Learn how to control your Google Nest products with Amazon Alexa

Google Nest’s support for new technologies like Alexa gives you more ways to control your Nest home while you’re out and when you’re at home. With Alexa, there’s no need to go to your thermostat or find your phone. Just say one of the phrases listed below to tell Alexa what you want your Nest product to do.

Amazon Alexa supports the following Google Nest products:

• Cameras and video doorbells
• Thermostats

Important: Not all Google Nest products, Amazon products and smart home skill integrations mentioned in this article are available in all countries.

How to connect Amazon Alexa to your Google Nest products

Before you begin, make sure that your Nest account has been migrated to a Google Account. If you still need to migrate your account, learn how by following this link.

Note: There are certain Google Accounts that can’t be used for migration including G Suite accounts.

If you used the previous Alexa skills, make sure that you disable them before adding the Google Nest Alexa skill.

1. Start by enabling the Google Nest skill.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions and choose which data to share with Amazon, then select Done. 
3. Then, ask Alexa to discover your Nest products by saying, 'Alexa, discover my devices.'

Amazon has more detailed instructions on their website if you need them.

If you don’t see the smart home skill in the Amazon Alexa app, the skill is not available for your particular locale.

Note: You need to be a member of the home to which the devices are connected in order to set up the Google Nest skill.

 

How to connect or disconnect a Nest product from Alexa

Whenever you say, 'Alexa, discover my devices', Alexa will automatically look for all the Nest products in your home.

In the future, if you add or remove a Nest product via the Nest app, you can simply say the phrase again to sync Alexa with everything that you’re currently using.

To disconnect a Nest product, click the disconnect button in the Partner Connections management tool.

Google Nest thermostat commands

You can control your Nest thermostat by talking to an Alexa-enabled device, such as an Amazon Echo or Dot. Here are some things that you can say.

How to say your thermostat's name

Wherever you see 'thermostat name' in the examples below you should say the location assigned to it on the Nest app, like 'Hallway'. If you’re not sure which location you assigned to your thermostat, here’s how to check:
open the Nest app  tap your thermostat  Settings   Where.

If you don’t say your thermostat’s name when giving a command, Alexa will ask you to say the name of the thermostat that you want to control.

In rare cases, you may have two thermostats with the same location name, like 'Hallway', plus a custom label like 'Downstairs'. If your thermostat has a custom label, you’ll need to say, 'Alexa, set the Hallway Downstairs to ___ degrees.'

Important: Unless the word 'thermostat' is part of your thermostat’s name, don’t say it when speaking to Alexa. Only use the exact location name that you see in the Nest app when speaking your command. For instance, if your thermostat is named Hallway, then saying 'Alexa, change the Hallway to ___ degrees' will work, but 'Alexa, change the Hallway thermostat to ___ degrees' will not.

Ask about the room's 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 by how much, it will change the temperature by 1°C or 2°F.

In rare cases, you may have two thermostats with the same location  name and a custom label. Labels appear under your thermostat’s  name in the Nest app, like Hallway – downstairs. So you’d say, 'Alexa, set the Hallway downstairs to ___ degrees.' Alexa will control 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 degrees, both the lower and upper limit of your thermostat’s temperature range will be set to 20-24 degree range. Alexa will confirm your request, saying 'Hallway is in heat-cool mode, aiming for 22 degrees'.

Note: Alexa won’t be able to change the temperature if your Nest thermostat has been manually switched to an Eco Temperature, is in Off mode, is using emergency heat or if there’s an Emergency Shutoff.

Switch your thermostat’s mode

You may want to change your thermostat’s mode as the seasons change, or you may want to switch to an Eco Temperature before everybody leaves the house.

• Alexa, set the 'thermostat name' to ___ mode.

Your options for the mode are Heat, Cool, Heat • Cool or Eco. Bear in mind that your available options depend on the type of equipment that you have installed.

Nest camera commands

The Nest camera skill lets you watch your camera’s live video with an Amazon video player (such as an Amazon Fire TV).

Bear in mind:

• This skill will only work on Amazon devices that can display video. The skill won’t work on any devices that don’t have video capabilities (such as an Amazon Echo).
• If you’re using an Alexa Voice Remote, 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 control it. You’ll need to open the Nest app on your phone and turn on your camera before giving a voice command to Alexa.

How to say your camera's name

Wherever you see 'camera name' in the examples below you should say the name or location that you gave your camera when you set it up. If you're not sure which location you assigned to your camera, here's how to check:  open the Nest apptap your camera SettingsWhere. Unless the word 'camera' is part of your Nest camera’s name, don’t say it when talking to Alexa. For example, 'Alexa, show the Living Room' will work, but 'Alexa, show the Living Room camera' won’t. In rare cases, you may have more than one camera with the same location name such as 'Hallway', plus a unique label. When you open the Nest app and tap on your camera, look above the video feed: if your camera has a label, it will be in parentheses, such as 'Hallway (Downstairs)'.  When talking to Alexa, you’ll need to say the location name and label, for example, 'Alexa, show the Hallway Downstairs'.

Display live camera video

• Alexa, show the 'camera name'
• Alexa, show feed from the 'camera name'
• Alexa, show 'camera name' feed

After 60 minutes, your camera will stop streaming video to your Amazon device. To continue streaming, simply repeat the voice command.

Stop displaying video

• Alexa, hide the 'camera name'
• Alexa, hide feed from the 'camera name'
• Alexa, hide the 'camera name' feed

Troubleshooting Alexa's connection to your products

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: Skills and games on Alexa