We optimized the computer version of the Nest app to take advantage of your bigger screen and mouse. So if you’re accustomed to the Nest app on a phone or tablet, you’ll notice some changes.
A few advanced camera features are only available in the computer version of the app, while other features have been disabled on the computer version for security reasons.
How to use the Nest app on a computer
You don’t need to install anything on your Windows or Mac computer.
Go to home.nest.com with a web browser (Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, or Firefox).
How to open the Settings menu
From the home screen:
- Click your photo in the upper right (or the generic
icon , if you haven't added a photo).
- Select Settings
from the menu that appears.
If you've already clicked on a product, select Settings 
How to manage your account and view your messages
On a phone or tablet, you would normally tap Settings 
On a computer, follow these steps instead.
From the home screen:
- Click your photo in the upper right (or the generic
- Select Settings
to view your message history.
to view your message history.If you’ve already clicked on a product (other than a camera):
- On the left side of the screen, click your photo (or the generic
- Select Settings
How to switch homes
If you have more than one home in your account, here’s how to get to the other one.
From the home screen:
- Click your home
in the upper right.
- In the menu that appears, select the home you wish to switch to.
If you’ve already clicked on a product (other than a camera):
- On the left side of the screen, click your photo (or the generic
- In the menu that appears, select the home you wish to switch to.
How to view and manage your Nest products
On the home screen at home.nest.com, click a product to bring up its detailed view. From there, the interface is pretty much the same as the Nest app on your phone or tablet. Scroll down to see tabs for product-specific options including Settings.
You may notice a few differences, such as features that are only available on a computer. More about those, below.
Differences in the computer version
The home screen looks a lot like the Nest app on a phone or tablet, with each of your products organized by their “where” labels.
Once you click a product, the home screen moves over to the left, and the product fills the rest of the window.
Things you can only do on a computer
If you have a Nest Cam, Nest Hello or Dropcam, there are a few things you can only do from home.nest.com on a computer.
- Control sharing permissions for your camera's video stream
- Create a timelapse video
Other than that, you can use the Nest app on a phone or tablet to view and manage all your Nest products like you would on a computer.
Learn more about using home.nest.com to create, share, and video clips.
Things you can't do on a computer
Nest Secure (including Guard and Detect)
Some Google Nest Secure features are disabled on a computer. For example, you cannot:
- Change security levels, but you can manually switch between Home and Away modes to arm or disarm your system if you have this option enabled in Home/Away Assist settings.
- Change anybody’s passcode
- Manage subscriptions such as cellular backup or professional monitoring
However, you can do a number of things like:
- View the current security level (Off, Home and Guarding or Away and Guarding)
- View the status of all your sensors, including issues like Google Nest Detect having a low battery
- Change certain settings
- View Technical Info (software version etc.)
Nest x Yale Lock
Most Google Nest × Yale Lock features are disabled on a computer. For example, you cannot:
- Lock or unlock the door
- View or change a passcode
- Change settings for Auto-Lock, One Touch Locking, or Privacy Mode
- View Lock History
However, you can do a limited number of things like:
- See whether the lock is locked or unlocked
- Change your settings for receiving notifications
- Change the location name of your lock
Nest Protect
You can use the Nest app on a phone to silence smoke and CO alarms on a 2nd generation Nest Protect. But you can’t use a computer to do this. To learn more about when and how you can silence Nest Protect alarms, see the following article:
Nest cameras and video doorbells
If you have a Google Nest Aware subscription, you can create video clips to download and share recorded footage. While you can do this on a computer as well as a phone, it’s a little different in each place. See the following article for more information.
How to use features that are unavailable on a computer
If you want to do any of the above, you’ll need to use the Nest app on a phone or tablet.