Google offers a smart home skill for integrating your Nest devices with Amazon's Alexa home control.
With the Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa, you can do things like:
- Tell Alexa to change the temperature of your home.
- Show your Nest camera’s live view on Alexa devices with a display.
- Get notified when someone rings the doorbell.
- Talk to a visitor through your doorbell.
- Get Alexa to announce when your doorbell or camera detects motion.
The Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa supports the following Nest devices:
- Nest cameras and doorbells
- Nest thermostats
Important: The Google Nest skill is available worldwide, but specific settings and features may not be available in every region. For more information about availability in your region, check the Help and feedback section of your Alexa app.
Enable the Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa
- Confirm that your Nest account has been migrated to a Google Account.
- If needed, follow the steps to migrate your Nest account to a Google Account.
Note: Certain Google Accounts can't be used for migration, including Google Workspace accounts. - Use the Alexa app or the Amazon website to find and enable the Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa.
For more detailed instructions, go to the Amazon website.
The Google Nest skill is titled 'Google Nest' and uses the same multicoloured 'G' that's on the 'Sign in with Google' button in the Nest app. If you don't find the Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa in the Alexa app or on the Amazon website, the skill is not available for your particular locale.
Note: You need to be a member of the Nest home in order to enable the Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa.
Add or remove a Nest device from Alexa
Add a new Nest thermostat, camera or doorbell:
- Add your Nest device to the Google Home app
.
- At the top right of the app home screen, tap your account profile
Home app settings.
- Tap Partner connections
- Turn on permissions for your new device.
- Say 'Alexa, discover my devices'.
.
Home app settings.Remove a Nest device:
- Do either of these steps.
- Turn off Alexa partner connections permissions for that device.
- Remove your device from the Home or Nest app.
- Wait a few minutes, then refresh the Alexa app.
You can control your Nest thermostat when you talk to an Alexa-enabled device, like an Amazon Echo Show or Dot. Here are some things that you can say:
How to say your thermostat's name
Wherever you find the 'thermostat name' in the examples below, you should say the thermostat's name as it appears in the Alexa app.
Ask about the room's temperature or thermostat's target temperature
'Alexa, what's the temperature in [thermostat name]?'
'Alexa, what's the temperature in the house?'
'Alexa, what temperature is my [thermostat name] set to?'
Set a specific target temperature
'Alexa, set the [thermostat name] temperature to ___ degrees.'
'Alexa, change the [thermostat name] to ___ degrees.'
'Alexa, turn my [thermostat name] temperature to ___ degrees.'
Increase or decrease the target temperature
'Alexa, decrease the [thermostat name] temperature.'
'Alexa, increase the [thermostat name] by ___ degrees.'
'Alexa, make my [thermostat name] warmer by ___ degrees.'
If you ask Alexa to change the temperature without specifying how much, it will change the temperature by 1°C or 2°F.
Alexa controls your Nest thermostat a bit differently when it's in Heat • Cool mode, which can automatically switch between heating and cooling, as needed. For instance, if you ask Alexa to set the temperature to 22°C (72°F), both the lower and upper limit of your thermostat's temperature range should be set to the 20–24°C (68–75°F range).
Note: Alexa won't be able to control your Nest thermostat if it's set to an Eco Temperature, is in Off mode, is using emergency heat or if there's an Emergency Shut-off.
Switch your thermostat's mode
You might want to change your thermostat's mode when the seasons change, or you might want to switch to an Eco Temperature before everybody leaves.
'Alexa, set the [thermostat name] to ___ mode.'
Depending on the equipment that you've installed, your available modes may include Heat, Cool, Heat • Cool or Eco.
The Google Nest skill for Amazon Alexa lets you watch your camera's live view with an Alexa device that has a display; for example, Amazon Fire TV, Echo Show or Amazon Fire Tablet.
Bear in mind:
- This feature will only work on Alexa devices that have a display. The feature won't work on Alexa devices that don't have a display (such as an Amazon Echo).
- If you're using an Alexa Voice Remote for controlling an Amazon Fire TV, make sure that you press and hold the microphone button on the remote while you're speaking.
- If your Nest camera is turned off, Alexa won't be able to show you a live view from the camera. You'll need to open the Google Home app or the Nest app on your phone and turn on your camera before giving a voice command using Alexa.
- The live view from a battery-powered Nest camera or doorbell will stop after five minutes. The live view from a wired Nest camera or doorbell will stop after 12 hours. To continue streaming, simply repeat the voice command.
How to say your camera's or doorbell's name
Wherever there's a 'camera name' in the examples below, you should say the camera's name as it appears in the Alexa app.
Display a live view from a camera or a doorbell
'Alexa, show the [camera name]'
'Alexa, show the feed from the [camera name]'
'Alexa, show the [camera name] feed'
Talk to a person in front of a doorbell
These voice commands are only supported on Nest Doorbell (battery).
'Alexa, answer the front door.'
'Alexa, talk to the front door.'
Stop displaying a live view
'Alexa, hide the [camera name]'
'Alexa, hide the feed from the [camera name]'
'Alexa, hide the [camera name] feed'
'Alexa, stop'
'Alexa, exit'
Alexa can announce the following Nest camera and doorbell events:
- Doorbell press: Alexa announces when someone presses a Nest Doorbell (battery). Some Alexa devices with a display also automatically stream live view from the doorbell.
- Motion detection: Alexa announces when a Nest camera or doorbell detects motion.
Turn on doorbell press announcements
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Settings
- Turn on visitor announcements.
- You can now turn doorbell press announcements on or off in the Alexa app.
Alexa doorbell announcements are only supported on Nest Doorbell (battery).
Turn on motion detection announcements
- Open the Partner Connections Manager
- Select Amazon Alexa
- To add new devices, say 'Alexa, discover my devices'.
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap Settings
- Turn on motion events and notifications.
- You can now turn motion detection announcements on or off in the Alexa app under 'Device settings'.
Alexa motion announcements are only supported on Nest Cam (battery), Nest Doorbell (battery), Nest Cam (indoor, wired) and Nest Cam with floodlight.
Partner Connections Manager
You can manage which Nest device data you share with Amazon in the Partner connections management tool
Troubleshoot
Visit Amazon's website for help with Alexa, including its connection to Nest products. For example, you may need to toggle permissions for the Nest skill, or you may need to disable the skill and then re-enable it. Amazon's website has step-by-step instructions and additional troubleshooting suggestions:
Amazon.com: Alexa devices help
Amazon.com: Alexa features help
Live camera view shows black screen
If you find a black screen on your Amazon device or in the Alexa app when you check your camera's live view, your camera is probably turned off or offline.
- On the home screen in the Google Home app
- If you use Home & Away routines, check whether your camera is set to turn off when someone's home.
Troubleshoot offline camera or doorbell
Device doesn’t show up in the Alexa app
If you set up a new Nest device after you enabled the Google Nest skill for other devices, you’ll need to turn on permissions for the new device in the Google Home app.
- Open the Google Home app
- At the top right, tap your account profile
- Tap Partner connections
- Turn on permissions for your new device.