Nest thermostat gen 4 display very dim

[Exempt]

I bought three nest gen 4 thermostats to replace 3 gen 3s. The gen 3s were bright, vibrant and had a brightness setting so customers could adjust brightness to their needs. It appears google removed that and replaced it with a sensor that automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient light. Unfortunately, this is defective and the display is way too dim under normal daytime light conditions and virtually unreadable during nighttime lighting conditions (in the living room at night). When looking at the display, it also randomly increases and decreases brightness as i am looking at it. What really hurts is that all the advertisements for this thermostat show a very bright and vibrant display, which, under all lighting conditions, I have not even come close to getting.

My question is:

Is there a brightness setting I am missing or an I stuck with this very dim display?

Is google aware of this problem, and if so, do they plan to issue a software update to fix it?

I do not want to return these thermostas, but if this can not be fixed, I feel I will have no choice.

[kelanfromgoogle · Accepted solution]

Hey everyone,

We’ve started to roll out a software update to optimize how your Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) automatically adjusts screen brightness to deliver improved readability based on your environment. We’ve also added a new manual brightness adjustment to give you more control. All Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) devices will get this update automatically in the coming weeks.

To access the new manual brightness setting, go to the Settings Menu on your Nest Learning Thermostat, select Device Settings, then Display Brightness, and select Auto or Manual. If you select Manual, you can customize the brightness of your Thermostat.

 If you'd like to learn more, please visit this page on our Help Center.

[Exempt]

Also I do not have a c wire. Does anyone know if hooking up the c wire will allow thermostat to increase brightness since it will have a dedicated power wire?

[ShanxTV]

I have it hooked up with the c wire and it did not make a difference, its so dim its ridiculous.   I already submitted a return.  

[Exempt]

Thank you...I returned mine as well. Amazon rating for this device is down to 2.8. Virtually everyone is complaining and returning device because of this dim display.

[Paulrybicki83]

I’m having the same problem. Installed it yesterday and couldn’t believe how dim it is. 

[Andrew20082007]

The display is so dim that it feels like a downgrade I honestly might switch back to the third GEN

[jj467731]

Same here how is there no setting for the brightness 

[Lonerdottie]

I just installed the 4th gen yesterday as well. The screen seems to dim.

[Exempt]

Something new happening now. Had no problem with the gen1 and 3 but the gen 4 is causing my taco sr504 relay for the boiler to start clicking on and off constantly when it is drawing power. I think I have had enough. Going to return gen 4 and put 3 back on line. Google I should have known...

[Exempt]

Returned gen 4s today. If google thinks I am going to pay almost $300 a pop to have a machine tell me what brightness I get on my device the are mistaken. Another fun fact in order to access your payment information on Google play you need TWO devices now. If I log in with my phone it sends a code to my tablet that I have to enter in my phone. You can't make this stuff up. Google is going to dictate and security them selves right out of business if they keep this craziness up.

[mikeharing72]

It’s frustrating when an upgrade feels like a downgrade in key areas. Hopefully, Google addresses this in a future update—brightness control solar energy solutions is something they shouldn’t have overlooked.

[Wakomako1232]

Why couldn't Google just give us a brightness setting for the screen? Completely silly. 

The screen is too dim in my living room. 

[Petersonjandrew]

Glad I’m not alone here, the default display brightness is unacceptable. Better be a fix in future updates! 

[hrmcdona]

I’m very close to returning as well. The home app UI scheduling interface is so tedious compared to the old app and now I can barely even read the screen of the device itself.

If there is no update in a week or two I’m shipping this back.

[Paulrybicki83]

Same here. I’m giving it two weeks

[Exempt]

Funny I am a software programmer and even I had a little trouble withe scheduling interface! Lol

[jacobc1983]

Please increase the brightness or add a brightness adjustment to this thermostat.  It is too dim to be useful at the moment.  Especially if you are looking at it off angle.

Thanks!

[shadownoz88]

Completely agree. The screen is far too dim. Feels like a downgrade in that regard. 

[jdmvette]

Just got mine tonight and immediately noticed this problem.   It's going to be returned to BB if there's nothing we can do about this ridiculous oversight

[Ms86]

Same here! I thought it was defective. Glad I'm not the only one. Google, please fix asap!!!

[denis_miami_305]

Replaced two Gen 3 nests with Gen 4s and am very disappointed that there is no brightness setting. Google, please address this issue with a software update as soon as possible.

[JSPastorek]

Way too dim. Needs blue/red (cooling/heating) ring or other bright color indicator to show system is running.  

[cbrooks28]

I really was surprised at how dim it is compared to the previous gen. Amazing there is no setting for this. Hope you’re listening Google! Software update needed. 

[jdmvette]

I am seeing the same issues with mine too having a dim display.  Wtf this thing will be returned if this isn't updated

[saronian]

I would also like to see a brighter display. Shine a flashlight on the thermostat and the display will brighten. So it's capable and should be easy to fix with a quick software update.

[PlatypusNed]

Imagine not adding a brightness setting to a new device in 2024. Google, get it together. Please add this setting soon.

[Exempt]

Not sure if this will help or this amazon link to this nest 4 thermostate will show, but you can add a review to bring more attention to this dim display.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5BBYRJM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

[kelanfromgoogle]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for this feedback. We hear that some of you are having challenges with brightness in certain lighting. To give you a little more control we're working quickly on a setting to adjust brightness.

In the meantime, I encourage you to contact our support team so we can take a closer look at what's going on. To do so, go ahead and visit this page: https://support.google.com/googlenest/gethelp 

Thanks again,
Kelan

[Wakomako1232]

Awesome! That's all we need and this thing is perfect. 

I'm surprised Google thought nobody would be interested in adjusting their own brightness manually. What a weird decision. 

[PlatypusNed]

Very glad to hear this. The brightness of the display was my only complaint so I'll be perfectly happy once I can increase it.

[Ean]

I'm just more wondering/concerned at how this even passed product testing. 

Was there not even one conversation/feedback along the lines of: 

"Hey, do you think this display might be a little too dim.  (Even if this brightness level was the factory default setting) shouldn't there be an option to adjust it if needed  ? " 

But got the reply reply:  "Nah, this is fine for everyone". 

[Exempt]

Hi kelantan,

Noticed two other problems with thermostat worth mentioning.

1. When farsight is disabled the motion sensing does not work and the thermostat shows customer a black screen when they walk near thermostat. The customer must touch thermostat to activate display. I assume even if farsight is disabled when customer walks near the screen should activate and show something as the gen 3 did.

2. When thermostat is controlled used the home app, and customer lowers or raises the heat the display does not activate and show changes on nest display as the gen 3 did. As with the motion sensor just shows a black screen. This happens if heat is on or off.

[Exempt]

If anyone get the brightness update, can you please post your experience on this thread.

[ShanxTV]

As of now there has been no update rolled out yet.  

[PlatypusNed]

Will do. Hopefully the update rolls out sometime next week.

[ShanxTV]

Hopefully,  I submitted a return,  holding off a little bit longer.  If they fix it great, as I do like it.  However if not then yeah definitely being sent back.  

[Ms86]

https://9to5google.com/2024/08/30/google-nest-learning-thermostat-4th-gen-dim-display/

[Exempt]

Thank you nice to have secondary information supporting change to brightness...

[Exempt]

I guess the word is getting out about the dim display and the upcoming fix.

https://www.androidpolice.com/manual-screen-brightness-controls-are-coming-to-the-4th-gen-nest-learn...

https://www.androidauthority.com/nest-learning-thermostat-dimness-3477077/

[Exempt]

I think I have found another major issue with this thermostat and was hoping other users could help verify it. If you have radiators if you go to the google home app, select your thermostat and the gear in upper right corner then thermostat preferences.

You should see two preheating options, early on (forced hot air fast heating) and true radiant (radiators slow heating). True radiant is shown as off when for our radiator systems it should be on.

Early on is shown as on when it should be off. This means the thermostat thinks we have a fast-heating system instead of slow ones and might not preheat as it should.

So, if others have this error, it appears their software with the google app is not implementing the correct preheating options based on the heating system being selected.

Also, if you turn off early on and turn on true radiant is options to select how many hours to preheat missing? Thanks.

So, my question is if you have radiators is your early on activated and true radiant off? (wrong) or is early on off and true radiant on (correct).

 Thanks...