Set up & install your Nest Temperature Sensor

Your Nest Temperature Sensor connects to your thermostat to report the temperature in a different location in your home. Use it to make sure a certain room is the exact temperature you want it to be. Learn about your Nest Temperature Sensor.

Follow these steps to set up and install your temperature sensor:

 

This article applies to the following Google Nest thermostat models in the US and Canada:
Nest Thermostat E	Nest Learning Thermostat
How to tell which Nest thermostat you have

 

Tip: There are 2 generations of the Nest Temperature Sensor, but both are compatible with the Google Nest Thermostat E and Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen and 4th gen). Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) comes with a Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen), but older temperature sensors are compatible as well.

Nest Temperature Sensor (1st gen)	Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen)

Step 1: Add the sensor to your account

Google Home app

Important:

• If the device has been used before, remove the battery and leave it out for 48 to 72 hours to reset your Nest thermostat. If this step doesn’t fix the issue, insert a new battery before you continue.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top right, tap Add Device .
   • Or, if a setup screen for your device appears, tap Set up or Next.

     • If it’s not the correct device, tap Not now or Set up a different device.
       Tip: If you’ve already removed the battery pull tab, open the back of the sensor to find the QR code. For the Nest Temperature Sensor (1st gen), insert a coin in the slot on the back of your sensor and turn to unscrew the backplate. The backplate of the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) can be turned by hand. You’ll find the QR code inside

3. Scan the QR code of your device. A check mark appears when the scan is complete.
   • Or, tap Add a different way, enter your device in the search bar, then select your device.
     • If it’s a Google or Matter-enabled device, select your device.

     • Otherwise, select the device’s app, then tap Link app or Check for devices and select your device.

4. Wait for your app to connect to the device. Once it’s finished, you’ll see a confirmation screen that says, “Connected.”
   
5. Follow the in-app steps to complete setup.
6. Pull out the battery tab.
   Tip: If you have pulled out the battery tab or your device doesn’t have one, tap Next.
7. Take your sensor to a spot you’d like to keep at a comfortable temperature.
8. The Google Home app will test the connection to make sure you’ve chosen a spot that will work. Connection can take up to one minute.

If the connection fails, go to Troubleshoot issues with the Nest Temperature Sensor.

Nest app

1. Tap the Settings icon on the Nest app home screen.

2. Tap Add Product .

3. Scan the QR code located on the Nest Temperature Sensor’s battery pull tab. Your app will add the sensor to your account.
   Tip: If you’ve already removed the battery pull tab, open the back of the sensor to find the QR code. For the Nest Temperature Sensor (1st gen), insert a coin in the slot on the back of your sensor and turn to unscrew the backplate. The backplate of the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen) can be turned by hand. You’ll find the QR code inside. If you need help, tap Show me how in the Nest app when trying to scan the QR code.
4. Remove the battery pull tab.
5. Pick a spot for your sensor and choose a thermostat to associate it with. The Nest app will test the connection to make sure you’ve chosen a spot that will work.
6. Choose a room name for your sensor.

For more information, go to Troubleshoot issues with the Nest Temperature Sensor.

Step 2: Place or mount your sensor

Before you install your sensor, there are some important things you should know about exactly where to place it, and where not to.

Depending on where you place your sensor, your system might have to work longer and use more energy to keep you comfortable.

It’s best to put your temperature sensor:

• In a room where you spend a lot of time, such as your bedroom or living room. Your sensor will then be able to tell your thermostat to change the temperature based on the room where you are.
• About chest high. Air is generally warmer near the ceiling and cooler near the floor. If you install the sensor too high or too low, your system may overheat or overcool the room because it’s responding to the wrong temperature.
• Within a maximum of 50 feet (15 m) of your thermostat, so the sensor and thermostat can communicate wirelessly. You may need to place them closer together because the wireless range can be reduced by walls, floors, appliances, furniture and other electronics.
  Tip: Keep in mind that even in the same room, the temperature will be different on a high shelf versus a low table, so choose a location that makes sense in your home. Also, different rooms can be warmer or colder based on the number of windows, the orientation, or ceiling height.

Do not place your temperature sensor:

• Near heat sources such as vents, stoves, or hot water pipes.
• Outside.
• On or near a window or other uninsulated surface (such as a brick wall) that can get much warmer or cooler than the room.
• In direct sunlight.
• In a partly or completely enclosed location where the air may not circulate enough. For example, avoid placing your sensor behind a painting, in a closet, inside a vase, or behind books on a bookshelf.
• In rooms that are much colder or hotter than the rest of your home, such as the basement or attic. The temperature difference can cause your thermostat to heat or cool the rest of your home to an uncomfortable temperature.
• Too high or too low in a room. Place it about chest high.
• Outside of the zone the thermostat is controlling, if you have a system with 2 or more thermostats: you can use the app to reassign the thermostat your sensor is connected to.
• The Nest Temperature sensor is not designed for use inside or around any appliances in your home, such as refrigerators, stoves, microwaves or televisions.

Important: Do not paint or cover your Nest Temperature Sensor.

Other rooms where a sensor can help

• Baby’s room: A sensor in the baby’s room can help make sure the room is at an ideal temperature.
• Bedrooms: A sensor in your bedroom can help keep your room comfortable while you sleep.
• Extra large rooms: Very large rooms may not heat or cool as quickly as the rest of the house. A sensor in an extra large room can help keep you more comfortable.

How to place temperature sensors in zoned systems

Zoned systems use multiple thermostats to control heating and cooling in different areas or floors in the home.

• If you have a zoned system, make sure you place your temperature sensors in the same zone as the thermostat they’re connected to. For example, if your thermostat controls the first floor of your home, make sure to place your sensor on the first floor.
• If you place a sensor outside of the thermostat zone, the zones in your home will probably be too hot or cold. Your system may use more energy than you expect, and it will also probably not start or stop when you expect it to.

Note: You can connect a sensor to more than one thermostat. However, we only recommend this setup if you have one Nest thermostat that only controls heating and one that only controls cooling.

Step 3: Install your sensor

The Nest Temperature Sensor is wireless and easy to install. You have two options:

Option 1: Place it on a flat surface

The sensor will sit on a flat surface, like a shelf, without sliding around.

Option 2: Mount it on a wall

Install the longer screws included in the box where you want and hang your sensor using the screw hole on the back. Nest screws are specially designed so you shouldn’t need to drill a pilot hole for most installations. You may need to drill a pilot if you’re mounting your sensor on a hard surface.

Tip: Before mounting your sensor, you may want to use it for a week or two to make sure it’s working well in its location. This way, you won’t leave a screw hole in the wall if you need to move it.

Step 4: Choose sensor options

After you’ve installed all your sensors you can choose to:

• Manually select which sensors to use.
• Add your sensors to your thermostat schedule.
• Only use your sensor to control the temperature in other rooms instead of your thermostat.
• Adjust the temperature manually or by scheduling it using the Home app.
• Just use your sensor to monitor the temperature, but not to control your thermostat.

How to manually select the active temperature sensor.

Use your sensor to only monitor the temperature

When you set up your sensor, you have the option to connect to a thermostat in your home.

After the setup, if you decide to use your sensor to only monitor the temperature and not affect the thermostat, you can disconnect them by following these steps:

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap Home   Climate   your thermostat.
3. Tap Settings Associate with.
4. Uncheck the thermostat the sensor is connected to.
5. Tap the back arrow to exit the menu view.

Learn about your Nest Temperature Sensor

Your sensor tells your Nest thermostat a particular room’s temperature, helping it heat or cool that room more accurately and making you more comfortable.

How your sensor can help

Some situations can cause your thermostat to underheat or undercool parts of your home. For example, your rooms might not have the same temperature because of differences in the number of windows, level of insulation, and room size. Your thermostat's location can also be a factor, like when it's located downstairs, so upstairs rooms become either too cold or too warm.

Most homes heat and cool unevenly.

Your sensors detect the temperature of the room they’re in and send it to your Nest thermostat. When a sensor is active, your thermostat heats or cools until the sensor’s room reaches the target temperature so you can be more comfortable there.

You can schedule when your temperature sensors are active, so your thermostat will know when to focus on keeping a specific room comfortable.

Nest Temperature Sensor basics

Your sensor wirelessly connects to your thermostat. Connect the two with either the Google Home app, for the Nest Temperature Sensor (2nd gen), or the Nest app. Once you connect them, you can set a schedule for your sensor. While active, your sensor’s temperature will be used by your thermostat instead of its own internal temperature sensors.

When a temperature sensor is active, your thermostat will try to maintain the current target temperature in that room.

For example, you set your thermostat to 70°F (21°C) to keep your home comfortable. But your thermostat shuts off when the air near your thermostat is about 70°F (21°C). Other parts of your house, such as your living room, might only be 68°F (20°C).

Place a sensor in your living room (check the house graphic) so your thermostat shuts off heating once that space’s temperature reaches 70°F (21°C). However, other parts of your home, such as the second floor, can get a little warmer than the living room. For example, your upstairs rooms might heat up to 73°F (23°C).

What happens in rooms without sensors

If you place your sensor in poorly insulated rooms or near large windows, your system will have to work harder to keep those rooms comfortable.

When a temperature sensor is active, other rooms in your home may get warmer or cooler than you prefer.

Inefficient HVAC systems also cause larger temperature differences between rooms. For instance, rooms that are farther away from your system can sometimes be warmer or cooler than the rest of your home.

If other rooms feel uncomfortable while the sensor’s running, adjust your thermostat a few degrees to balance the temperature. Although your sensor will keep you comfortable, your climate system will work harder during scheduled active periods. You might notice an increase in energy use in your thermostat’s energy history and your monthly Nest Home Report.

How a sensor can help prevent extreme energy use

Both your sensor and Nest thermostat help prevent your HVAC system from running too hard. You might get the following if the temperature difference between where your Nest thermostat and sensor are installed is more than a few degrees:

• An "M12" error on your thermostat
• A message from the Google Home app
• A message from the Nest app

Related resources

• Thermostat Energy History
• Learn about the Nest Home Report
• Troubleshooting when a Nest Temperature Sensor isn't in a good spot