Nest Doorbell Camera Keeps Going Offline? (Quick FIXES!)

Whenever the Nest doorbell camera keeps going offline, it could be a significant problem for the security of your home or office.

In most cases, such an issue originates due to the doorbell’s power supply, Wi-Fi setup, and network resources.

This quick guide will help you diagnose and solve the issue in minutes!

Nest Doorbell Camera Keeps Going Offline – Quick Methods!

Note: Have you checked the Wi-Fi status of the Nest doorbell within the Home/Nest app?

1. Soft Reset the Doorbell Through the App

The Nest doorbell feed could be repeatedly going offline due to a non-lasting issue that can be resolved by performing a soft reset through the Google Home app.

This method reconnects the Nest doorbell to Wi-Fi by relaunching all of the network services.

So, open the Google Home app on your device, tap Favorites, then select Cameras to access the doorbell live screen, and choose Turn off to power down the camera.

Wait for roughly ~10 seconds, then tap Turn on to restart the Nest doorbell and prompt the device to reconnect.

Note: You can check the Wi-Fi status of the Nest doorbell through the live screen in the app!

2. Reconnect the Doorbell to Wi-Fi Manually

To reconnect your Nest doorbell with Wi-Fi, you must first uninstall the device profile from the application and add it again.

This procedure avoids factory resetting your Nest doorbell, at least for now, and preserves all of the sensitive device information.

Here’s how to reconnect the Nest doorbell manually:

• Sign in to the Nest app and tap Menu if you have multiple homes.
• Go to Settings on the home screen and select the Nest Doorbell.
• Next, scroll down, choose Remove [Nest Doorbell], and confirm.
• Tap Add Product, and then Nest Doorbell, to scan the QR code.
• Now, choose the Wi-Fi network and enter the password to connect.

We recommend testing the Nest doorbell on the alternative Wi-Fi of your network (if you have a dual-band router) to determine if the doorbell would still lose connection. 

Note: Both hardwired and battery-operated Nest doorbell products support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz!

3. Eliminate Wireless (Wi-Fi) Nest Interference

Perhaps, an unstable Wi-Fi signal could result in congestion of the wireless channels or even physical barriers to the connection.

So, optimizing your network ensures the doorbell connects without any errors and, most importantly, stays connected.

Here are several tips to improve the Wi-Fi coverage:

• Relocate the router closer to the doorbell or, if possible, vice versa.
• Dislocate all wireless devices close to your router or Nest doorbell.
• Avoid using any Wi-Fi extenders or other network equipment types.
• Try switching the doorbell between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Note: If interference was not the case either, then ZontSound recommends inspecting the usage of your network (available bandwidth).

4. Reduce the Network Resource Usage

An increase in your network load could be another reason why the Nest doorbell keeps going offline, regardless of the Wi-Fi signal, distance, or any other factors. 

We have prepared several ways to reduce the bandwidth consumption of your network, to make more resource-wise space for the Nest doorbell.

4.1 Reboot the Network Router

Unplug the router for ~30 seconds, then reconnect it to conduct a power cycle, like we did with the doorbell.

We also recommend checking whether your router is overheating, which could be potentially impacting the Wi-Fi consistency.

4.2 Reduce the Network Load

Remove unnecessary devices from your Wi-Fi to reduce resource consumption and ensure the current 2.4 GHz/5 GHz band has enough capacity for the Nest Doorbell.

This helps prevent the camera’s connection from timing out during and after pairing. 

4.3 Check the WPA/WPA2 Encryption

Well, enabling WPA/WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is better for wireless devices because it provides significantly improved security compared to older or open networks.

This can quickly resolve potential conflicts caused by other devices on the network.

To enable the protected access, you’ll need to access your router settings:

• Method #1: Straightforwardly access your router’s GUI through http://192.168.0.1/.
• Method #2: Check for the Default Gateway IP on the bottom of your router (sticker).
• Method #3: Acquire the address by typing “ipconfig” in Command Prompt (CMD).

The default gateway address (e.g., 192.168.0.1) goes into the URL of your browser on a device connected to your router, and directly sends you to the router’s login page.

Then you should use admin/admin or admin/password (default details) to sign in and be able to configure settings.

You should navigate to the Wireless settings to confirm WPA/WPA2 encryption is enabled, as required by your Nest Doorbell.

5. Power Reset the Nest Doorbell Camera

The reception losses can often be addressed by performing a power cycle, a simple reboot that discharges the system without erasing any of the doorbell data. 

The power cycle varies based on whether you have a hardwired or a battery-powered doorbell.

How to Power Cycle a Wired Nest Doorbell:

Use a screwdriver to remove the faceplate of the doorbell and loosen the security screw on the bottom.

Before touching any of the wires, turn off the power at the breaker and carefully remove the “TRANS” and “FRONT/REAR” wires from the doorbell terminals for ~30 seconds. 

How to Power Cycle a Battery Nest Doorbell:

Unplug the Indoor Power Adapter of the Nest Doorbell from the power source and wait for approximately 10 seconds until the system fully discharges.

Check the status of the doorbell within the Google Home app to verify if the doorbell is reconnected. 

Alert: The internal battery of a wireless Nest doorbell cannot be accessed for replacement.

6. Migrate the Nest Doorbell to Another App

The connection loss problem might be related to using an incompatible app, as the settings differ between the Nest doorbell models.

For example, older wired doorbells use the Nest app, while newer battery models (even if hardwired) rely on the Google Home app. 

Using the “Migrate” function within the Google Home or Nest app and following the instructions to transfer your doorbell might resolve the Wi-Fi connection problem.

Google Home App Migration (Battery Models):

Launch the Google Home app, select your device, and ensure the app is updated and linked to your current Google email.

Set the notifications to “Allowed” and go to “Settings” → “Transfer”. You will either receive a message or have to initiate the transfer manually.

Nest App Migration (Older Wired Models):

Open the Nest app to adjust settings and notifications under “Options,” then test the doorbell, double-check if the app is updated to the most current OS.

Navigate to “About” → “Transfer” to initiate the migration to the Google Home app.

Alert: All currently configured settings of the Nest doorbell will be erased after the migration!

7. Update/Reinstall the Google Home/Nest App

Another cause for the problem is an outdated or corrupted Google Home or Nest app.

This could disrupt the camera’s ability to connect reliably with the network, due to the consistent firmware update requests issued by Google. 

So, updating the app or even reinstalling can be quite helpful, in case there is corrupted data or other permanent damage to the file structure.

7.1 How to Update the Google Home or Nest App:

• Open the Google Play Store on Android or App Store on iOS and search for Google Home or Nest.
• Tap Update if a newer OS version is available, then open the app to test if the camera stays online.

7.2 How to Reinstall the Google Home or Nest App:

• Long-press the Google Home or Nest app icon on your iOS/Android, then select Uninstall (Android) or Remove this app (iOS).
• Download the application again through the Google Play Store/App Store, re-add the doorbell, and reapply all of the network settings.

Note: You will be prompted to set up the camera initially after uninstalling the app.

8. Reset the Nest Doorbell to Factory Defaults

If the Nest doorbell camera keeps going offline, after trying all of the ZontSound solutions we have prepared for you so far, the last thing left to try is a factory reset. 

This process erases all content, settings, and data from your Nest doorbell and reverts the device to factory default settings, as it was during the initial setup. 

8.1 How to Factory Reset a Battery-Powered Nest Doorbell:

• Remove the doorbell from the holder using the release tool.
• Locate the Reset pinhole below the USB port on the back.
• Press and hold the reset button in the pinhole for 5 seconds.
• Wait for the light to turn solid white and test the functionality.

8.2 How to Factory Reset a Wired Nest Doorbell:

• Unplug the terminals and remove the wired doorbell from the holder.
• Detach the device from the wall mount and examine the back panel.
• Now, locate the Reset pinhole above the QR code on the rear-end.
• Use a pin or paperclip to press the reset button inside the pinhole.

Note: Both wired and hardwired doorbells indicate the factory reset identically.