Note: This article is for users who have not migrated their Nest account to a Google Account. Learn about Nest accounts and whether you have a migrated account in our FAQs about accounts on the Nest app.
To improve security, two-step verification is now required for all non-migrated accounts.
- Two-step verification helps prevent someone from signing in to your account on the Nest app without your permission.
- Important: If you aren’t already using two-step verification by text (SMS) by 19 May 2020, you’ll be automatically enrolled in two-step verification by email.
- You should always choose a unique password for your account on the Nest app and not reuse this password in other places.
How two-step verification works
Two-step verification helps prove your identity any time that you sign in to your account or make changes to security settings.
As the name implies, two-step verification relies on two different tools:
- Something you know: Whenever you sign in to the Nest app, you’re asked for your email address and password just like before.
- Something you have: After you enter your password, Nest sends a unique, temporary verification code to your phone or email in order to make sure that it’s really you. Enter the code when prompted and you'll be in.
If you set up two-step verification, you’ll need to enter the code sent to your phone every time that you want to do the following:
- Sign in to your account on the Nest app
- Change your password
- Reset a lost password
- Remove your phone number
Two-step verification requirements
- Make sure that you have the latest version of the Nest app to get the latest features and bug fixes.
Important: After you set up two-step verification, you might not be able to sign in to your account with an older version of the app.
Update Android apps
Update iOS apps - The email address and password that you use to sign in to your account on the Nest app. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset your password with the Nest app.
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A phone that can accept text (SMS) messages and a reliable signal from your operator.
Important: Don’t use two-step verification with a phone number or email address that might become unavailable in the future (like a temporary phone number or someone else’s email). Nest sends a unique passcode to the same phone number or email every time that it requires two-step verification. -
A separate account for each person who can access your Nest home.
Important: It's not recommended to share a single Nest account email address and password with other users. Instead, invite each person to share access with Family Accounts. Otherwise, someone might try to sign in but may not get the verification code.
Add two-step verification to an existing account on the Nest app
When you switch two-step verification on on the Nest app, you’ll receive a text (SMS) message every time that you try to sign in to your account.
- Make sure that you have the latest version of the Nest app to get the latest features and bug fixes.
Update Android apps
Update iOS apps - On the Nest app home screen, tap Settings
.
- Select Account
Manage account.
- Tap Account security.
- Select Two-step verification
- Follow the prompts to enter your password, phone number and the unique verification code sent to your phone.
.
Manage account.Note: When you turn on two-step verification, you'll be automatically signed out of your account in the Nest app on any other phones, tablets or computers that you were using before. You'll need to sign in to each device again using two-step verification.
Change two-step verification settings
Change your phone number
If you plan to get a new phone number and stop using your old one, you should turn off two-step verification
before you deactivate your old line. Then you can turn two-step verification back on with your new number.
Important: You’ll need to enter a verification code from your old phone number one last time. This is a
security precaution to confirm your identity and help protect your account.
- On the Nest app home screen, tap Settings
- Select Account
- Tap Account security.
- Select Phone number
- Follow the prompts to enter your password and the temporary verification code sent to your old
phone number. This will turn off two-step verification. - Follow the steps to set up two-step verification again with your new phone number.
Remove SMS two-step verification
When you turn off two-step verification on the Nest app:
- You’re still required to verify your identity when signing in to your account on the Nest app.
- Instead of receiving a text (SMS) message with the verification code, you’ll get an email with the verification code.
Important: You won’t be able to turn off two-step verification without your phone. Nest sends a verification code to your phone one final time to help ensure that you’re the one requesting this security change.
- On the Nest app home screen, tap Settings
- Select Account
- Tap Account security.
- Select Two-step verification
- Follow the prompts to enter your password and the temporary verification code sent to your existing phone. You'll then be asked to confirm that you want to turn off two-step verification.
Troubleshoot two-step verification
If you haven't received a verification code
Check whether the verification code was sent to your phone or email. The Nest app will tell you which it is. Then, follow the steps for your phone or email below.
Phone
- Check the Nest app for the last four digits of the phone number that the verification code was sent to. If the phone number is incorrect, contact Nest support for assistance.
- If the phone number is correct, make sure that your phone has a good mobile signal. The text message may take a few minutes to send.
- If several minutes have passed and you still haven’t received a verification code, request a new one on the app.
- Make sure that you’re looking at the email associated with your account on the Nest app.
- Search for emails from account@nest.com.
- Check spam or junk.
- If several minutes have passed and you still haven’t received a verification code, request a new one on the app.
If you can't access your phone number or the email address to which we sent the verification code
- Contact your phone or email service provider’s support for help regaining access to your phone number or email account. For instance, if you can’t remember your email account’s password, you should be able to reset the password on your email provider’s website and then access your email account to view the email that we sent you.
- If you can’t regain access to your phone number or email after contacting their support, you’ll have to factory reset your Nest products, and then add them to a new account. Note: You’ll have to re-invite people to share access to your home in your new account, and you’ll lose any video history and device settings information.
Factory reset Nest camera and doorbell
Factory reset Nest thermostat
Factory reset Nest Protect
Factory reset Nest × Yale lock - If you have issues adding a Nest product to your account, refer to troubleshooting steps in the Google Nest Help Centre.