Why Does Nest Camera Says Offline? – (Here’s How to Fix!)

The Nest camera says offline, and you have no idea why? Well, continue reading this quick guide!
In the majority of cases, a loss of connection includes device profile issues, problems with the app, or incompatible Wi-Fi frequency.
Either way, keep reading to find out more!
How to Know if Nest Camera is Offline?
Upon the reception loss, the Nest camera will display either of the following notifications:
If your Nest camera has either of these symptoms, it’s almost certain that the unit has lost connection to the internet.
Keep reading to identify reliable steps to resolve the issue!
What to Fix When Nest Camera Says Offline – 7 Proven Steps
Note: Have you checked if the camera has powered off or lost electrical supply?
1. Re-add the Nest Camera’s Device Profile

Currently, all of Google’s Nest cameras can be either set up through the Nest or Google Home app, according to the user’s preference.
Perhaps, you’ve misconfigured an important camera setting during the setup and that’s the reason why the status says “Offline.”
1.1 How to Set Up the Nest Camera in the Nest App?
Tap the “Add” button on the homepage of the Nest app and scan the QR code on the back of the camera with the application that launched on your smartphone.
1.2 How to Set Up the Nest Camera in the Google Home?
Open Google Home, tap “Devices” → “Add Google Nest or partner device,” choose the name of the product, and follow the steps to finalize the installation.
Note: Once the setup is complete, you will be able to assign a Wi-Fi network and other details to your Nest camera.
2. Power Cycle the Network Router

Another reason why the Google Nest camera says offline could be related to a network issue.
Performing a power cycle on your network’s router could resolve underlying coverage issues and address problems with the DHCP or IP distribution.
Here’s how to power cycle the network router:
- Optional: Press and hold the router’s “Power” button.
- Disconnect the power adapter from the router’s panel.
- Wait for 30–45 seconds while the unit is disconnected.
- Reconnect the power cable of the router to the outlet.
- Wait for the device to turn on and for the network to start.
Your network will not be available for use before all of the necessary coverage lamps have turned green or have stopped blinking.
Do not check the status of the Nest camera before the router has fully started up, and the network is online.
3. Disengage External Network Equipment

Google recommends avoiding integrating third-party equipment into your network, such as Wi-Fi and network extenders while the Nest camera is connected.
This could result in significant signal interference and cause issues with the reception status of the Nest camera.
So, if you did install an external device that does not originally belong to the ISP’s network, we recommend temporarily setting it off or uninstalling it completely.
Then, attempt to reconnect the Nest camera following the instructions in step #1 and check if the status remains “Online” or switches back to “Offline” again.
4. Reduce the Network’s Bandwidth Usage

Perhaps, the Nest camera says offline because there is no operational bandwidth space left on your network.
Connecting too many devices and increasing the utilization of the network’s resources could cause other devices paired with your network to lose reception.
Here are clever tips to reduce the network’s bandwidth usage:
- Disconnect unused devices from your Wi-Fi network.
- Temporarily prevent network downloading/uploading.
- Distribute the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connections wisely.
- Limit the network cloud syncing and backup features.
- Utilize a bandwidth management and monitoring tool.
With all of these recommendations, you should be able to reduce the network’s utilization by at least half.
Don’t forget to check your network’s downloading and uploading speeds at speedtest.net before and after applying the steps above.
5. Update the OS Version of the Camera App

Whether you use the Nest or Google Home app to connect your camera, it must be updated to the most current OS version.
Otherwise, the camera may start losing connection persistently or most of its functions will become unavailable.
5.1 How to Update the Nest/Home App On Android?
- Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
- Tap on your profile icon to access the settings section.
- Go to “Manage Installed Apps” in the navigation field.
- Locate the Nest or the Google Home app in the menu.
- Check if there’s an “Update” indicator next to the app.
5.2 How to Update the Nest/Home App On iPhone?

- Access the App Store and tap the “My Account” button.
- Scroll to the “Pending updates and release notes” page.
- Locate the Nest or Google Home app in the applications.
- Tap the “Update” button to start the application’s OS update.
Tip: Periodically check for newer versions of the app you use for connecting the Nest camera!
6. Move the Nest to the Opposing Wi-Fi Thread
If the Nest camera offline after all of the steps so far, we recommend testing the camera on the opposing Wi-Fi thread of your network.
This only applies to users who utilize a dual-band Wi-Fi router and have independent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi threads.
How to Know if Nest Supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

While most Google Nest camera products have integrated 5 GHz Wi-Fi support, Google recommends using 2.4 GHz for both indoor and outdoor units.
The primary difference between the two threads is the connection range and Wi-Fi speed.
- 2.4 GHz threads tend to have a larger range in comparison to 5 GHz but weaker signal when it comes to bandwidth transfer.
- 5 GHz threads carry more information and speed but tend to be much heavier in comparison to 2.4 GHz and may have difficulties traveling through obstacles.
So, if you were using 5 GHz until now, switch the Nest camera following the instructions in step #1 to 2.4 GHz or the other way around to test.
7. Reset the Camera to Factory Defaults
A factory reset is a solid resolution for any issues with the Nest camera product.
All you need is a thin instrument, such as a pin or a paperclip that will fit through the camera’s reset pinhole.

To initiate the factory reset, insert the instrument in the “RESET” hole of the camera and hold the internal button for 10–15 seconds.
The camera’s LED should immediately go off once the reset starts and the status within the app will remain “Offline” for another several minutes.
After the procedure is complete, the camera will relaunch and prompt you to undergo the initial setup within the app.
If the camera still says “offline”, don’t hesitate to contact the support team.

Finn Wheatley, a Master’s graduate in Computer Science from UCL, London, honed his skills at small data science consultancies. There, he helped large corporations enhance their data capabilities by deploying cutting-edge machine learning analytics and resolving technical hurdles.