Google Nest Doorbell Not Sending Notifications? (Fixed!)

If you have noticed that your recently-installed Nest doorbell is not sending notifications, it is certainly unusual for a high-end doorbell such as Nest.

It could be due to the in-app settings, the notification rules of your smartphone, or even the firmware version of the Home or Nest app.

Read further into the guide to discover expert solutions!

Nest Doorbell Not Sending Notifications – Proven Solutions!

Note: Have you tried power cycling the doorbell at the breaker or by removing the batteries?

1. Adjust the Nest Notification Settings

To receive push alerts from the Google Home or Nest application, the notifications must be enabled for both the application itself and in the doorbell settings.

The first step is to check if all types of push alerts/notifications are enabled, including security alerts and motion detection.

1.1 How to Enable In-App Notifications:

• Open the Google Home app on your phone and select your Nest doorbell device.
• Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to access settings and go to Notifications.
• Enable all notification types, including motion, people, and package push alerts.
• Save the changes and test by triggering a motion event to confirm that alerts appear.

1.2 How to Enable Phone App Notifications:

• For iOS: Go to Settings → Notifications, find the Google Home app, and set the Allow Notifications rule to “ON”.
• For Android: Open Settings → Apps & Notifications → See all apps, select Google Home, and tap Notifications to modify the settings.

After enabling, move in front of the camera to start a motion recording event and check if there will be a push alert on your connected smartphone. 

2. Use the Correct Application for the Doorbell

The doorbell notification settings depend on the correct app based on the respective model. 

Older wired doorbells use the Nest app, while newer battery models (even if hardwired) rely on the Google Home application to function properly and send notifications to the user’s smartphone.

Here’s what you should know about which app to use:

Google Home App Use (Battery Models):

So, for newer battery-powered Nest doorbells, even if hardwired, open the Google Home app, select your doorbell, and set the notifications to “Allowed”.

Ensure the application is up-to-date and that the doorbell is registered with your current Google email address.

Nest App Use (Older Wired Models):

As for the older wired Nest doorbells, launch the Nest app to manage settings and adjust the notifications accessible under “Options”.

Then, test the doorbell after configuring settings in the correct mobile application, and do not forget to verify that the Nest app is also up-to-date.

Note: If you are using the incorrect application, use the app migration “Transfer” function available in both the Nest and Google Home apps.

3. Temporarily Deactivate the Activity Zones

The activity zones of your Google Nest doorbell can sometimes disrupt the notifications by limiting alerts to specific areas.

So, our advice at ZontSound is to temporarily deactivate the activity zones and determine if your camera sends the correct push alerts. 

This process differs depending on whether you are using the Google Home app (for battery models) or the Nest app (for older wired models).

3.1 How to Deactivate Activity Zones in Google Home:

• Open the Google Home app, then tap Favorites or Devices to find your camera.
• Select the problematic doorbell and head to Settings → Events → Seen Events.
• Next, edit the zone by temporarily removing all of the selected detection fields.

3.2 How to Deactivate Activity Zones in the Nest App:

• Open the Nest app and select the doorbell with the Activity Zone.
• Next, tap Settings, then choose Activity Zones from the options.
• Select the zone, delete all of the selected squares, and then save.

Note: Do not re-assign the activity zones until the cause of the problem is diagnosed. 

4. Check the Home/Away & Wi-Fi Settings

If the Nest doorbell no notifications issue persists, it could be due to misconfigured Home/Away Assist or Wi-Fi settings.

Adjusting these settings in the Google Home or Nest app ensures that you will consistently receive notifications and that your doorbell is securely connected.

4.1 Home/Away Settings (Google Home):

• Open the Google Home app, access the doorbell settings, and turn off Home/Away Assist to receive all of the notifications and push alerts.

4.2 Home/Away Settings (Nest App):

• Launch the Nest app, navigate to the Nest doorbell settings, and deactivate Home/Away Assist to activate all of the natively enabled alerts on your phone and app.

4.3 Wi-Fi Settings (Google Home):

• In the Google Home app, access the Device Settings and temporarily use the “Change Wi-Fi” function if your doorbell is currently not connected. 

4.4 Wi-Fi Settings (Nest App):

• Open the Nest app, access the settings of your doorbell, check if the connection status is active, and reconnect the doorbell via the Wi-Fi function. 

Note: An Unstable Wi-Fi connection could frequently disconnect the doorbell and prevent it from sending alerts.

5. Update or Uninstall the Doorbell Application

An outdated or corrupted version of the Google Home or Nest app might be preventing the doorbell from sending notifications to your phone.

So, the next step is to first update the app, test the notifications, and if nothing happens, reinstall the respective platform cleanly. 

5.1 Update the Google Home or Nest App

Open the Google Play Store on Android or App Store on iOS, search for Google Home or Nest, and tap Update if a newer version is available.

After updating, launch the app and test notifications to confirm if the update resolved the issue.

5.2 Reinstall the Google Home or Nest App

Uninstall the app on your iOS/Android by long-pressing the homepage icon and selecting Uninstall (Android) or Remove this app (iOS).

Then, reinstall the application and sign back in with your Google account to re-add the doorbell and test the notifications.

Note: Reapply all of the settings we have discussed earlier in the guide before testing. 

6. Test On a Public Preview Enrollment

Note: This feature is only available in the latest version of the Google Home application!

If the issue is still there, you can use the Enroll feature in the Google Home Public Preview program to gain access to beta features.

Some users reported that beta testing on the newest version of the Google Home app resolved underlying issues with the notifications.

In the Google Home app, navigate to Settings → Public Preview → Enroll, then wait about an hour until the enrollment is approved.

If prompted, accept the option to migrate your camera to Home to enable the updated features. 

7. Deregister the Doorbell From the App

Perhaps, there is an issue with the device profile of your doorbell, which leads to consistent problems with the notifications management.

For the next step, ZontSound recommends removing the doorbell profile manually and then re-adding it.

7.1 How to Deregister from the Google Home App:

• Open the Google Home app and select your Nest doorbell.
• Tap the gear icon in the corner to access device settings.
• Scroll to the bottom and press Remove device for removal.
• Now, confirm the removal when prompted by the application.

7.2 How to Deregister from the Nest App:

• Press Menu if you have multiple homes within the Nest application.
• Go to the app home screen, tap Settings, and select your doorbell.
• Scroll down, tap Remove [product name], and confirm your choice.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the removal of the Nest.

Note: Use the “Add Device” function in either the Home or Nest app to re-add the doorbell.

8. Factory Reset the Nest Doorbell System

In case the Nest doorbell is not sending notifications after attempting all of the steps so far, a factory reset is one of the most effective solutions you can try.

However, keep in mind that all settings of the doorbell will be restored to default values permanently after the reset. 

If you are confident about your doorbell losing all of its data, locate the Reset pinhole on the back of the Nest doorbell, insert a sharp object, and hold for about 10 seconds.

Then, remove the doorbell from the app and wait for another 1–2 minutes before registering it again. 

Note: Contact Google Nest Help for professional assistance if you are still having issues.