Nest Camera Troubleshooting

Get your Nest security camera back on duty to protect your home after it stops working. Here are a few common problems with quick fixes.

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A spinning blue circle in the Nest app means the camera can't connect to the app due to poor Wi-Fi network performance or wireless interference. If possible, move your camera closer to the wireless router. Do a factory reset if this doesn't fix the problem.

If the problem persists after setting up the camera again, you may need to contact Google Nest support for a replacement if your camera is still under warranty.

According to Google Nest, you need upload speeds of at least 2 Mbps for the Nest Cam. So if you have four cameras, you need an upload speed of 8 Mbps—and that's on top of requirements for any other devices connected to your home network.

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Check that you're using the latest version of the Nest app (or Google Home app) and that the Nest service is online. If these aren't an issue, follow the troubleshooting steps in the previous section.

You can reset older Nest cameras (Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Dropcam) by removing them from your Nest account in the Nest app—they don’t have physical reset buttons.

There are reset buttons on these models:

• Nest Hello video doorbell (back of unit)
• Nest Cam IQ Indoor (back of unit)
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor (front of unit)

While keeping the camera powered, use a paperclip to press the reset button until the light ring starts spinning blue. Remove the camera from the app.

Nest Cams are always watching for activity, but it's hard to tell when they're recording since that depends on the model and subscription plan. Still, you can tell if someone's watching a Nest Cam's live feed by looking to see if the camera's green LED is flashing.

The newest Nest security cameras record a video event whenever they detect motion—regardless of whether there's a paid Nest Aware subscription:

• Nest Cam (wired)
• Nest Cam (battery)
• Nest Doorbell (battery)

Older models record video events or continuously, depending on the subscription plan you choose.

Start by checking that the smart home camera has power by checking the cord and outlet. If there isn't a problem with the power, try unplugging the unit for 10 seconds before plugging it back in. Wait for the camera to restart. Do a factory reset before setting the Nest product up again in the app if it doesn't restart.

• Nest Cameras Review
• Nest Cam IQ Indoor Security Camera Review
• Nest Hello Doorbell Review
• How to Connect Nest to Google Home
• How to Install Indoor and Outdoor Nest Cameras
• Nest Secure Alarm System Review
• 6 Creative Ways to Hide Your Nest Cam