Hey Google Nest Community,
We’re excited to announce that we’re rolling out new updates in Public Preview for our Nest camera and doorbell users. Starting today, we’re expanding our support for our first-gen wired Nest Doorbell (formerly known as Nest Hello) in the Google Home app Public Preview. Read on and enroll in Public Preview in the Google Home app to try our latest features today! In addition, garage door detection will be available for Nest Aware subscribers with an eligible camera in the Google Home app.
Expanded support for the first-gen wired Nest Doorbell in Public Preview
As we continue to work towards building the best Google Home app experience for all your devices, we are expanding support for the original wired Nest Doorbell in the Home app after adding support for the first gen Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor last year. Over the next several weeks, we’ll roll out access to Public Preview users with a first-gen wired Nest Doorbell. Once you’ve transferred your doorbell into Public Preview for the Google Home app, you’ll be able to manage it alongside other devices in the Home app and try new features like our updated camera history experience with quick switching between timeline and event list views to review your history.
You’ll be able to access these new camera history experiences in both the Google Home app and Google Home for web. And because it is in Public Preview, you’ll also be able to provide feedback to help us make the experience even better.
Sample Google Home app images: Your camera experience before you transfer your camera (left image) and after you transfer your camera with event list (middle image) and timeline views (right image).
Monitor your garage door with advanced AI image detection in the Google Home app
We’re continuing to develop new ways to deliver peace of mind with our advanced AI-powered image detection capabilities. Thanks to your feedback during our Public Preview launch, we’ve improved the experience and are excited to bring garage door detection to all compatible Nest Cam users in the Google Home app. Compatible Nest cameras can detect if your garage has been left open and notify you, no additional hardware or sensors required.
Upon initial set up, you can choose to place your camera either inside or outside of the garage door(s). When you mount your camera, make sure it has a clear and uninterrupted line of sight to your garage door. Learn how to set up garage door detection here.
Garage door detection1 will be available in US and Canada to users that have a Nest Aware subscription and own a Nest Cam (indoor, wired, 2nd gen) or a Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) when wired for power.
We will continue to invest in our Public Preview program and encourage you to try our latest releases and provide us with feedback to help improve feature experiences.
Need help transferring your Nest Doorbell to Public Preview? Read on to learn how with our FAQs below, or leave a comment over in the discussion.
Thanks,
The Google Home & Nest Team
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1Garage door detection is only available in the US and Canada with Nest Cam (indoor, wired, 2nd gen) and Nest Cam (indoor or outdoor, battery) when wired and requires a Nest Aware subscription.
FAQ
Q: Which Nest cameras and doorbells are available to transfer to the Google Home app in Public Preview?
A: Expanded Google Home app support is currently available in Public Preview for the following devices:
- Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 1st gen)
- Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 1st gen)
- Nest Doorbell (wired, 1st gen) - formerly known as Nest Hello
Q: Why should I transfer my camera to the Home app?
A: The Home app offers an easier, more personalized, and more organized way to manage all your compatible third-party and Google Nest devices in one place, while bringing the best of the Nest app experience for controlling your camera, checking live video directly on the home screen, and viewing historical clips. The refreshed camera controller includes quick switching between event and timeline views, and fine-level video scrubbing to help you quickly find the footage that matters to you.
You’ll be able to manage your Nest Doorbell alongside your other devices in the Home app and try out features such as script editor to set-up powerful automations that will do things like turn on your lights when a person is seen in your backyard while you’re out of town. Additionally, you can check live feeds and review video history from most web browsers with the Google Home for web interface or receive Nest Doorbell notifications on your Pixel Watch with Google Home for Wear OS. Learn more about what to expect in the Home app here.
Q: How do I transfer my Nest Doorbell to the Home app?
A: If you’re already enrolled in Public Preview and you own a first generation wired Nest Doorbell, you’ll see prompts in both the Nest app and in the Google Home app under the Favorites Tab with instructions when you’re able to transfer your Nest Doorbell from the Nest app to Public Preview. Additionally, you can also transfer your device under the Settings Tab. We’ll gradually ramp up access for first generation Nest Doorbell users over a couple of weeks, so be on the lookout for the prompt.
If you’re not in Public Preview, follow the instructions here to join: Public Preview for Google Home app.
Before you transfer your Nest Doorbell, we recommend that you have the latest version of the Google Home app installed (version 3.20 or higher). For step by step instructions on how to transfer your Nest Doorbell, please visit our Help Center.
Q: Can I still use the Nest app after the transfer?
A: Once you move your Nest Doorbell to the Google Home app, you'll only be able to use it there. The Nest app will no longer show live video or save event history. Your video history before the transfer stays there until it expires. Older cameras other than Nest Doorbell will remain in the Nest app until we support their transfer to the Home app and you initiate the transfer process.
Q: What if I change my mind and want to transfer my camera back to the Nest app?
A: We want you to try the new camera experience in the Home app so while in Public Preview, you’ll be able to reverse transfer your camera. Visit our Help Center for detailed instructions.
Q: How does the Google Home app compare to the Nest app?
A: We prioritized building the best possible experience in the Home app to control more of your devices in one place. We focused initially on offering camera and doorbell users an updated video history experience but recently, we’ve added more features to ensure a seamless transition from the Nest app to the Home app. When you migrate to the Google Home app, you’ll be able to access our latest features like the ability to create custom clips and review your history with event and timeline views on the web.
A small number of camera and doorbell features that are currently in the Nest app are not available in the Home app but we’ll continue to prioritize ways to bring the best of the Nest app camera experience to the Home app. For details on what Nest app features are not available in the Home app, visit the Help Center.
Q: When will other devices currently in the Nest app such as other Nest Cams, be supported in the Home app?
A: We’re actively working to transition additional Nest devices into the Home app and we’ll share an update as soon as we have more information. We’ll continue to bring support for more Nest devices and features in the Home app while maintaining a high bar for privacy, security, and user experience. Each device has its own complexity and requires migrating infrastructure, updates to device software, and evaluating if the hardware can be supported.
Q: Will Google still support the Nest app?
A: There is no change to the Nest app today. You can continue to use the app as you do now.
Q: How do I know which Google Nest Cam I have?
A: You can see which Google Nest Cam you have by going here.
To stay up to date with the latest news about the Google Home app and your devices, make sure you are subscribed to our community blog in 3 easy steps:
- Visit the Nest Community blog
- Click the options menu with the 3 buttons on the top right corner
- Click subscribe on the dropdown menu
Note: Public Preview features are released early and you may encounter issues while using this experience. It may not perform as well as the standard app, but we encourage you to provide feedback for improvements. You can opt-out of Public Preview at any time, but we do not provide the ability to turn off individual features.
