Connect Nest to Google Assistant in three steps

You connect a Nest device to Google Assistant through the Google Home app on your phone. Open the app, tap the plus sign to add a device, select your Nest product from the list, and follow the on-screen prompts to sign in with your Google account and connect to your home Wi-Fi. The whole process takes about five minutes and happens on the same network where your Nest device is already set up.

Once connected, you can control your Nest thermostat, camera, doorbell, or speaker using voice commands through any Google Assistant device in your home — your phone, a Google Home speaker, or a Nest Hub display. You can also control them from the Google Home app itself without speaking.

Key Takeaways

  • You need the Google Home app installed on your phone and a Google account to connect Nest to Google Assistant.
  • The connection happens through the Google Home app, not through a separate Nest app, though some Nest products have their own apps for advanced settings.
  • Once connected, you can control your Nest device by voice from any Google Assistant speaker or display in your home.
  • Your Nest device and your Google Assistant speaker must be on the same Wi-Fi network to work together reliably.

What you need before you start

You need three things: a Google account (the same one you use for Gmail or YouTube), the Google Home app installed on an iPhone or Android phone, and a Nest device that is already set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi. If you have not set up your Nest device yet, do that first using the Nest app or the device's own setup screen — you cannot add it to Google Assistant until it is already on your network.

Your Nest device and your Google Assistant speakers or displays must be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you have a guest network separate from your main network, move the Nest device to your main network before connecting it to Google Assistant.

The step-by-step connection process

Open the Google Home app and tap the plus sign in the top left corner. Select "Set up device" and then "Set up new device in your home." Choose your home from the list if you have more than one, then tap "Have something already set up?" at the bottom of the screen. Search for your Nest device by name — Nest Thermostat, Nest Cam, Nest Hello, or whatever model you own — and tap it when it appears.

Sign in with your Google account when prompted. The app will ask you to confirm that you want to link your Nest device to Google Assistant. Tap "Link" and wait for the confirmation message. Your device should now appear in the Google Home app under the room where you placed it, and you can control it from there or by voice.

If the app cannot find your Nest device, make sure it is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. Restart the device by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again. If it still does not appear, check that your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as the Nest device.

Controlling Nest through voice commands

Once connected, you can speak to any Google Assistant device in your home — a Google Home speaker, Nest Hub, or your phone — and control your Nest device by name. Say "Hey Google, set the thermostat to 72 degrees" or "Hey Google, show me the front door camera" or "Hey Google, turn on the living room lights" if your Nest device controls lights.

The exact commands depend on what your Nest device does. A Nest Thermostat responds to temperature commands. A Nest Cam or Nest Hello doorbell responds to commands to show the feed on a display or to turn recording on and off. A Nest speaker responds to music and volume commands. If a command does not work, try saying it differently — "show the front door" instead of "show the front door camera," for example.

Controlling Nest from the Google Home app

You do not need to speak to control your Nest device. Open the Google Home app, find your device in the list, and tap it to open its control panel. For a thermostat, you can adjust the temperature by dragging a slider or tapping up and down arrows. For a camera, you can tap to view the live feed or change recording settings. For a doorbell, you can see recent video clips and adjust notifications.

The controls in the Google Home app are simpler than the controls in the Nest app itself. If you need to change advanced settings — like adjusting the schedule on a thermostat or changing camera resolution — open the Nest app instead. Both apps control the same device, so changes in one show up in the other.

What to do if the connection fails

If your Nest device does not appear in the Google Home app after you set it up, the most common cause is that your phone and your Nest device are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your phone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network as your Nest device. If you have a 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz network with the same name, try connecting your Nest device to the 2.4 GHz network instead — some Nest devices work more reliably on the slower band.

If your Nest device is on the right network and still does not appear, restart both the device and the Google Home app. Unplug your Nest device for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for it to fully restart (usually one to two minutes), then close and reopen the Google Home app. Try adding the device again.

If you see an error message about linking your account, sign out of the Google Home app completely, then sign back in with your Google account. Go to myaccount.google.com in a web browser and check that your Google account is in good standing — if you have not used it recently or if Google flagged unusual activity, you may need to verify your identity before you can link devices.

Controlling multiple Nest devices from one account

You can connect as many Nest devices as you want to the same Google Assistant account. Each device appears separately in the Google Home app, organized by room. If you have a Nest Thermostat in the hallway, a Nest Cam in the living room, and a Nest Hello at the front door, you can control all three from the same Google Home app and from any Google Assistant speaker in your home.

When you speak a command, Google Assistant tries to figure out which device you mean based on the room you are in or the device name you say. If you say "Hey Google, show me the camera" without specifying which one, Google Assistant will ask you to clarify if you have more than one camera. To avoid this, give each device a unique name in the Google Home app — "Front door camera" instead of just "Camera," for example.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Google Home speaker to use Nest with Google Assistant?

No. You can control your Nest device from the Google Home app on your phone alone. A Google Home speaker or Nest Hub display makes voice control easier, but it is not required. If you do have a speaker or display, it must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Nest device to work reliably.

Can I use Nest with Google Assistant if I already have a Nest account?

Yes. Your Nest account and your Google account are separate. You can have both and use them together. When you connect Nest to Google Assistant, you are linking the two accounts so they can communicate, not replacing one with the other.

What happens if I disconnect my Nest device from Google Assistant?

Your Nest device keeps working normally. You just lose the ability to control it by voice through Google Assistant or from the Google Home app. You can still control it through the Nest app itself. To disconnect, open the Google Home app, tap and hold your Nest device, tap the gear icon, scroll down, and tap "Unlink account."

Can I control my Nest device when I am away from home?

Yes, if you set up remote access in the Google Home app. Open the app, tap your profile picture, go to Home settings, and make sure remote access is turned on. You can then control your Nest device from anywhere using the Google Home app or by speaking to Google Assistant on your phone, as long as your home Wi-Fi is still running.

Why does my Nest device show as offline in Google Assistant?

Your Nest device has lost its connection to Wi-Fi. Check that your home Wi-Fi is working by connecting your phone to it. If your phone connects but your Nest device does not, restart the Nest device by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If it still shows offline, move it closer to your Wi-Fi router or check that your router is not blocking it.