assist with next steps, as these can't be shared publicly in the community.

As for the doorbell, I'd recommend resetting it so you can set it up with your new Wifi network without issue.

Restart or factory reset Nest camera or doorbell - Google Nest Help

[roden1016]

Thank you so much for reaching back out.  I did the reset using the computer hookup and a google technician- and re-installed the thermostat as new in my house.  Unfortunately, I can't add it to my Nest App because it see's there are other Google products (I have two other nest thermostats and a Doorbell) and it wants to use one of them to 'assist' with pairing it to my Nest account....an error keeps happening with this pairing and the technician couldn't find a work around to get it added to the app outside of this way.  I do have an unlocked Nest Thermostat but can't control it on the app, only manually....so much for smart products huh? ha. Sort of defeats the purpose of smart thermostat if I can't control it via an app/computer.  I have an Orbi home mesh system (with two satellites and one main wifi modem/router), so at any given time many of the connections in my house could be using a different satellite but all are on the same internet source with the same username and password.  

In addition, the doorbell is also having the same issue- this thermostat and the doorbell were two of the Google products that needed to be added (again) to my Nest app but can't....the other two Nest Thermostats are connecting fine and I can control via the app.

[David_K]

That error does indeed mean the thermostat is trying to get its Wifi information from another Nest product in your home, and is unable to do so.

Having seen lengthy troubleshooting regarding this issue, one of the workarounds for this is to temporarily remove other Nest products (except Google Wifi or Nest Wifi devices if you have them) from your home (i.e. other Nest Doorbell, Nest Protect, Nest thermostat, cameras etc) from the Nest app, then retry setup of your Nest Thermostat. Hopefully that works for you, and you can then re-add those other products back to the Nest app. The same workaround should be able to be used with your doorbell.

Alternatively, another workaround would be to create a new "home" in the app for your thermostat, as it then won't try to use another Nest product to get Wifi information. Of course that does mean your thermostat will be in its own "home" and there is no way to move products between homes unfortunately.

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. Were you able to try the troubleshooting steps provided by davidking? let us know how it goes. You can visit this support article for more information.

I appreciate your help, @David_K.

Best,

Jenelyn

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi roden1016,

I wanted to follow up if you still need help. Please let me know if you’re still having any concerns or questions from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,

Jenelyn

[EmersonB]

Hi everyone,

@roden1016, just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, we would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let us know.

I appreciate the help, Jenelyn and davidking.

Regards,
Emerson

[roden1016]

[Filter: keyword] roden1016's post body matched "outage", board "Thermostats".

Post Subject: Forgot Nest PIN- now what?

Post Body:

Recently my home had a power outage that lasted three days.  This power outage fried a surge protector that had our home internet wifi modern/router connected to it- this resulted in us needing to hook up a new one.  Stupidly, I attempted to use the new router/modem username and password that is listed on it and began to 'remove' both my nest thermostat and nest doorbell from my google account, thinking I'll just 'add' them back on the account and connecting it to the new internet username and password...I chose to do this originally because I was locked out of the actual nest thermostat because I couldn't figure out what my PIN was to unlock it in order to have control....well, after freaking out a bit, I decided it best to just change the new modem/router log in info to my old one so everything automatically connects using the old 'auto' sign-in...which worked, expect for the two devices I had 'removed'.  I have other nest thermostats (2 others) that have connected and work fine...I can 'unlock' via the app but since I dont know the PIN, can't do it manually....this is where it gets tricky because the one thermostat I removed I can't get into...its working keeping the original settings I had programmed, but I have no control over it if I want to change.....AND....my nest doorbell I removed, I can't add as new because it auto attempts (with no other option to use) to connect to the nearest google product to help install....which just so happens to be the thermostat I can't enter the PIN in for....any help on how to reset (I tried holding down button on dial for 10 seconds and it does restart, but doesn't allow me to add it as new- it stays locked needing a PIN) the PIN or how to unlock it would be great.

Body text "outage" matched filter pattern "outage".

Post by User[id=324751,login=roden1016] has message uid 377151.

Link to post: Forgot Nest PIN- now what?

[Jenelyn_O]

Hi roden1016,

We’ve duplicated your thread to the main one here. You’ll receive all updates on this issue on the main thread and we recommend updating and checking this thread when needed.

Best,

Jenelyn