Install Nest Cam Ultimate Guide

At Google Nest Cam, we make products that are beautiful, helpful and easy to use. The Nest app is no exception. Control your Nest thermostat, arm and disarm your Nest Secure alarm system, see your home with Nest Cam, and get an alert if Nest Protect goes off – all in one place. And receive notifications on your Android phone or tablet.

Nest uses sensors, algorithms, and the location of your phone to do the right thing automatically, turning off the heat and turning on the camera when you leave. Forget to set the alarm? It will notice, and send you a Remind Me alert.

Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E

Thermostats that program themselves to help you save energy.

– Change the temperature from the subway or the sofa using your phone.
– See how much energy you used, and why.
– View and edit your schedule.
– Get extreme temperature alerts before your home gets too cold.

Nest Secure alarm system

– Arm and disarm your home remotely from the app.
– Receive a Remind Me alert if you leave home and forget to set the alarm.
– Receive a security alert on your phone telling you what triggered the alarm – a door or window opening, or someone entering a room.

Nest Protect

The smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that thinks, speaks, and alerts your phone.

– Get an alert if Nest Protect senses smoke or carbon monoxide. (Requires Wi-Fi and a working internet connection.)
– Silence an alarm from your phone with App Silence. (Nest Protect 2nd gen only.)
– See the status of your batteries, sensors, and Wi-Fi connection.
– Run a Safety Checkup to test all your alarms at once. (Nest Protect 2nd gen only.)
– See your Safety History so you know when alerts happened and why.

Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor, Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Dropcam

The security cameras that let you see your home on your phone, inside and out.

– Get alerts when there’s activity, and talk back to get someone’s attention.
– See what you missed with snapshots of the last three hours.
– Check in 24/7 with crisp 1080p HD video (Nest Cam and Dropcam Pro only).
– Get person alerts (or familiar face alerts with Nest Cam IQ) and up to 30 days of video history when you subscribe to Nest Aware. (Subscription service sold separately.)

Nest Hello

Know who’s knocking.

– 24/7 video streaming means you’ll never miss a moment.
– Designed to show you everything at your doorstep – people head to toe, or packages on the ground.
– Knows the difference between a person and a thing.
– Notifies you about visitors, even if they don’t ring the bell.
– HD Talk and Listen lets you have a seamless conversation with someone at your door.
– When you can’t answer the door, quick responses let you reply to visitors with prerecorded audio messages.

Nest x Yale Lock

The lock for a more secure connected home.

– Instead of sharing keys, assign passcodes to people you trust in the Nest app.
– Get an alert when someone locks or unlocks the door.
– With Home/Away Assist and Auto-Lock, your door can lock itself when you leave.

Some features require a working internet connection, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth.

You can place your Google Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen) on a horizontal surface using the stand on its own, or on another surface using the mounting plate. To help you install your Nest camera correctly, we’ve prepared a series of clear installation steps.

What you’ll need for installation

• Power drill and 7/64 in (3 mm) drill bit or ¼ in (6mm) masonry bit (for wall anchor)
• #2 Phillips screwdriver
• Step ladder
• Extension cord (optional)

Installation video

Step 1: Add your Nest camera to the Google Home app

To begin, set up your camera with the Home app. When the app asks you which product you’re adding, make sure that you select Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen).

• The app has the full instructions you’ll need to install your camera, and will walk you through installation step by step.
• When your camera is installed, you’ll be guided through the setup process.

Step 2: Plug in your Nest camera

Place your Nest camera close to where you plan to use it. If you plan to mount it, wait until you’ve set up your Nest camera in the Google Home app.

Your device will play a chime and its light will turn blue once it’s connected to a power source. Wait for the Nest camera’s light to turn blue before you tap Next.

Step 3: Choose a location for your Nest camera

1.In the “Where is this device?” screen, tap the name of the existing room or location where you’ll place your Nest camera. You can also choose to create a new room.
2.Tap Next.
3.Create a unique name for your device and tap Next.
4.Your Google Home app will begin to install any available updates.
• If the installation is interrupted, perform a factory reset.
• If the installation is successful, you’ll be able to access the live video.

If the live video isn’t available or the video stream is interrupted, try to move your Wi-Fi router or Nest camera.

Step 4: Mount your Nest camera to the wall

Skip this step if you’ll place your device on a flat, horizontal surface instead.

1.Gather all of your tools along with your Nest Cam.
2.Watch the installation video.
3.Choose where to mount your Nest Cam.
Important: If you plan to use familiar face detection, ensure that your visitors will approach the camera at an angle where their faces are visible.
• Look for a flat surface on the wall 6 to 6.5 ft (1.8 to 2 m) above the ground.
• Place your device where you plan to mount it to check your camera’s live view. Use an extension cord if needed

4. Remove the wall plate.

a. Hold the top of the camera base with one hand.

b. Press against the bottom of the camera base with your other hand.

c. Twist 30° counter clockwise.

Step 5: Screw in the wall plate

Important:

• You may need to use wall anchors on drywall, brick, stone, masonry, or stucco. If you do, drill pilot holes with a 1/4 in (6 mm) it before inserting the anchors.
• Don’t use the wall anchors on wood.
1.Hold the wall plate against the wall.
2.Align the screw holes parallel to the ground.
3.Mark the position of the holes.
4.Remove the plate.
5.Drill pilot holes with a 7/64 in (3 mm) bit.
6.Screw in the wall plate.
7.Hold the plate up to the wall and insert the screws.

Step 6: Position and attach your camera

Important: There should be a little space between the wall plate and the base to leave room for the wire.

1.Turn the base of the camera so that the arrow is pointing upward.
2.Turn the camera head 180° so the wire is at the top of the camera.
3.Run the cable through the vertically aligned gaps in the base.
4.Line up the markers on the base and the camera.
5.Twist the camera 30° clockwise to secure it to the wall plate.

Step 7: Adjust the camera angle

Important: Make sure the view includes the areas and level of details that you want, especially if you’re using familiar face detection.

1.Use the included camera clip and screw for Nest cameras you’ll mount on a spot higher than 6.5 ft (2 m).
2.Secure the cable to the wall 6 in (15 cm) below the camera using the camera clip and screw. Drill in a pilot hole with:
• 7/64 in (3 mm) bit for the screw.
• ¼ in (6 mm) bit for the wall anchor.

If the Nest camera’s view is upside down, you can flip the view in Settings when you’re done with setup.

Step 8: Additional settings

Your Nest camera comes with Event Video Preview which saves what your camera detects from the past 3 hours. When disabled, you’ll only see the live video stream. Turning on event recording will also enable person detection.

To enable event recording, turn on Video recording.

Afterwards, you can adjust your microphone settings. If you turn off these settings, you’ll hear the audio of your live video stream but not in the saved video history.

To enable audio recording:

• Turn on Microphone.
• Turn on Audio recording.

Troubleshooting

During setup, you may experience issues with:

• Help messages and codes.
• Connection.
• Power.
• Video quality.

To troubleshoot these issues, refer to Get more help with setup and installation.

Privacy issues

Depending on where you live, you’ll need to display a notice informing people that your Nest camera is currently recording video footage.

Set up your Nest camera in the Google Home or Nest app

If you have a new Google Nest camera or you need to re-add your camera, download the Google Home or Nest app.

You need the app to connect your camera to Wi-Fi and get recorded video. Use the app to guide you through setup and installation.

Before you begin

To begin setup, you need:

• Your Nest camera
• A 2.4 GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connection
• A compatible mobile device:
• Android phone or tablet with Android 9.0 or later (Android 5.0 or later for Nest app setup)
• iPhone or iPad with iOS 16.1 or later
• Your Bluetooth turned on
• Latest version of the Google Home app

Important: You need to scan a QR code on the back or bottom of your camera when you add it to the app. To make sure you can access the QR code, connect your camera to the app before you install or mount it.

Step 1: Download or update the app you need

Depending on which camera model you have, use either the Google Home app or Nest app to set it up. Download the one you need from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Use the Google Home app to set up the following Nest cameras:

• Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
• Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen)
• Nest Cam (wired)
• Nest Cam with Floodlight
• Nest Cam (battery)

Use the Nest app to set up the following Nest cameras:

• Nest Cam IQ Indoor
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
• Nest Cam Indoor
• Nest Cam Outdoor

Step 2: Add your camera to the app with the QR code

Choose the instructions that match the app you use to set up your camera.

Google Home app

Nest app

Add your camera to the Google Home app after setup

Tip: If you already signed into the Nest app with a Google Account, your Nest camera should automatically appear in your home in the Google Home app.

After setup in the Nest app, you can add your Nest camera to your home in the Google Home app. This lets you control your camera and other compatible connected devices, like a smart bulb or Google speaker in one place.

Learn how to set up smart devices in the Google Home or Nest app.

Step 3: Install your camera

The app gives you basic installation instructions to mount or install your Nest camera. If you need more tips for your camera, select your camera below for detailed instructions.

Get instructions for indoor cameras

Nest camera indoor 300w236h nest cam battery 350w219h
Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen) Nest Cam (battery)
nest cam indoor 350w431h Cam IQ image 350w504h
Nest Cam (wired) Nest Cam IQ Indoor
camera indoor with stand 350w529h  .
Nest Cam Indoor

Get instructions for outdoor cameras

Nest Cam Outdoor 300w300h nest cam with floodlight 350w189h
Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen) Nest Cam with Floodlight
Nest cam side view 350w350h Cam IQ outdoor image 350w347h
Nest Cam Outdoor Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
nest cam battery 350w219h 1  .
Nest Cam (battery)

Step 4: Learn how to use your camera

To help you get started with your camera, we selected the most important articles you should read in our Get started using your Nest camera article.

Troubleshoot issues during setup

During setup, the app lets you connect your camera to Wi-Fi, personalize settings, check the video quality, and more.

If you have any issues, here are some quick tips.

Help messages and codes

Important: The interactive troubleshooting tool is only recommended if you use the Nest app to set up your camera.

If a help message with the code appears in the app, get detailed troubleshooting help from our interactive troubleshooting tool for Nest cameras and doorbells.

Connection issues

If you can’t find your Wi-Fi network, or if your camera has trouble with its Wi-Fi connection, here are a few things you can do to try and fix the issue:

1.Wait a few minutes, then try to connect your camera again.
2.Move your camera closer to your Wi-Fi router to improve the signal.
4.Restart your router.
5.If you have a hidden Wi-Fi network, you need to type in the network name (SSID) manually.

For more tips, refer to Troubleshoot adding Nest camera to the app.

Power Issues

Signs that your camera doesn’t get enough power include the following:

• Your camera won’t turn on.
• You get a message or status in the app that tells you there isn’t enough power.
• The Wi-Fi connection and the video quality can also be reduced when there isn’t enough power.

Here are some things you can do to try to fix the issue:

• If your camera uses a cable to stay powered, check that the cable and power outlet work properly. Use another compatible cable or power outlet with your camera to check if it works.
• If your camera is battery-powered, recharge it when the battery is low. You should also make sure it’s seated correctly on its stand when you remount it.

Video quality issues

If your camera has video delays or lag, it’s usually a sign that the Wi-Fi connection is weak. It could also be a sign that your camera doesn’t have enough power. To fix the issue, try the following:

• Move your camera closer to your Wi-Fi router to improve the signal.
• If your camera uses a cable to stay powered, check that the cable and power outlet work properly. Use another compatible cable or power outlet with your camera to check if it works.
• If your camera is battery-powered, recharge it when the battery is low. You should also make sure it’s seated correctly on its stand when you remount it.

If your camera’s video is distorted, here are a few things you can try:

• Dust off the camera lens.
• Angle the camera so that it’s not directly facing the sun’s beams.
• Put your camera somewhere shady and protected from extreme weather conditions. While outdoor cameras are built to work outside of your home, extreme hot or cold temperatures can affect things like the video quality.

For more tips, refer to Troubleshoot Nest camera video distortion.

Set up smart devices in the Google Home or Nest app

Set up smart devices in the Google Home app or Nest app, including speakers, displays, thermostats, sensors, lights, and plugs.

Find your device below, then follow the instructions in the linked article. The setup process varies by device and app, so it’s important to follow the correct instructions.

Set up Google Nest devices with the Home app

If your Google Nest device isn’t listed in this section, check devices that need the Nest app.

Entertainment and media

Climate and energy

Wi-Fi

Cameras and doorbells

Set up Google Nest devices with Nest app

Important: Nest Protect only appears in the Nest app.

You need to set up some Google Nest devices with the Nest app before you can add them to the Google Home app. For instructions, select your product from the list:

Once you’ve set up these devices in the Nest app, they may link automatically in the Home app based on your settings.

To know if your devices linked automatically:

1.Close both the Nest app and Google Home app.
2.Open the Google Home app NYATP4fKkKARm0H0DD2pIXhppf7q7WqlddOo 18w18h.
3.Check if the devices are listed under a room name or under “Local devices.” If they aren’t listed, you need to link them manually. Refer to the instructions in Connect third-party smart home devices in the Google Home app.

Set up third-party devices with the Home app

Many third-party devices, such as smart lights and appliances, can be set up and controlled with the Google Home app.

Set up Matter-enabled devices

If your device is Matter-enabled, you can use the Google Home app for setup or connect it from a third-party manufacturer’s app. Refer to Set up, manage, and control Matter-enabled devices with Google Home.

Tip: To confirm your device is Matter-enabled, check for the Matter logo matter 82w30h on the package.

Set up Works with Google Home devices

If your device has the “Works with Google Home” badge on its package, refer to connect third-party smart home devices in the Google Home app. Some third-party devices show their status in the Google Home app, but controls aren’t supported. If controls aren’t available for your device in the Home app, use the device manufacturer’s app for controls.

Seamlessly set up partner devices

Some devices from select partners offer Seamless setup. Check if “Seamless setup with Google Home app” is on your package, manual or website. If so, follow the instructions for Seamless setup.

Related Posts

Leave a Comment