How to connect your Nest products to Google Home

Katie McEntire
By Katie McEntire
Apr 09, 2024
Icon Time To Read4 min read

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Your Google Home can do a lot of impressive stuff. From helping you cook to telling you who won the 1989 State of Origin (it was Queensland), the virtual assistant in your home makes life a little easier.

Google Home can also connect with your Nest devices, making tasks easier with automation and scheduling, like putting your cameras on a schedule to watch your kids get off the bus.

Partnering up your Nest and Google devices can turn your home into a smart ecosystem customised to your needs. It takes only a few steps—we’ll show you how.

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Want to make the most of your Google Assistant? Our Ultimate Guide to Google Assistant has all the secrets.

How to connect Nest products with a Google Assistant: 

  1. Set up and install Nest products
  2. Open Google Home app
  3. Add the device in the app
  4. Test the connection
  5. Watch the video
photo of person testing Nest Smoke Alarm

1. Set up and install your Nest products

Nest products like Nest Cameras and the Nest Doorbell are surprisingly easy to pair with your Google Home smart home devices.

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All of Nest’s products connect to your Google Home the same way, but you have to install the hardware first.

Here’s what you need to get started:

  • Google Home Assistant smart speaker
  • Google Home app installed on a smart device
  • Nest product (Nest Doorbell, Nest Camera, Nest Protect Alarm, etc.)
  • Nest app installed on a smart device

Nest products like the Nest Video Doorbell or Nest Protect smoke detector may take more time to install than others. Follow the instructions that came with your Nest products to get them up and running. The Nest app makes physical installation easy with step-by-step instructions and plenty of resources if you have questions.

Checklist
Pro tip

Test your Nest product with the Nest app to make sure it’s working before connecting it to your Google Home.

2. Open the Google Home app

Get the app
Google Home app logo
Google Home app
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Google Play
Download on
App Store

Once your Nest device is installed and active, you can connect it to Google Home through the Google Home app. Keep your Nest device powered on while connecting it to the Google Home app.

Start by opening your Google Home app. You’ll see all the existing devices connected to your Google Assistant (like our Chromecast screenshot shown below).

Your Nest device will be visible once it’s connected.

From here, select the plus sign at the top left corner of the screen. This icon will allow you to add a device to your Google Home ecosystem.

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Pro tip

If you sign into Nest using your Google account, your device should sync to your Google Home automatically.

Google Home App home screen

From here, select “Set up device” at the top of the menu.

Google Home App add and manage

The setup screen will give you two options: “Set up new devices in your home” or “Works with Google.” Select the second option because you already have something set up—your Nest device!

3. Add a Nest device in the app

The “Works with Google” option sends you to a screen where you can search for your Nest device. Use the search bar at the top of the screen to find the Nest icon. Or, you can scroll through the list of available apps until you find Nest (but this could take a while).

You’ll want to have your Nest account information handy to log into your account.

Google Home App add devices
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What if I don’t see my Nest in the Google App?

Visit the main menu in the Google Home App and select Home Controls. This will take you to a menu showing all the devices connected to your Google Home, organised by room.

Look for the Nest icon on this menu and select it. This menu will take you to a permissions page that will allow your Google Home to find your Nest product.

Accept the terms and assign the device to a room.

Adding this detail makes it easier for Google Home to control your Nest devices.

Once you find the Nest icon in the Google Home app menu, you’ll be taken to the Nest login page. Enter your Nest username and password (not your Google Home information) to find the device in your home.

When you log in, Nest will send you a verification code to confirm set up.

After you enter the verification code, you’ll see a list of features you can control from the Google Home speaker.

Nest App login screen

Select “Allow,” and the Nest device will connect with your Google Home. After, check to make sure your newly-connected device appears on the main screen of your Google Home app.

4. Test the connection

We recommend testing your connection after you sync the devices. Try ringing the doorbell, activating your camera, or verifying whichever Nest product you’ve added.

Try a few of these voice commands or a voice command related to your Nest product:

“OK, Google, show me the front door.”
“OK, Google, show me the living room camera.”

Once you’ve tested your new Nest product, you can control it through your voice and check in on it through the Google Home app. When your Nest is connected, play around with your system to tailor it to your needs.

5. Watch the video

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FAQ

Yes. Nest is a Google product and pairs easily with the Google Home app on Android or iOS devices like phones and tablets. 

Each of the Nest products come with helpful installation steps. The actual installation will vary based on which Nest product you’re connecting, but everything you need is in the Nest app or comes in the box. 

Yes. Whether you’re connecting a Nest Hello doorbell, Nest Protect smoke alarm, or a Nest Camera, you can use these same steps to add devices to your Google Home system.

Yes. You’ll need a Google Home Hub (the one with a screen), your Nest Hello doorbell, and the Nest account app. Confirm that your Nest Hello is connected by saying, “OK Google, show me the front door.” This should show the feed from your doorbell camera on your Hub screen. 

  • Confirm that your devices have synced.
  • Go into your Nest app and select the doorbell camera feed.
  • Select the gear in the top right corner and select “Visitor Announcements” on the menu. 
  • Choose that option and toggle the option on (the bar should slide to blue). 
  • Test your doorbell and hub by ringing the doorbell and see if the doorbell footage appears.
Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Katie McEntire
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Katie McEntire
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