What’s happening at Nest?
Learn about Google Nest, account changes, Works with Nest, and more.
What’s happening at Nest.
Since Nest joined Google’s hardware team last year, we’ve been working to make the smart home less complicated, and well, more helpful. A home where products are easy to set up, simple to manage and work seamlessly together. Today, we’re committing to that goal by bringing together all Nest and Home products under the Nest brand. Introducing Google Nest.
We’re reimagining how technology and services can deliver simple and helpful experiences in your home to do more for you and your family. Over the coming months, you’ll begin seeing changes across our products, accounts, services, and policies as we bring everything together under Nest.
Moving forward, Nest and Google Home devices and services will share these things:
One Google Account to manage Nest and Google Home devices
Over the next few months, users with Nest Accounts will be invited to migrate to Google Accounts, benefiting from industry-leading protections and a single account across the Nest and Google Home apps, and all of Google’s other products. It also means Nest and Google Home devices and services can work even better together. Read the Account Migration FAQs below.
One third-party device ecosystem
We want to unify our efforts around third-party connected home devices under one developer platform – a one-stop shop for both our developers and our customers to build a more helpful home. Moving forward, we’ll deliver that single experience through the Google Assistant. We’re committed to supporting the Works with Nest (“WWN”) integrations we think you value most and minimizing disruptions during this transition. Your existing devices and integrations will continue working with your Nest Account, but you won’t have access to new features that will be available with a Google Account. And we’ll stop accepting new WWN connections on August 31, 2019. Once your WWN functionality is available on the Works with Google Assistant (“WWGA”) platform, you can migrate with minimal disruption from a Nest Account to a Google Account. We encourage all smart home developers to visit the Actions on Google Smart Home developer site to see the ways you can integrate your devices or services with the Google Assistant. See our recent Works with Nest blogpost for more details.
One set of core commitments that apply across Nest and Google connected home devices and services
As Nest redefines technology in the home, there’s an opportunity to explain clearly and simply how our connected home devices and services work, and how we will respect your privacy. Learn more about Google’s commitment to privacy in the home.
Frequently asked questions
Google Nest
Is Nest going away?
Since Nest joined Google’s hardware team last year, we’ve been working to make the smart home less complicated, and well, more helpful. A home where products are easy to set up, simple to manage and work seamlessly together. Today, we’re committing to that goal by bringing together all Nest and Home products under the Nest brand. Introducing Google Nest.
Nest devices will continue to be available, and will be sold under the Google Nest brand. Later this summer, Nest users will have the ability to migrate to Google Accounts and manage all of their Nest and Google Home devices and services with one account.
Learn more about Google Nest
What will happen to the Nest app?
At this time, the Nest app will continue to be available.
Over the next few months, users with Nest Accounts will be invited to migrate to Google Accounts, benefiting from industry-leading security protections and a single account across the Nest and Google Home apps, as well as all of Google’s other products. And having a single account will let Nest and Google Home devices work together in new ways. For example, Nest Hub (formerly Google Home Hub) can show live video from the Nest Hello video doorbell when someone rings the bell, so you can see who's at the front door – without any additional setup.
Migrating my existing Nest Account and data to Google
Why is Nest asking me to migrate my existing Nest Account to a Google Account?
Right now, our users manage multiple accounts, permissions, and settings across our connected home devices and services. Moving to a unified Google Account will give Nest users the benefit of a single account, seamless experiences, and the ability to align homes and home members across the Nest and Google Home apps. We strongly recommend account migration to Google for all of our users. Having a single account will also enable Nest and Google Home devices and services to work more seamlessly together – for example, if you have a Nest thermostat and a Google Home, just say, “Hey Google, make it warmer” to turn up the heat without any additional setup.
Keep reading for details about how Nest users’ data will be used and to learn about your options, including customizing your Google Account settings. Learn about Nest’s commitment to privacy in the home here.
What happens if I don’t migrate to a Google Account?
As Nest offers new connected home devices and services in the future, many of those will only be available to our users with Google Accounts. That’s why we strongly recommend all our Nest users migrate to Google Accounts and benefit from enhanced security, a set of privacy commitments from Google that apply across Google Nest connected home devices and services, and seamless user experiences. New users of Nest services will automatically start with a Google Account at the same time we make the migration option available to current users this summer.
Migrating from a Nest Account to a Google Account is optional. If you don’t migrate your Nest Account, you’ll remain subject to existing terms and privacy policies of Nest Labs, Inc. listed here. If there are any changes to our existing offerings available to you, we’ll make sure to keep you informed.
Will security updates be available for devices of Nest Account holders that don’t migrate to a Google Account?
Yes, as a general practice, our device security updates are made available to users regardless of account type.
What’s included in my Nest Account data?
Your Nest Account data consists of the personal data associated with your existing non-migrated Nest Account, collected under Nest’s terms and privacy policies here.
Where will my Nest Account data be after I migrate to a Google Account?
If you choose to migrate, your Nest Account data will become associated with whichever Google Account you choose to migrate to, and this data will be handled as explained in the Google Privacy Policy, subject to some limits as explained below. For users in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the data controller responsible for your information will be Google Ireland Limited. Acting as Google’s service provider, Nest Labs, Inc. will continue to process some of your data that's needed to continue offering some connected home services like energy programs and Nest Aware, subject to Google’s instructions. Nest will also remain the publisher of the Nest app in the iOS and Google Play app stores and will process some of your Google Account data to allow you to use the Nest app, sites, and services with a Google Account.
If I migrate accounts, how will my Nest devices work with Google’s connected home devices and services?
Your Nest devices will become a part of Google Nest’s suite of connected home devices and services, which will include devices and services like Google Home Mini, the Home app, and related connected home services. If you migrate to a Google Account, you can use one account across all of these devices and services.
How can I make my Google Account more secure?
All Google Accounts come with automatic and risk-based sign-in protections. We recommend you take the Security Checkup after migrating to a Google Account. Security Checkup provides personalized guidance to help you secure your account and manage your online security.
Setting up 2-Step Verification (2SV) strengthens the security of your Google Account by adding a second verification step whenever you sign in, such as prompts from a trusted device or the use of a physical security key (the strongest form of 2SV). If you previously had Nest’s 2-Step Verification account security feature enabled, your Nest Account security settings will not transfer to your Google Account. Set up 2SV for your Google Account by visiting g.co/2sv and clicking Get Started.
Learn more about making your Google Account more secure.
How will Google use my Nest Account data if I migrate to a Google Account?
Google will use your data as described in the Google Privacy Policy when you use any Nest or Google service, subject to the limitations explained below. Learn about Google’s commitment to privacy in the home here. You can manage your Google Account information, privacy, and security to make Google work better for you at myaccount.google.com.
Here are some key details about how your Nest data will be managed if you migrate:
Audio recordings and video footage from your Nest camera and Nest Hello video doorbell
Google will use this data to provide and improve the camera features and services you agree to receive, and will not use this data for promotions or ad personalization. To review and delete your video history or your individual saved clips, follow the instructions here.
Sensor readings collected from environmental and activity sensors
Some of your Nest devices include sensors that detect information about your home’s environment and what’s happening in it, such as motion, whether or not someone is home, ambient light, temperature, and humidity. Google will not use sensor readings from your home environment for ad personalization. Google will use this data for other purposes as explained in the Google Privacy Policy, such as providing your Google services and experiences related to the connected home, improving and personalizing them and developing new ones, for maintaining safety and security, and for keeping you informed of relevant Google products, services, and updates. This data will not be available for you to review and delete in My Activity, and turning off your Google activity controls will not stop the collection or retention of this data for these more limited purposes, since these purposes relate to your core connected home devices and services experience. This data is deleted when you delete your account, subject to Google’s account deletion practices.
Google Assistant usage with Nest devices
When you use your Nest device with the Google Assistant or other Works with Assistant programs, such as to explicitly control your devices and services using voice commands via the Assistant or the Home app (“Hey Google, set my temperature to 70 degrees”), these Assistant interactions can be used to show you relevant ads. Learn more in this Help Center article, which explains how the Assistant uses your interactions for personalized services and ads. You can review and delete your past Assistant queries at myactivity.google.com.
Other device usage data
When you are not interacting with Google services like the Assistant, your Nest device usage data (for example, when you manually adjust your thermostat’s temperature settings) will not be used for ad personalization. Google will use this data for other purposes as explained in the Google Privacy Policy, such as providing your Google services and experiences related to the connected home, improving and personalizing them and developing new ones, for maintaining safety and security, and for keeping you informed of relevant Google products, services, and updates. This data will not be available for you to review and delete in My Activity, and turning off your Google activity controls will not stop the collection or retention of this data for these more limited purposes, since these purposes relate to your core connected home devices and services experience. This data is deleted when you delete your account, subject to Google’s account deletion practices.
Location data collected by the Nest app
Nest offers a Home/Away Assist feature that uses inputs from activity sensors in your Nest devices combined with your phone’s location (after you give permission) to automatically modify the behavior of your Nest devices when you leave or return home. Learn more about Home/Away Assist here. You can turn off use of your phone’s location to inform Home/Away Assist in the Nest app at any time.
If you migrate to a Google Account, your location established by the Location History setting in your Google Account is not used by Home/Away Assist, nor is your phone’s location data collected by the Nest app used to establish Location History in your Google Account.
In the future, as we integrate Nest and Google location services to provide new features, we’ll be transparent and give you controls to manage your connected home information.
Data collected from nest.com and its subdomains, including Nest’s online store
The data collected from you when you use the public websites available at nest.com, nest.com subdomains, or Nest’s online store (including payment information and transaction history) will be associated with your Google Account and handled for the purposes set out in the Google Privacy Policy. You can manage your Google settings to limit how Google uses this data.
Other data, such as basic device and technical data
Any other Nest data, such as basic device data like device name, type and attributes, and technical device data like device serial number; IP and MAC address; device hardware and software information; Wi-Fi, network connectivity and settings information; and battery, diagnostics, crash, and performance information; is handled for the purposes set out in the Google Privacy Policy, including to troubleshoot and make your connected home services and experiences better and more reliable. You can manage your Google settings to limit how Google uses this data.
We’re always working on new ways to improve how you experience Google services. We’ll keep you updated on new experiences and product integrations Google offers, and if we change how your information is used, we’ll be transparent and give you controls to manage your connected home information.
If I migrate to Google, will my Nest data be used to personalize Google services unrelated to my connected home experience?
When you actively interact with other Google services using your Nest devices, such as when you use your Nest devices with the Google Assistant, your device data can be used to personalize those services and your other Google experiences, subject to your Google settings. However, when you are not interacting with other Google services, your Nest device usage and device sensor data are used as explained above. This data is used for purposes such as offering features related to the connected home and enabling safety and security across Google services. At this time, this data is not used to personalize other Google services unrelated to your connected home experience. We will continue to work to offer new features and experiences and more integrations across other Google services, and as we do that, we’ll be transparent and give you controls to manage your information.
How will Google use data from my Nest Account for ads?
Google won’t sell your personal information to advertisers and will not share your personal information with companies, organizations, or individuals outside of Google except with your consent, with domain administrators, for external processing, or for legal reasons, all as explained in more detail in the Google Privacy Policy. You can learn about Google Nest’s commitment to privacy in the home here to better understand how we limit the use of certain Nest device data for ad personalization. Nest data that is not specifically restricted as explained above may inform the ads you see, but you can always turn off ad personalization at any time by going to your Google Ad Settings. You can also unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the marketing emails you receive. Learn more about turning off personalized ads.
Will new users of Nest services be required to use Google Accounts?
Yes. New users of Nest services will automatically start with a Google Account at the same time that we make the migration option available to existing users this summer. They will automatically benefit from Google Account security, a set of privacy commitments from Google Nest that apply across our connected home devices and services, and seamless user experiences.
What Terms of Service apply if I migrate from my Nest Account to a Google Account?
You will be subject to the Google Terms of Service if you migrate to a Google Account, as supplemented by these Nest Terms of Service. If you’re based in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, unless stated otherwise in any additional terms, Google services (including the Nest services if you migrate) are provided by Google Ireland Limited, a company incorporated and operating under the laws of Ireland (Registered Number: 368047), and located at Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Works with Nest program
Consumers
What’s happening to the Works with Nest program?
Works with Nest was created in 2014, at a time when there was no single place to manage and control Nest devices alongside other smart home devices. The connected home has evolved significantly since then, and how people interact with and manage their devices has changed as well. Voice interaction and device control is at the center of today’s connected home experience, and the Google Assistant has evolved into a leading home developer platform.
Moving forward, our team will focus on delivering a single consumer and developer experience through the Works with Google Assistant program – a one-stop shop to enable rich cross-product integrations to build a more helpful home. Google Assistant works with over 3,500 home automation brands and more than 30,000 devices, providing key benefits such as:
A single place to manage all your connected home devices from Google, Nest, and smart home partners.
Whole-home control through automated routines, voice control, display and touch surfaces, and the Home app.
Learn more on our Works with Nest blog.
How is Works with Google Assistant different from Works with Nest?
Works with Nest allows many third-party partners direct access and control of your Nest devices (with your permission). Works with Google Assistant enables all your connected devices to be controlled by the Google Assistant through voice, the Google Home or Assistant apps, or through Home View on smart displays (again, with your permission).
From the Home or Assistant apps, you can set up multi-device automated actions, such as morning or bedtime routines, through Assistant Routines. Third parties will no longer be able to ask for permission to directly access or control your Nest devices, thus keeping your data more private.
What will happen to my Works with Nest connections if I migrate my Nest Account to Google?
If you are the owner of a Nest home (you can see your account status in your Nest app settings under Settings > Family), you must remove all your Works with Nest connections before you can migrate to a Google Account. Those connections will not be supported when you use a Google Account. When you migrate, we’ll give you an opportunity to review your Works with Nest connections and decide how you wish to proceed.
Important: If you decide to migrate to a Google Account, it will remove your Works with Nest connections and they will no longer work. This action is not reversible.
What happens to my existing Works with Nest connections if I don’t migrate my Nest Account to Google? When will my connections stop working?
Your existing devices and integrations will continue working with your Nest Account, however you won’t have access to new features that will be available with a Google Account. If we make changes to the existing WWN connections available to you with your Nest Account, we will make sure to keep you informed.
We’ll stop accepting new WWN connections on August 31, 2019. Once your WWN functionality is available on the Works with Google Assistant platform you can migrate with minimal disruption from a Nest Account to a Google Account.
For WWN integrations that cannot be migrated, you will have the option to maintain those integrations with your Nest Account, however, you won’t have access to new features that will be available with a Google Account.
Learn more on our Works with Nest blog.
Can I continue to use my Nest device with Google Assistant after migrating?
Yes, when migrating your Nest Account, just choose the same Google Account you are using for the Google Assistant.
What will happen to my connection with Alexa? Will it stop working?
We recognize you may want your Nest devices to work with other connected ecosystems. We’re working with Amazon to migrate the Nest skill that lets you control your Nest thermostat and view your Nest camera livestream via Amazon Alexa. Additionally, we’re working with other partners to offer connected experiences that deliver more custom integrations.
Developers
I’m a Works with Nest developer. Will my solution still be able to access and control Nest devices?
Your existing integrations will be supported for those using a Nest Account. For users using a Google Account, your existing integrations will no longer be supported.
We encourage all smart home developers to visit the Actions on Google Smart Home developer site to see the ways you can integrate your devices or services with the Google Assistant.
I’m a Works with Nest developer. Will I be able to access and control Nest devices moving forward?
No. The Actions on Google Smart Home platform does not provide open API access to Nest devices, so it cannot be used to access and control Nest devices. Instead, managing and controlling Google Home, Nest, and thousands of third-party smart home devices is done through the Google Home app and the Google Assistant.
Where can I find out more information on Works with Google Assistant and the Actions on Google Smart Home developer program?
If you’re a Nest user, check out the Works with Google Assistant site to learn how to use your Google Assistant to set up access and control devices from Google, Nest, and our partners.
Developers:
If you’re a developer, visit the Actions on Google Smart Home site to learn how to integrate your device or service with the Google Assistant.
My family and connections
Will the homes and family members in my Google Home app match the ones in my Nest app?
If you migrate your existing Nest Account to Google, you’ll be asked to unify your homes and home member lists across the Nest and Home apps. That way, you’ll see one consistent view of your Google home and its members across both apps, with your data being handled as explained in the Google Privacy Policy, with certain controls being consolidated in the Google Home app. Because both apps will show the same home, actions in one app will affect the home as reflected in the other app.
The data will be unified as follows:
Owner of Nest home
If you are the owner of a Nest home (the primary account holder for a Nest structure), when you migrate your Nest Account to your Google Account, you must designate whether or not your Nest home matches one of the homes on your Home app. You must also designate who from your Nest Family Accounts and Google home members can be a member of this unified home with Google.
Here are things that will apply when you unify your home with Google:
Unified home. Your Nest home in your Nest app and your home in your Home app will become one home with Google. If you delete your home from the Home app, it will be deleted, which means it will no longer appear in the Nest app.
Unified members. The same group of members will have access to the unified home reflected across the two apps. This means adding or removing a member from your home in the Home app will result in the same member being added or removed from your home in the Nest app. Here are some key points to note:
All members of your new unified Google home (including you) will have the same rights to this home – which means that the Nest family members you invite to this unified home will have broader rights to this home than they have now to your existing Nest home.
Specifically, your family members can remove you or anyone else from the home at any time using the Home app. Consider who you share your home and devices with and understand the broader rights you are giving them.
Your family members will also continue to have any controls they previously had in the Nest app. For example, they can share any Nest Cam or Nest Hello video stream publicly or privately via the Nest app (learn more).
Unified devices. Nest Thermostat, Nest Protect, Nest Cam, Nest Secure, Nest Hello, Nest x Yale Lock, Nest Connect, and Nest Detect devices associated with your Nest home will become visible in your Google Home app and will be shared with all other members of your Google home. Certain other devices will be added over time. They will also be accessible via the Google Assistant. The Nest app will only show devices that were set up in the Nest app.
If you are the owner of a Nest home and choose to migrate to a Google Account, you can select family members you want to keep in your new unified home with Google at the time of migration.
Nest family members
If you are a family member of a Nest home, you can migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account while still retaining access to the Nest home. However, this Nest home will not be unified with a Google home until the owner of the Nest home migrates to Google and invites you to the new unified home. You can choose to accept or reject this invitation.
You can learn more about how members of your unified home can access, share, control, and use devices.
Going forward, you can use both the Home app and the Nest app with your Google Account to manage the devices in your home.
What key changes apply to my Nest home if I migrate my Nest Account to Google?
If you migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account:
You will need to use the Home app to manage the family members in your home. You will no longer be able to add or remove your family members in the Nest app.
You will need to use the Home app if you wish to rename or delete your unified Google home. You will not be able to do this in the Nest app.
If you are the owner of a Nest home and another member of the home removes you via the Home app, then it will unlink all the Nest devices associated with your Nest home, and you will lose access to the Nest home.
After you migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account, you will still be able to control your existing Nest devices through the Nest app. Certain Nest devices and features will be available in the Home app immediately, with more to be added over time.
Data associated with your unified home with Google will be subject to the Google Privacy Policy.
Services and subscriptions
What happens to my energy services if I migrate my account to Google?
Nest Labs, Inc. will continue to administer, on Google’s behalf and subject to Google’s instructions, some existing Nest services, such as energy programs and Nest Aware. You can continue to manage your energy services through the Nest app. Some of these programs will transition to Google over time.
What happens to my Nest subscriptions if I migrate my account to Google?
You should not see disruption to your Nest subscriptions, such as your Nest Aware service, if you migrate to a Google Account.
If you migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account, before you can purchase any new subscriptions, you must migrate your existing Nest subscriptions to Google Pay. After migrating to a Google Account, you will only be able to purchase new subscriptions from the Google Store and not the Nest Store.