Why Nest Doorbell Won’t Connect To Google Home? (Fixed!)
We know how frustrating it must be when your Nest doorbell won’t connect to Google Home, considering that this is the first thing expected from you as a customer.
Well, don’t worry–even with the best doorbell brands such as Nest, the setup process does not go smoothly every time.
However, we’re here to help! We have prepared a few solutions for you to try, but first, let’s start with the most important…
How To Connect Nest Doorbell to Google Home? (Correctly)
If you can’t get your Nest doorbell connected to the Google Home app, the first thing is to verify that you’re doing the process correctly.
Here are the steps to connect any Nest doorbell to Google Home:
- Charge your Nest doorbell if you have a wireless unit.
- Then, ensure that the status light appears solid white.
- Open the Google Home app on the connection device.
- Press the “+” (plus) symbol at the top “Setup Device”.
- Choose “New Devices” and then select your location.
▶ The Google Home app will attempt to automatically discover your doorbell. If the Google Home app fails, it’ll ask you to specify which device you have.
If you’re doing a manual setup after the automatic detection failed, choose “Nest Doorbell” and proceed with scanning the QR code on the doorbell.
When you scan the QR code, you will be prompted to complete the setup within the Google Home app.
Note: The QR code can be found on the back side of the Nest doorbell unit.
Nest Doorbell Won’t Connect To Google Home – 6 Solutions!
Note: Have you tried closing and re-opening the Google Home app?
1. Soft Reset Nest Doorbell (No Data Loss)
When your Nest Doorbell refuses to connect with the Google Home app, a power cycle should be your first step, since, instinctively, a restart often helps.
This method is completely safe, as no settings or configurations will be erased, only the power will be withdrawn for a system restart.
Here’s how to power cycle each Nest Doorbell model:
The trick is to cut the power to the doorbell off for about a minute, and then turn the doorbell on.
When you’re ready, follow the instructions from earlier in the guide to connect to Google Home.
If you’re unsuccessful, keep reading…
2. Verify your Google Home Device Wi-Fi
One of the reasons why the Nest doorbell is not connecting to Google Home is that the internet on your smartphone.
You’re almost certainly using Wi-Fi, which, if not intact, can derail the connection process and most likely prevent the app from discovering the Nest doorbell during the setup.
There are a few important steps to undertake:
2.1: Check Wi-Fi Strength
Head to your phone’s main screen and check the Wi-Fi indicator at the top of the screen—1 bar means the signal is weak, 2 bars is middling, and 3 bars is strong.
If the signal is weak, maybe you’re too far away from the router or the Wi-Fi signal can’t reach, which will not only cause connection problems or offline issues, but also impact the doorbell’s performance later.
2.2: Stop the Mobile Data
If you have your Mobile Data 3G, 4G, or 5G enabled, and your Wi-Fi is dropping out every now and then, your phone could be “jumping” from data to Wi-Fi.
This surely disturbs the connection process of your Nest doorbell, so disable the mobile data until your Nest doorbell is connected.
2.3: Use the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
If you’re using a 5 GHz Wi-Fi, be informed that this Wi-Fi frequency is much more susceptible to interference when compared to the 2.4 GHz.
So, we strongly recommend using the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band for important processes, such as pairing the Nest doorbell to the Google Home app.
Important: Verify that your smartphone has no Airplane or other suspension modes activated!
3. Sign OUT and IN your Google Account
A very quick and easy way to bypass potential glitches with the Google Home app is to sign out and in to your Google account in the Google Home app.
Yes, it’s that easy, and it works in many cases!
- To sign out of the Google Home app, tap on your profile icon, select “Manage accounts on this device”, then choose ”Remove from this device” and “Remove”.
When you’re ready to sign back in, tap on the “Get started” button at the bottom, sign in to your account, and try to connect your Nest doorbell.
If it doesn’t work, don’t panic and keep reading!
4. Reinstall the Google Home Application
If you’re still unable to connect your Nest doorbell to the Google Home app, the problem may be on a software level, related to the application.
Hence, a clean reinstallation guarantees that you will get a fresh copy of the Home software and, most importantly, an up-to-date application build.
For Androids:
To uninstall the Google Home app on Android, open the Google Play Store, tap on your profile, and select “Manage apps and devices”, then “Manage”.
From there, all you need to do is find the “Home” app, tap the “Uninstall” button to remove it, and then Install” the app cleanly on your smartphone.
For iPhones:
If you’re using an iPhone, to remove the app from the device completely, you need to find, press, and hold the Google Home App icon from the main screen.
Then, you only need to select “Remove App” and then “Delete” to confirm. When ready, you can download the latest version of the app through the App Store.
Important: Allow ALL Permissions!
It’s crucial to press “Allow” or “Yes” upon ALL the prompts that appear after opening the Google Home app for the first time after the reinstallation.
If you don’t provide application access to your location, for example, or network settings, the Home app will be unable to find the Nest doorbell.
5. Try Setting It Up on a Different Device
If you’re unable to connect the Nest doorbell to the Google Home app on your device, you can narrow down the circle of possibilities by trying out a different device.
Well, the ideal scenario is to try with a different operating system to justify the issue.
If you’ve been using an iPhone, try pairing the Nest doorbell to the Google Home app on an Android device or vice versa.
We understand that you may not have another device to test with, so if that’s the case, just go on with the next method and reset the doorbell…
6. Reset Nest Doorbell to Factory Defaults
If your Nest doorbell won’t connect to Google Home, despite all previous solutions, a factory reset might be the last option you’ve got to try.
This reset, however, erases ALL content, data, and configurations of your Nest doorbell, so make sure you back up anything you want to restore later.
Nest Doorbell (battery)
Find the reset pinhole below the USB port on the back, then grab a paperclip or a toothpick to press and hold for ~12 seconds.
You’ll see the yellow light blink 4 times, then go steady yellow with a confirmation tone, signaling it’s time to release the button.
Nest Doorbell 2nd Gen (wired)
Find the reset pinhole above the QR code on the back, use a pointy object to reach in and press and hold for ~12 seconds.
Wait for a yellow light to blink 4 times, and after the countdown tone, you can eject the object from the pinhole to complete the reset.
Nest Doorbell (wired)
Remove the faceplate from its base using the release tool in the bottom hole (or a paperclip), then hold down the reset pin near the top for ~10 seconds.
The doorbell should chime, spin in blue, flash yellow, then turn off, which is the sign to release the button.
Reminder: When the Nest doorbell is factory reset, follow the instructions at the beginning of this guide to connect the product to the Google Home app correctly.
If you still can’t get your Nest doorbell paired to the Google Home app, get in touch with Google Nest Help for additional assistance.
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.
