The best-selling smart products from the Google Nest line, along with speakers and displays, are cameras. Add Google Wi-Fi, a smart doorbell, and a thermostat, and you got yourself a safe smart home ecosystem. However, Wi-Fi connectivity will always be an issue unless you invest substantially in your network. Some users report that their Nest camera keeps going offline and we are fairly certain that your Wi-Fi setup is not up to the task. Learn how to address Nest cam connection issues below.
Table of contents:
- Check the wireless network
- Turn off the Home and away feature
- Restart your cameras
- Reset the camera to factory settings
How do I get my Nest camera back online?
1. Check the wireless network
In most cases, the wireless network is the problem causing the Nest camera to go offline. To ensure that your smart home devices work as intended, you need a reliable router or extender. Based on reports, Google and Nest Wi-Fi work best with Nest cameras and doorbells. Although, there are definitely a few competitors in that price range so you should inform yourself and go for an upgrade.
If you don’t want to invest in a better router, make sure to limit the number of devices that are connected to your router. Also, you can access router settings and change from the 2.4 GHz band to 5 GHz or tweak broadcast channels. Keeping your router or Wi-Fi extender closer to the camera helps, too.
2. Turn off the Home and away feature
Even though the best way to solve all your headaches with a Nest camera is to ensure that your Wi-Fi network is up to the task, there are some things you should try as well. Some users suggest disabling the Home and away feature if you want your camera to be active at all times.
To turn off the Home and away features, open the Nest app, select the camera, and disable the option there. After that, the Nest camera won’t use your phone to determine if you are home or away and will record 24/7.
3. Restart your cameras
You can also try restarting your Nest camera. The problem might be temporary and a simple restart should fix it. To restart your device, use the reset pin on wired cameras or press the reset button on cameras with batteries. Unplugging some devices and waiting for 10 seconds will result in a restart.
Of course, if that doesn’t help, make sure to try the next step and remove and then add the camera again.
4. Reset the camera to factory settings
Finally, if none of the previous steps worked for you, you can try resetting the camera to factory settings. After that, you’ll need to set up your camera again with the Nest app or Google Home.
Here’s how to reset your Nest camera to factory settings:
- Press the button or hold the pin on your camera until you hear the signal after 12 seconds.
- Open the Nest app or Google Home and select the camera. It should say that the camera is offline.
- Open camera settings and remove the camera from your home.
- Add the camera again, set up everything by following instructions, and check for improvements.
You can report issues to Google Support. Make sure to contact them if the problem continues.
That should do it. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or reach out on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in November 2021. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
