Remove Nest Thermostat Temporarily from Base Plate Without Turning Of Electricity?

[SS627]

I have moved into a new home that has a 3rd generation Nest Thermostat already installed. I now want to reprogram it so that I can use it and set up a schedule for it, which I had done with the same generation of Nest Thermostat in my previous home. From what I can determine via looking online, I need to remove the Nest Thermostat from the base plate in order to get a code that is on the back of the thermostat since the previous owners no longer have the box for that thermostat, which would have had that information.  My question is, do I need to turn off the electricity to the thermostat just to remove it temporarily from the base plate so I can read that code? And, to remove it, do I just pull it straight out from the base plate or is there a process of removing it, i.e, needing to turn it left or right, etc., in order to remove it?

[David_K · Accepted solution]

If it's a 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat, you do not need to remove it from its base plate. Try these steps:

1. Factory reset the thermostat.
2. If you haven’t already, download the Nest app on a phone or tablet.
3. On the Nest app home screen, tap the Settings cog.
4. Tap Add product. The app will switch to a camera view to scan the thermostat’s QR code.
5. On the thermostat, press it to open the quick view menu and tap the Settings cog.
6. Turn the ring to select Nest app and press to open it.
7. Select QR code. Your thermostat will show you a unique QR code to scan with the app. If it doesn't, tap Continue without scanning in the app and select Get entry key on your thermostat instead.
8. Follow the remaining steps in the Nest app.

[SS627]

Super! Just the information I was looking for. Using the factory reset resolved my problem. Thanks so, so much, David_K!