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Learn about cellular backup for Nest Secure

 

You will only be able to purchase new cellular backup service through one of our partners as part of a bundled service plan.

Customers who purchased cellular backup directly from Nest can continue their subscription at the current bill rate.

Customers of cellular backup who complete payment migration to Google Pay will receive cellular backup service at no additional charge. This offer is only available to customers who purchased cellular backup directly from Nest.

Customers who purchased cellular backup directly from Nest can continue using cellular backup service at no additional charge after they complete payment migration to Google Pay. This offer is only available to customers who purchased cellular backup directly from Nest. 

If you have a cellular backup subscription and no Nest Aware subscription

  • You will need to migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account.
  • After you migrate to a Google Account, we’ll automatically refund the rest of your paid cellular backup subscription, and you’ll continue to receive the service.

If you have both cellular backup and Nest Aware subscriptions

You will continue to be billed for your cellular backup and Nest Aware subscriptions as usual until:

  1. You migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account.
  2. You add a new Nest Aware subscription to a camera and switch your payment method to GPay (you will be required to do this when you checkout).
  3. Once you’re on the GPay system, you’ll get a refund for the rest of your paid cellular backup subscription, and you’ll continue to receive the service.

If you choose not to migrate to a Google Account

  • Nest will continue to bill you at your current rate.

Normally, Google Nest Guard uses Wi-Fi to connect to the Nest Service in the cloud so you can get
alerts and manage security settings on your phone no matter where you are.

If your home Wi-Fi goes down, Nest Guard and Google Nest Detect can still sense activity and sound
alarms. But they’ll appear as Offline in the Nest app and you won’t be able to manage their
settings or receive alerts on your phone.

A cellular backup subscription is one way to make Nest Guard and Nest Detect even more
reliable. It can help Nest Guard stay connected to your phone when: 

  • Your home’s Wi-Fi network temporarily stops working
  • Your home’s internet service is interrupted
  • Your home loses power, which usually means it loses Wi-Fi and internet too

Note: During a power outage, Nest Guard’s 12-hour backup battery can still maintain basic
security functions like sensing activity and sounding alarms. To learn how this works, see How Google Nest Secure keeps working if the power goes out.

What you get with a cellular backup subscription 

Cellular backup connects Nest Guard to a nearby cellular network, just like your cell phone. This table shows how Nest Guard works with and without a cellular backup subscription.

With the Nest app on your phone When Wi-Fi is
working
normally
Wi-Fi down:
With cellular
backup
Wi-Fi down:
No cellular
backup
Arm and disarm with the app, even
if you’re not home
check mark icon check mark icon  
Get security alerts about alarms
and other important events
check mark icon check mark icon  
Change settings for Nest Guard check mark icon check mark icon  
Get up to date status information in 
Security History
check mark icon check mark icon  
Change assignments and settings
for Google Nest Tags and Nest Guard passcodes
check mark icon check mark icon  

 

Directly on your Nest Guard                         When Wi-Fi is
working
normally
Wi-Fi down:
With cellular
backup
Wi-Fi down:
No cellular
backup
Sense activity (both Nest Guard
and Nest Detect)
check mark icon check mark icon check mark icon
Sound a Heads-Up or alarm check mark icon check mark icon check mark icon
Silence an alarm with an existing
passcode or Nest Tag
check mark icon check mark icon check mark icon
Arm or disarm with an existing
passcode or Nest Tag
check mark icon check mark icon check mark icon
Sound a Panic Alarm check mark icon check mark icon check mark icon
Get software updates check mark icon check mark icon  

 

When you subscribe to cellular backup, Guard will regularly check that it has a good
cellular connection. If the cellular connection drops or weakens, the Nest service can send
a notification to your phone to let you know.

What you need to subscribe to cellular backup

Adding a cellular backup subscription is quick and easy. Here’s what you’ll need to get
started:

  • Wi-Fi connection: Cellular backup is not a substitute for Wi-Fi. You need a working Wi-Fi
    connection in your home to subscribe to cellular backup and to use Nest Guard on a day
    to day basis.

  • Cellular coverage: Nest will automatically check the signal strength where Nest Guard is
    installed.

Note: If the signal isn’t strong enough, the Nest app will let you know and you won’t be
able to subscribe. You can try switching Nest Guard to Off Nest Guard off and then moving it to a
different spot in your home where the signal may be stronger. Because your Wi-Fi router
can cause interference with cellular signals, you should install Nest Guard at least 3 feet
away from your router.

Cellular backup helps keep your Nest Guard connected. It isn’t designed to work with
other products like Google Nest Thermostat or Google Nest Cam. During a Wi-Fi outage, those other
products will appear as Offline in the Nest app.

What happens when cellular backup kicks in 

Nest Guard automatically connects to cellular backup whenever it needs to. You don’t have
to change any settings. The Nest app will indicate that Guard is on cellular backup and
Guard's Info info button button will light up yellow. After your home Wi-Fi comes back online, Nest
Guard automatically switches back to Wi-Fi.

What happens if the cellular backup connection goes down

In the rare event your Nest Guard loses its connection to the local cellular network and Wi-
Fi goes down at the same time, the Nest service sends a notification to your phone to let
you know what happened.

During the outage, you won’t be able to use the Nest app on your phone for security alerts
and settings. But Nest Guard will continue to monitor activity and sound alarms, and you
can enter your passcode directly on Nest Guard (or use your Nest Tag) to arm and disarm.

How to buy 

You can get cellular backup as part of a product or service bundle from one of our partners.
For more information, read How to purchase cellular backup.

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