How to tell which Nest thermostat you have

Google Nest thermostats look similar, and share similar software, but there are some important differences that you’ll need to know for troubleshooting, installation and more. You can look at the display, the base, or in the Nest app to find out which Nest thermostat you have.

Nest Thermostat	Nest Thermostat E

Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd gen	Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd gen	Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen

Differences in the ring and display 

The tables below show key differences between thermostats.

Nest Thermostat	Nest Thermostat E
Mirrored screen	Translucent white screen
3.19 in (8.1 cm) diameter around display	3.19 in (8.1 cm) diameter around display
Touch bar on the right side of the ring: also comes in different colors (Refer to the colors below).	White plastic ring

Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd gen	Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd gen	Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen
Large screen 3.25 in (8.26 cm) illuminated screen diameter	Small screen 1.8 in (4.57 cm) illuminated screen diameter	Small screen 1.8 in(4.57 cm) illuminated screen diameter
3.3 in (8.4 cm)	3.27 in (8.3 cm)
Stainless steel ring: also comes in different colors (Refer to the colors below).	Stainless steel ring	Seam on stainless steel ring

 

The Nest Thermostat can be in different colors. If you have a thermostat that looks like one of these, you have a Nest Thermostat.

The 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat’s stainless steel ring can also be in different colors. If you have a thermostat ring that looks like one of these, you have a 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat.

Copper	White	Black
Brass	Polished steel	Mirror black

Differences in the thermostat base 

If looking at the display isn’t enough to tell you which thermostat you have, you can also pull off the display and look at the base. You should be able to tell right away. Refer to the table below for key differences between the different Nest thermostat bases.

Nest Thermostat	Nest Thermostat E
Six wire connectors	Six wire connectors
Blue bubble level on top	Blue bubble level on top
Screw holes at the top and bottom	Screw holes at the top and bottom
Rectangular display connectors on the left and right sides	Oval display connector at bottom
Oval wire hole	Circular wire hole
Color of base will match color of display

 

	Nest Learning Thermostat  3rd gen	Nest Learning  Thermostat  2nd gen	Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen
	Ten wire connectors	Ten wire connectors	Eight wire connectors in straight rows
	Blue bubble level on top	Yellow bubble level on bottom	Yellow bubble level on top
	Screw holes at top and bottom	Screw holes at top and bottom	Screw holes on left and right sides
	Oval display connector at bottom	Rectangular display connector at bottom	Rectangular display connector at bottom
	Circular wire hole	Circular wire hole	Rectangular wire hole

Differences in the Home app

To view your thermostat’s controls and settings, open the Home app   touch and hold your thermostat's tile  at the top right, tap Settings .

For the Nest Thermostat, all available controls and settings are in the Home app. So you can do things like change the temperature schedule  and use a temperature preset .

For all other thermostats, settings and controls will vary depending on the model you have and the software it runs. You can at least use basic controls for temperature (like changing the target temperature) and mode (Heat, Cool, Heat • Cool, and Off) in the Home app. To change other settings, you may have to use the Nest app or the thermostat display.

Nest Thermostat	Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat

To change more settings for the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat, use the Nest app or the thermostat display.

Differences in the Nest app

Note: The Nest app is only compatible with the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat. To view the Nest Thermostat, use the Home app.

The app colors and design will reflect which thermostat you have. If you have a Nest Learning Thermostat, the app background will be orange or blue to match your thermostat’s screen. If you have a Nest Thermostat E, the app background will be mostly white and shades of gray.

Nest Thermostat E	Nest Learning Thermostat

 You can also find out which model of thermostat you have by going to its technical info.

In the Home app

1. Touch and hold your device's tile.
2. At the top right, tap Settings .
3. Device information.
4. Under “Technical information,” the model name of your thermostat will appear.

In the Nest app

1. Select your thermostat on the app home screen.
2. Tap Settings .
3. Select Technical info.
4. Refer to the numbers next to the “Display model” of your thermostat. The first digit of the number tells you what thermostat you have:
   • 1.xx is a 1st gen Nest Learning Thermostat
   • 2.xx is a 2nd gen Nest Learning Thermostat
   • 3.xx is a 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat
   • 4.xx is a Nest Thermostat E

For example, the display model in the pictured example is 2.12, so it’s a 2nd generation Nest Learning Thermostat.

Different thermostat model parts are not interchangeable

• As long as the thermostat base is from the same model, generation, and country/region as the thermostat display, you can swap bases and displays. 
• The displays and bases of various thermostat models are not interchangeable, even though they may look similar.
• WARNING: If you attempt to connect parts from different thermostat models, it may damage your thermostat as well as your system.
• The display connector on the thermostat base is different for all 3 generations of the Nest Learning Thermostat. In addition, the connectors for the system wires are different between thermostat models.

High voltage and low voltage parts are incompatible

Some countries (such as the UK, France, and The Netherlands) use high voltage wiring for thermostats while others (such as the US and Canada) use low voltage wiring. High voltage and low voltage thermostat parts are not compatible with each other, and should not be used together. 

WARNING: Any attempt to connect low and high voltage thermostat parts may damage them as well as your system. Do not mix and match these bases and displays, even if the thermostats are the same model and generation.

You can tell which type of base you have by looking at the wire connectors:

• Low voltage wiring: 6 or 8 connectors, labeled with letters like Y1, W1 and C.
• High voltage wiring: 2 connectors, labeled with T1 and T2, or not labeled at all.

Low voltage wiring (example)	High voltage wiring (example)