As of 29 September 2023, Works With Nest (WWN) connections no longer work and can’t be accessed. For more information, please see this community forum post.
Google Assistant is a voice-activated digital personal assistant that you can use on devices like your phone, smartwatch or Google speaker or display. You can also speak to Google Assistant through certain Nest products: Nest Cam IQ Indoor.
Note: Google Assistant isn't included on any of our outdoor products, such as Nest Cam IQ Outdoor.
Enable Google Assistant
To use Google Assistant with your Nest products, you need a Google Account. If you started using the Nest app before August 19, 2019, you'll need to migrate your Nest account to a Google Account if you haven't already. Once completed, migration isn't reversible.
Nest Cam IQ Indoor
-
On the Nest app home screen, select your camera.
-
Tap Settings
your Nest Cam IQ Indoor.
-
Select Add Google Assistant. Follow the on-screen setup flow to enable Google Assistant on your Nest product.
Disable Google Assistant
You can disable Google Assistant on your Nest product any time you want.
Temporarily stop using Google Assistant
Nest Cam IQ Indoor
-
On the Nest app home screen, select your camera.
-
Tap Settings
.
-
Select Google Assistant. You'll find a switch to turn Google Assistant on or off.
Disable Google Assistant and remove it from your Nest product
-
Open the Google Assistant app, then tap Personal updates.
-
Tap the Profile icon.
-
Select the "Assistant" tab.
-
Under "Assistant devices," choose your Nest product.
-
Select Unlink [Nest product name] to disable Google Assistant on your Nest product.
Things you can say
Once you've enabled Google Assistant, it works the same as it does on other devices.
For example, you can ask Google Assistant a question, get the latest weather report and cast music or video to other connected devices in your home.
You can even control your Nest thermostat and view your Nest camera's live video on a TV.
Things you can’t do
There are a few things you can't do with Google Assistant when you're speaking to it through your Nest product. You might still be able to do these things for other devices such as an Android phone or Home speaker.
-
Make or receive phone calls on your Nest product
-
Adjust your Nest product's speaker volume
-
Play music, podcasts or other audio through your Nest product's speaker
-
Note: While you can't play audio through your Nest product's speaker, you can tell Google Assistant to cast media to another connected device, such as a stereo system. For example, you can tell your Nest product, "Hey Google, play the latest unplayed podcast on the kitchen speaker."
-
-
Use Voice Match for Google Assistant on your Nest product
-
Note: If you enable personal results, all users will receive answers and be able to access content like calendars and shopping lists based on the account set up with Google Assistant.
-
Troubleshoot Google Assistant
Check requirements and setup
Check what Nest product you have
Google Assistant is available for:
- Nest Cam IQ Indoor
If you have a different model of Nest camera (including Nest Cam IQ Outdoor) or any other Nest product, you can't use Google Assistant on it.
Check that Google Assistant is enabled
Make sure that you've followed the instructions to enable Google Assistant on your Nest product. Otherwise, it won't respond to the verbal commands you give it.
If you already enabled Google Assistant, it might be turned off. Follow the directions below to check that Google Assistant is turned on.
Nest Cam IQ Indoor
-
On the Nest app home screen, select your camera.
-
Tap Settings
-
Tap Google Assistant. You'll find a switch to turn Google Assistant on.
Connect your phone and Nest product to the same Wi-Fi network
When you're using the Nest app to enable Google Assistant, make sure that your phone and Nest product are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The Nest app will tell you to do this, and it's important not to skip this step. Otherwise, you won't be able to complete setup.
If the Google Assistant option doesn't appear in the Nest app
If you tried to follow the steps above to enable Google Assistant on your Nest product but you can't find the option to enable it, here are some reasons why:
-
You don't have a compatible Nest product in your account in the Nest app. Google Assistant is only available for Nest Cam IQ Indoor.
-
You're not in a country where Google Assistant can be enabled on your Nest product.
Turn your Nest product's microphone on
To get your voice commands, your Nest product's microphone needs to be turned on.
Nest Cam IQ Indoor
-
On the Nest app home screen, tap Settings
-
Select your camera.
-
Tap Microphone. You'll find a switch to turn the microphone on.
-
Make sure that the switch for Microphone is on.
-
The switch for Audio recording can be either on or off.
-
For more information about your camera's microphone, go to Nest camera's audio settings article.
Fix specific issues and errors
Error message: "There may be a problem"
This message can appear when you're trying to enable Google Assistant on your Nest product. It can be caused by a number of things, but you can usually fix it by updating your Google Assistant permissions.
Requests and activities don't show up in your Google Account
If your requests and activities for Google Assistant aren't showing up in your Google Account, it's probably an account linkage issue.
For example, your reminders might appear on somebody else's phone, or another person's shopping list might get updated with the items you added.
Why it's happening
Only the Owner of the Nest home can enable Google Assistant in the Nest app and have it be associated with their Google Account. Google Assistant doesn't support multiple users or accounts when you're talking to it through your Nest product.
Other people can still talk to Google Assistant and have it do things for them, but everything will be associated with the Nest home Owner's account.
Broadcast feature isn't working
With Broadcast, you can send a message to all the devices in your home that have Google Assistant enabled.
When you first enable Google Assistant on your Nest product, the Google Assistant app will ask for your address. It's important to enter the same address as the other devices you want to broadcast to. If you provide a different address, the Broadcast feature won't work as expected.
-
To check the address that Google Assistant uses for your Nest device, go to the Nest app home screen
[your product]
-
To check the address that your speaker or display uses, go to the Nest app
-
Make sure that both addresses are the same. If necessary, change one of them to match.
More Google Assistant troubleshooting
For more help using Google Assistant on any device, visit the Google Assistant Help Centre.