Temperature schedules for the Nest Thermostat E

You can create or adjust the temperature schedule of your Google Nest thermostat the way you want in the app or directly on the thermostat.

Unlike traditional programmable thermostats that simply use their fixed temperature schedule, even if nobody’s home, your Nest thermostat can also help save energy and keep your home comfortable with its temperature schedule.

Note: To find instructions for a different thermostat model, go to our Nest thermostat temperature schedules article to select your thermostat.

Table of contents Auto-Schedule The Basic Schedule             Choose the Basic Schedule during setup             Switch from Auto-Schedule to the Basic Schedule             Use Auto-Schedule with the Basic Schedule Change the temperature schedule             In the Nest app                         Add a new temperature                         Edit an existing temperature                         Remove a temperature             On the thermostat                         Add a new temperature                         Edit an existing temperature                         Remove a temperature Use Nest Temperature sensors with the temperature schedule

Auto-Schedule

Note: Only the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat have Auto-Schedule. Auto-Schedule is not available for the Nest Thermostat.

The Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E have Auto-Schedule turned on by default to help you save energy and keep you comfortable. 

With Auto-Schedule, you don't have to manually program your thermostat to save energy. Simply change the temperature whenever you like in the app or on the thermostat itself, and your thermostat will learn from your preferences. After a few days, it will program a schedule for you, based on what temperatures you like and when you want them.

Learn about Auto-Schedule

If you don’t want to use Auto-Schedule and prefer to manually program your own thermostat temperature schedule, you can turn it off.

Use a Nest thermostat like a traditional thermostat

The Basic Schedule

Note: Only the Nest Thermostat E has the Basic Schedule. The Basic Schedule is not available for the Nest Thermostat or Nest Learning Thermostat.

If you don’t want to wait for your Nest Thermostat E to learn from you, you can use the Basic Schedule to instantly create one for you as soon as you’ve installed it.

The Basic Schedule is a pre-programmed schedule based on a national average efficient schedule that balances energy-savings and comfort.

Choose the Basic Schedule during setup

During setup, your thermostat will ask if you’d like to use Auto-Schedule or Basic Schedule. Select the option for Basic Schedule, and your thermostat will set a pre-programmed temperature schedule for you. You can use the programmed Basic Schedule right away without needing to do anything else.

If you ever want to change the temperature or the times in your thermostat’s Basic Schedule, you can easily change them with the app or on your thermostat itself. Refer to the section below for complete instructions.

Switch from Auto-Schedule to the Basic Schedule

If you selected Auto-Schedule during setup but want to try using the Basic Schedule, you can switch to the Basic Schedule by following these steps:

1. Disable Auto-Schedule on your thermostat.
2. Reset your thermostat’s schedule.
3. Select Basic Schedule and follow the instructions on your thermostat.

Use Auto-Schedule with the Basic Schedule

When you select the Basic Schedule during thermostat setup, it will turn Auto-Schedule off by default.

If you want your thermostat to learn your preferences and automatically adjust your temperature schedule after you’ve set the Basic Schedule, you can turn Auto-Schedule on by following these steps: 

1. Open the Nest app.
2. On the home screen, select your thermostat.
3. Tap Settings .
4. Choose Nest Sense.
5. Select Auto-Schedule, then select Yes.

Your thermostat will use the Basic schedule as a starting point and begin learning your temperature preferences.

Change the temperature schedule

In the Nest app

Note: This option is only available for the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat. To change the temperature schedule for the Nest Thermostat, use the Home app.

1. On the home screen, select your thermostat.
2. Tap Schedule .

You’ll find the schedule for the mode that your thermostat is currently in. So if your thermostat is in Heat mode, the heating schedule will be shown. If it’s in Cool mode, it will show you the cooling schedule.

Manually set your thermostat's temperature mode

Add a new temperature

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Tap the day of the week that you want to add a new temperature to.
2. Tap Add.
3. Tap on the grid to add a new setpoint. 
4. You can drag the setpoint left and right to change the time. Drag it up or down to adjust the temperature.

Edit an existing temperature

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Tap the day of the week that has the temperature you’d like to change.
2. Tap and hold on the setpoint you’d like to change, then you can make the following changes:
   • Drag the setpoint up and down to adjust the target temperature.
   • Drag the setpoint left or right to adjust the time of the setpoint.

Remove a temperature

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Tap the day of the week that has the temperature you’d like to remove.
2. Tap Remove.
3. Tap the setpoint you want to remove from your schedule.

On the thermostat

Note: You can only change the temperature directly on the display of the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat. To change the temperature schedule for the Nest Thermostat, use the Home app.

To check the temperature schedule on the Nest Thermostat E, open the Quick View menu, then go to Settings   Schedule .

It will show you the schedule for the mode that your thermostat is currently in. So if your thermostat is in Heat mode, the heating schedule will be shown. If it’s in Cool mode, it will show you the cooling schedule.

Manually set your thermostat's temperature mode

Controls to navigate the temperature schedule on your thermostat

• Turn the ring to move through the schedule.
• As you move through, the vertical line shows you the day and time you’re focusing on.
• Scroll to the day and time that you would like to add, edit, or remove the setpoint. You can find the current time at the bottom.

Add a new temperature to your schedule

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Press the thermostat and select New.
2. Turn the ring to select the time of the new setpoint, then press down.
3. Turn the ring again to select the temperature you want, then press down.

Tip: Look for the Nest Leaf  when adjusting your schedule. When it appears, you’ll know that you’ve set a temperature that can help save energy.

Change an existing a temperature

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Move through the schedule until the setpoint you want to change is highlighted. Press down to select that setpoint.
2. Select Change from the options to adjust this setpoint.
   • To adjust the setpoint’s time, turn the ring to move the setpoint left or right. Press down when done.
   • To adjust the setpoint’s temperature, turn the ring to move the setpoint up or down. Press down when done.

Tip: Look for the Nest Leaf  when adjusting your schedule. When it appears, you’ll know that you’ve set a temperature that can help save energy.

3. Once you’re done editing your schedule, keep turning the ring all the way to the right or the left to select Done.

Remove a temperature

While viewing your thermostat’s schedule:

1. Turn the ring to move through the schedule. Highlight the setpoint you want to change by moving until the center line is over it. Press the thermostat.
2. Select Remove from the options to completely remove the setpoint from your schedule. Press the thermostat to confirm.
3. Once you’re done editing your schedule, keep turning the ring all the way to the right or the left to select Done and go back to the main menu.

Use a schedule with Nest Temperature Sensors

Note: The Nest Temperature Sensor is only compatible with the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat. You cannot use a temperature sensor with the Nest Thermostat.

If you use Nest Temperature Sensors in your home, your thermostat will continue to follow its usual temperature schedule no matter which sensor is active. Your thermostat will always heat or cool to the scheduled temperature where the active sensor is located. 

You can tell which sensor is active by tapping your thermostat on the Nest app home screen. The active sensor will have a white dot next to it.