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Fix Nest camera or doorbell Wi-Fi connection issues

If your Google Nest camera or doorbell is offline, it can't stream live video or save video to the cloud. Other connection issues might cause the video to pause or skip.

These signs might also indicate a connection issue:

  • You get a notification or email that your camera is offline or has disconnected.
  • The app says that your camera is offline, that there's a weak connection or that the upload speed is too low.
  • Your camera's status light is off.
  • Your camera's video history has gaps when the camera was offline or powered off. Note: If your camera has event video history, gaps when no events were detected are normal.

Important: To troubleshoot, you'll need physical access to your camera or doorbell.

After each step, wait a few minutes and then check whether your camera or doorbell still has connection issues.

Check the Wi-Fi connection in your home

Check whether other devices in your home can connect to Wi-Fi. For example, try to connect to a website with your browser. If you're using a mobile phone, turn off mobile data and turn on Wi-Fi before you test the connection.

If none of your devices can connect, contact your Internet service provider to check the service status in your area and to get help with your connection.

Check your Internet bandwidth and speed

For your camera or doorbell to maintain a stable Wi-Fi connection, it needs the required amount of bandwidth to upload video to the cloud.

  1. To check your camera's bandwidth requirements, go to Internet bandwidth and speed requirements for Nest cameras.
  2. Check whether your Internet service plan provides enough bandwidth to support all your cameras. To get enough bandwidth, you might need to change your plan.
  3. Use a mobile device to run an Internet speed test as close as possible to your camera. If the speed is less than expected, your camera might be out of range of your router, or something might be interfering with the Wi-Fi. To troubleshoot, continue to the next steps.

Move your camera, router or other objects

Your camera or doorbell might disconnect when it's slightly out of range of your Wi-Fi. It can also disconnect due to wireless interference from other electronics, large furniture, appliances, walls and floors.

  • If feasible, move your camera a foot or two away from its original location.
  • Move your Wi-Fi router and camera or doorbell closer to each other.
  • If possible, move objects that might cause wireless interference away from your camera, doorbell or router. Note: For more help, go to Troubleshoot wireless interference.

If one of these steps resolves the issue but you want to move the device back to where it was, you might need to extend your Wi-Fi network's range.

Restart your camera or doorbell

Restart your camera or doorbell to refresh its connection.

After your camera restarts, wait a few minutes, and then check its video stream. If the live video stream appears, your camera has reconnected.

Turn off other devices connected to Wi-Fi

Your camera or doorbell might have connection issues because other devices in your home are using a lot of bandwidth. Your network might not be able to support all your devices, especially when they're running multiple high-bandwidth activities like the following:

  • Video calls and meetings
  • Audio and video streaming
  • Online games
  1. To increase available bandwidth, disconnect another device from your Wi-Fi.
    • Depending on the device, you might need to disconnect it in its connection settings or simply unplug it.
    • If you have another Nest camera, you can also turn off its video stream.
  2. Wait a few minutes, and then check whether your camera now has a stable Wi-Fi connection.
  3. If your camera still has issues, continue to disconnect other devices in your home. Check your camera each time that you disconnect a device.

To help your camera stay connected when other devices are online, try the following steps:

Check the power

Check that your camera or doorbell is powered on.

Nest cameras

  1. If your camera is running on battery power, check whether the battery charge is low and charge it if needed. Cold temperatures can affect your camera's battery life, so you may need to charge it more often.
  2. If your camera is plugged into a power source, make sure that the power is switched on at the circuit breaker box. If your home's power is switched on but there's no power, there might be a power outage. In this case, contact your local energy service provider.
  3. Plug your camera into a different power socket and check if it turns on. If your camera works with the new socket, you might have to move your camera or contact an electrician to fix the socket.
  4. If power is on for your home but your camera doesn't seem to work in any socket, the power cable might have an issue. Replace the cable and check whether your camera works.
  5. If you've connected your Nest Cam (battery) to the solar panel, it can't charge your camera when temperatures fall below 0°C (32°F). You may need to take your camera indoors and charge it with the included charging cable.

Cold weather battery charging behaviour in Nest cameras and doorbells

Nest doorbells

  1. If you have a Nest Doorbell (battery), check whether the battery charge is low, and charge it if needed. Cold temperatures can affect the battery life, so you may need to charge it more often.
  2. The battery can't charge when temperatures fall below 0°C (32°F). In cold weather, you may need to bring the battery indoors and charge it with the included charging cable.
    • If your Nest Doorbell (battery) is connected to another power source, it still uses battery power to work. You may need to manually charge the battery in cold weather.
  3. If your doorbell is wired to your home's doorbell system or plugged in with a power adaptor, check that your home has power and that your doorbell is wired correctly.
  4. If your doorbell uses the doorbell wiring to stay powered and is properly connected, check the wire voltage. If it doesn't meet the voltage and power requirements, you might need to upgrade the power transformer.

Cold weather battery charging behaviour in Nest cameras and doorbells

Check the app version

Make sure that you have the latest version of the Google Home app or Nest app to get the latest features and bug fixes.

Update Android apps
Update iOS apps

Restart the modem and router

Restart your router, modem and any Wi-Fi range extenders or repeaters that you have. For instructions, check the user manual or manufacturer's website for each device.

Note: Many modems and routers restart if you unplug them, wait 30 seconds and then plug them back in.

After you restart your modem or router, wait until the power and connection lights are steady. The data light might also start flashing. Then, check whether the connection issues are resolved.

Check if your camera or doorbell feels too warm or cold

In order to work, your camera or doorbell needs to be in a place that's within its operating temperatures. If it gets too warm or cold, it might disconnect from Wi-Fi to help protect itself. Also, if it has a battery, temperatures below 0°C (32°F) affect its battery life and charging behaviour.

If your camera feels unusually warm, unplug it and let it cool down. Plug it back in and check whether it comes back online.

Note: If your indoor camera is too warm, make sure that it's not in direct sunlight, above a fireplace or near a vent or another heat source. If it is, you might need to move it to another location to resolve the issue.

For more help, go to Nest camera or doorbell gets hot.

Move or disable any network extenders

Your main router sometimes has a better connection than your network extenders. Also, if your camera or doorbell tries to connect to an incompatible extender, it can experience connection issues.

  1. If possible, move your network extender closer to your camera or doorbell.
  2. If your camera or doorbell still has connection issues, unplug or disable any network extenders.

Check your Wi-Fi network or router settings

Incompatible settings on your home Wi-Fi router can cause your camera or doorbell to disconnect or show as offline in the app.

Recommended Wi-Fi network and router settings

Factory reset your camera or doorbell

Important: A factory reset permanently deletes your camera's video history and snapshots. Before you start the reset, make sure that you save any clips that you want to keep.

If none of the other troubleshooting steps worked, factory reset your camera or doorbell.

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