Nest Thermostat Suddenly can't find ANY wifi network. Are replacements still sent out?

[rgaila]

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Original Poster: Brittin Fontenot 

I woke up today and my Nest Learning Thermostate can no longer detect or connect to a WIFI network. The device has been working fine with the same router and network for 2.5 years. The display says "Your WiFi network could not be found" and when I go to WiFi settings it says "Searching. No Networks found yet." Does Nest still send out replacements for the bad wifi problems these devices have had since 2020?

It looks like I'm having the same issues shown here: https://support.google.com/googlenest/thread/19997505/w5-error-problem-have-tried-all-the-troublesho...

I've tried all the troubleshooting steps here:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9249211?hl=en&ref_topic=9362023#zippy=%2Creset-your-the...

I've checked that my settings are all correct:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9240155?hl=en-GB#zippy=%2Ccheck-that-your-router-and-ne...

Model: NEST_THERMOSTATE_DISPLAY_3.4

Software Version: 6.1-9

[wjp039]

I am so sorry I started with these units over a year ago.  Replaced 3 fine working honeywell thermostats because it said these saved money and offered remote access to adjust.  It took me at least 6 different nest thermostats to get 3 working units.  Then after 6 months one lost wifi and cannot reconnect despite all the corrective actions.  Tried to replace that one today, and now the new unit has "Thermostat Shutting Down" infinite loop.   These things are awful.   WORST of all, my AC bills were higher, despite the avg temperature being lower.   Get me my $850 dollars back, and pay me for all the time spent online troubleshooting.  What a losing proposition.  No major retailer and no power company should offer these devices.  They are no reliable and have false claims.  Terrible!

[4LbTestTrilene]

Sorry to hear your troubles, but at the least you have found the right emotional support group (considering how much Google seems to NOT care about this, but also people willing to join  your class action if you find a lawyer who will raise one).  

I guess tech items are always gifts that keeps on giving.  The best of them surprise us with features we had not noticed, that improve our lives, reliability like a rock and steady improvements without regression over time, while the worst almost always feel like a stinking pile of turds from the get go and then just keep sneaking up to remind us how awful they are as features once working fail, as integrations cease to integrate, automations cease to automate and devices just die or stop working, all the while support seem to mainly exist to create the veneer of the company giving a dang so that we WON"T SUE.  Google has made a master class out of this.

I think the lesson here, at least for me, has been to really exercise devices early, trying every feature, all the while listening to your instincts, your smell-o-meter, for any whiff of sewage early, seeking out warning signs so you can bail quickly, returning things for your money back from the retailer if you can.  This not only so you can annul that bad marriage before it sticks to you, but because there is still that one wonderful product, the glorious and wonderful gift that keeps getting better, still out there for you to find.

For me, I tried Google/Nest, Apple Homekit, and Alexa, all with IFTTT, with 3rd party hardware from Phillips, GE, KasaSmart and more... and I did indeed find one head and shoulders above the rest... and it surprised me.  I have always looked at tech companies as "good guys" and "bad guys." Because of their shadowy opaque tracking and selling of our data, I always felt Google does indeed do evil all the time and they prove me right again in this case.  Apple? They used to be the good guys, but the days of the intuitive learning interface, rock solid and airtight hardware, a massive commitment to education, and great great support are... not so much gone as well... as Galadriel would say... "diminished." Apple Home's poor ability to add new devices and keep them added, to offer meaningful automations, etc... just make it underwhelming, a sad disappointment that seems to foretell only more to come.  Sure it's better with HomeBridge, but should we be required to buy 3rd party hardware to get the basic integration and function from our central smart home app?  No. And yet, and perhaps just for me at least, Alexa just keeps getting better all the time as Amazon keeps adding new brand devices, integrations and skills, all the while not yet in years allowing any existing features to regress... so they are making me at least... far happier than anyone else.  Who'd have thought.  I always put Jeff Bezos in the "bad guys" column, but maybe Amazon the company has little to do with that space cowboy and more to do with the people who have been keeping me happy since the 90's, first buying books and CD's, then DVD's, then... everything... with constantly stellar customer service. So, maybe I'll rethink that altogether.  Certainly for smart home, they make me happier than anyone else right now and have been for a few years running.

Sorry. I opined. 😉

[drazalyeu]

Called. Talked to support. Getting a replacement unit. Good luck. 

[drazalyeu]

I am having the same issue. Today the thermostat stopped connecting. And have tried all of the above things to resolve it. So what do we do now?

[drazalyeu]

Called Nest support. Spent 15 minutes with Mark. Google is sending a replacement unit. 

Thank you. 

[huyhoang]

I had the same problem. My Nest warranty expires 6 months ago but they still send me a replacement for free. The replacement worked great. I had it for 3 weeks now.

[Shb419]

What did you say to get them to to replace it?

[EdDias]

I'm having the same isue, 4th thermostat so far with the exact same problem.

[cyford]

I am having the same issue.   has anyone found a fix for this?

[Mike-KC]

Replacing it with an Ecobee worked for me. 🙂

Nest support didn't have a better solution for this issue. They actually suggested I just live with a broken smart thermostat because it partially worked still (as a dumb thermostat)

[LDWillis]

Same as everyone else, had it 3 years, Google support a joke as expected. Luckily still finds the router but doesn’t stay connected for long. Getting a new broadband supplier in 2 weeks so will see what happens then. Any suggestions for a reliable alternative? Refuse to buy another when clearly they are defective and won’t honour a replacement. 

[Mike-KC]

We are very happy with our Ecobee.
Ours acted like yours for a while - it would sometimes get connected for a bit before losing it again.
Then it stopped connecting at all.

[EdDias]

My warranty has run out, so no more swaps. If the 3 swap units all failed in the same manner, I guess it’s time to try a more reliable $300 thermostat. Shame, expected more from google. 

[JVIAM]

I'm having same problem, I have not changed my wifi nor my password and yet it says it can't connect.

[imacexplosion]

We are having a same issue. Our nest suddenly can't find Wifi and connect. Not sure if it's the firmware issue or something else. Only solution is to get a replacement if you are still within a warranty, or buy something else if you are out of warranty. I am so tired of this piece of junk.

[LDWillis]

Disconnected mine. I see Screwfix are now offering 3 year warranty and 5 year with a nest pro installer' although when I bought ours in 2019 it was 2 year regardless. So obviously realising it's garbage. I've disconnected the WiFi for now until I can be bothered to buy another. By the time I buy a different one and get it wired in it will cost much more. The key is to blag a fault and replacement before the warranty runs out on the next one.

[blargg]

Now my nest completely died. No display. I opened it and manually charged the battery to a green blinking light, but still nothing. C-wire is connected and has 24V AC on it as it should. This is the thermostat that new out of the box earlier this year never worked over WiFi (and never did over its short life). Had to connect my old thermostat, which works fine (including the C wire). Total garbage.

[Pepto]

Ive had the same issue for weeks now, and mine just went over 13 months. The wifi turns off and it sees networks - attempting to connect to any network causes it to crash and restart immediately. After it restarts all the wifi networks are not visible until you hard reset the thermostat and the loop starts again.

My thermostat is not even usable in manual mode because without weather data, it does not know how to use a heatpump and aux electric furnace together. Any temperature set over 70F automatically uses AUX heater regardless of the temperature outside, cranking up my heat bill.

Ive factory reset it, even replaced the battery in it, and nothing changed. My thermostat has plenty of power in the battery so its not shutting off wifi because of low battery.

Never buying Nest again if it will just die after 1-2 years for $250

[huyhoang]

Call them and they will send you a replacement. I bought mine more than 3 years ago and they still replace ít for free.

[LDWillis]

Do you have a contact number I've tried emailing and live chat and no such luck.

[huyhoang]

I called them. I don't remember which number I called but it was a quick 15' call and the replacement was on the way. Try (855) 469-6378.

[fobofrau]

Unfortunately I am in the same boat. WiFi connectivity crapped out just beyond the 2 year warranty. It only now acts similar to a dumb mechanical thermostat that would cost a fraction thereof and last decades....

Reset does not do any difference. Bought the cheaper Wifi thermostat on a Black Friday deal.

That's a expensive item to write off after less then 2 years!!

[Chazz]

Still an issue. I too was told after 2 hours "troubleshooting" with Google support it is broken and I need to buy a new one.

[ewirth]

Same issue. About 2-2.5 years old and it just stopped connecting to Wi-Fi. After reading the responses, seems useless to contact support. Moved it to my basement and I’ll just leave it there. Only issue is, I need to replace it with a similar one since the one I took from the basement can’t connect to separate heating and cooling systems. Wonder how long the other 2 thermostats last before they stop connecting to Wi-Fi. Totally the reason I went with these and to have all the same brand accessories (cameras, smoke detectors, thermostats)

[TheFoozlesnorf]

Just got asurion home protection through Verizon. And they just accepted the claim no problem and refunding me the money back. Will post an update when I actually see the check come in and if they charge me a deductible or not. Might be an option for you all.

[PJS459]

I am having the no Wi-Fi problem with a 3 month old google nest 3rd gen thermostat. It started going off line but you could get it back. Now nothing. I’ve done everything. Eversource marketplace is replacing it.

[Chazz]

Costco replaced mine. After an hour and a half in chat with Google support they said, out of warranty, sorry.

[Cincode]

I have the same trouble. 2 others in the home work fine for now.  I guess I’ll have to break out the old thermostat. These Nest’s are only worth it if, initially you get deep discounts from your energy supplier.

[Chazz]

Recently that energy discount gave providers the means to turn down the heater during a peak usage time. Makes you question if it's worth the rebate.  Replacement unit is working well.

[Jastroud]

Having the exact same issue.  Started a couple of weeks ago.  Tried every step here, even purchased a NEW router.  Everything g else in the home connects flawlessly- the thermostat can’t even SEE the network.  So frustrating.  

Purchased this spring through Duke Power rebate program.  Didn’t even last a year.  

[PJS459]

Your power company gives you a year replacement. Nest 3rd gen has 3 year warranty. I went through the same thing but I have 3 more nest thermostats in the house. They are fine. This one has defective Wi-Fi. Along with other issues. Google was going to replace it but my power company took care of it. Get it replaced for free it’s a known issue.

[Runs-with-elk]

Ditto - my unit can't find ANY network now. Worked fine yesterday.

[PJS459]

Get them to replace it 

[CLASSACTIONNEED]

Same problem. Network find is bricked, obvious manufactuer defect, out of warranty, customer service says buy another.

Found out this is massive consumer fraud and scam called planned obsolescence.

Google/nest sent out a faulty firmware update with flawed code which has effectively bricked millions of units. So they break the product we paid for and, as a containment strategy, will only remedy the devices that are still under warranty.

None of this aligns with their phony corporate leadership principles. 

I will live the rest of my life without purchasing another Google product - EVER! Same goes for my family. Short of a needed class action lawsuit, they can expect a waive of WOMM from me.

What a scam and consumer ripoff! Do better!

[PJS459]

Third gen has 3year warranty. Make sure you get someone who knows what they are talking about. Trust me. They will replace.

[rawnc]

Third Gen has a 2 year warranty...not 3. Check for yourself...scroll down. I just had this very conversation with their support not 15 minutes ago. And they will only replace if the issue falls within the 2 year window of the ORIGINAL purchase. I only mention that because my original one failed after 18 months and my replacement failed in under 12 months. Because that is outside of 24 months...they wouldn't replace. 

[vibeconst]

Same issue, after working for few months. Unfortunately self installed (DYI BIG selling point for Google products, no?), so no warranty. Totally disgusted by Google and the support for their products. Definitely looking first at alternative before, if ever, considering Nest products. Not joking, changing even my default search engine.

[PJS459]

Nest 3rd gen has 3 years. Make sure you get someone who knows what they’re talking about at support. They will replace. I self installed many of these. I have 4 in my house the newest one failed. I purchased through Eversource utility. Both google and utility said they would replace I had the utility replace so my warranty started over.

[rawnc]

Smart to buy through your electrical company...if the warranty starts over. Because you buy from Google or Lowe's that isn't the case. They stick to the ORIGINAL purchase for that. I just had this conversation with their support. Also...its 2 years...not 3...on the Gen 3. See attached. 

[aresz]

I've been having the same issue. Was working fine for about 2.5 years and then it suddenly stopped connecting to the app and never connecting to a network.