Install Nest doorbell with an indoor power adapter

The Nest Doorbell (wired, 1st to 3rd gen) is designed to replace a wired doorbell and use your home’s current doorbell chime. The Nest Doorbell (battery) can either replace a wired doorbell and use your home’s doorbell chime, or use its internal rechargeable batteries to stay powered. You can still install a Nest doorbell if your home doesn’t have a doorbell, or if your current doorbell system is incompatible with Nest doorbells. To do this, you can use an indoor power adapter. Important: The indoor power adapter is sold separately from the Nest doorbell. If it's available in your country, you can purchase the indoor power adapter with 20-ft wire from the Google Store.

Safety tips

Important: Do not plug the adapter into an outdoor power outlet. It isn’t weatherproof.

You need to drill a hole completely through your home’s exterior wall to run the power cable to a power outlet inside your home. Before you do, consider the following:

• You need to know where any in-wall plumbing and electric wiring are.
• Check the building codes where you live to make sure your installation is safe.
• You can contact a local professional if you don’t feel comfortable drilling all the way through the wall.

Install Nest Doorbell (battery)

Step 1: Check that you have everything for installation

Important: Although your doorbell comes with most of the parts you need for installation, you need to purchase the indoor power adapter separately .

Check that you have all the parts included in the box.

What’s included in the box

• Nest Doorbell (battery)
• Wall plate
• Wedge
• Wire extenders (You won’t need these for battery-powered installation)
• Screws
• Wall anchors
• Spacers
• Unlock tool
• USB-C to USB-A charging cable

Need a wedge?

The Nest Doorbell (battery) already comes with a wedge that you can use to adjust the doorbell’s camera angle if it’s located in a corner. The wedge can angle your doorbell horizontally up to 20°.

If your doorbell needs a wider horizontal angle or if you need to adjust the angle vertically, you can purchase a Made for Google doorbell wedge.

Tools

• Phillips screwdriver
• Power drill
  • Phillips drill bit
  • 1/4 in (6.35 mm) drill bit (for wall anchors)
  • 3/32 in (2.38 mm) drill bit (optional, to drill into hard materials like brick and stucco)
• Bubble level (to check doorbell alignment)

App and internet requirements

• The Google Home app

• A compatible phone (to connect to Wi-Fi and use the Home app)

• Your Wi-Fi network name and password
• A broadband internet connection with at least 2 Mbps for your doorbell

Step 2: Charge your doorbell before installation

Use the included USB-C cable to fully charge your doorbell for battery-powered installation. Keep it plugged in during setup so that it can connect to the app and the Wi-Fi network.

The status light pulses white while your doorbell is charges and appears to be solid white when it’s completely charged.

Step 3: Connect your doorbell to the app with the QR code

To add your doorbell to the app and begin installation, follow the steps below:

1. If you haven’t already done so, download the Google Home app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the Google Home app . If prompted, sign in with your Google Account.
3. From the Home tab, tap Add   Device   Scan QR Code 
4. Choose the home you want to add your doorbell to, or select Add another home to create a new one. Then, tap Next.
5. The app should try to look for nearby devices. If prompted, select the Nest Doorbell battery as the device you want to set up.
6. Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code on the back of the doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and enter the numbers near the QR code.
7. The app helps to walk you through setup. When the app asks what you want to use to power your doorbell, select Battery. Complete setup and installation instructions in the app.

Step 4: Drill a hole for the adapter cable

1. Unmount your doorbell. Insert the release tool to unlock the latch at the top.
2. From the outside of your home, measure the midpoint between the top and bottom of the back plate. Use that point to drill a hole for the adapter cable to pass through.
3. After you drill the hole, pass the adapter cable from the inside of your home to the outside.

Step 5: Connect adapter to your doorbell and plug it in

1. Connect the adapter wire ends to the wire terminals on the back of your doorbell.
2. Remount your doorbell.
3. Plug in the adapter into an indoor power outlet. If preferred, you can also install clips to neatly place the adapter cable along the wall.

Your doorbell uses the power from the indoor power adapter to stay charged.

Install Nest Doorbell (wired)

Important: The steps in this article are different from the steps to install the Nest doorbell in the app. So, you need to skip some steps in the app and follow them here instead.

What you need for installation

Important: The indoor power adapter is sold separately from the Nest doorbell. If it's available in your country, you can purchase the indoor power adapter from the Google Store.

What’s in the box

• Nest Doorbell wired
• Wall plate
• Wedge
• Chime connector
• 2 wall screws
• 2 anchors
• 2 spacers
• Extra security screw
• Hex key

Tools

• Phillips screwdriver 
• Power drill
• Phillips bit
• 11/32 in (9 mm) drill bit that’s long enough to go completely through your home’s exterior wall
• Hammer
• Pencil
• Bubble level (to check doorbell alignment) 

App and connection requirements

• The latest version of the Nest app
• A compatible phone (check the requirements here)
• Your Wi-Fi network name and password
• A broadband internet connection with a minimum of 2 Mbps upload speed for your doorbell (and each Nest camera in your home)

Step 1: Turn the power off

Go to your home’s breaker or fuse box and turn the power off to anything near the door where you want to install your doorbell (the existing doorbell, porch lights, or power outlets). This protects you while you drill through the wall. Try to turn the porch lights on to confirm that the power is off. If needed, you can switch off the main power at the breaker box.

Step 2: Add your doorbell with the QR code

 Before you open the app

1. Have your Wi-Fi network and password handy to connect the Nest doorbell to the app and the internet.
2. Enable your phone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
3. Check if your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network you want to connect your doorbell to.

The Nest app

If you're new to Nest

1. Download the Nest app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
2. Open the app   and create an account.
3. On the app home screen, tap Add  .
4. Scan the QR code on the back of your doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and type the numbers at the top of the QR code.
5. The app helps to walk you through installation and setup. Do not close the app.

If you already have an account

Important:  If you have more than one home in your account, make sure that you’ve selected the Nest home where you want to install your doorbell. Tap Menu  in the top left of the home screen to change homes.

1. Open the Nest app  .
2. In the top right corner of the app home screen, tap Settings  .
3. Select Add product  .
4. Scan the QR code on the back of your doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and type the numbers at the top of the QR code.

Step 3: Skip the app instructions

When the app asks you to find the chime connector included with your Nest doorbell, tap Skip.  Follow the instructions in this article to install your doorbell with the Indoor Power Adapter. You should come back to the app instructions later.

Step 4: Check if you need to use the wedge

You can use the included wedge if you want to install your doorbell in a corner, or you want to change the camera angle. Stick the wedge onto the wall plate with the adhesive strips. Make sure you install the wedge the right way You can flip the wedge to angle the camera in the opposite direction.  The horizontal screw hole on the wall plate should be on the bottom (as pictured).

Step 5: Drill and install the wall plate

 If you need to replace your current doorbell, you might be able to mount your Nest doorbell over the old doorbell button’s location. However, you might need to drill a new hole or clear and drill out the existing hole so the power adapter’s cable can pass through the wall.

If it's your first time to own one, install your doorbell about 4 ft (1.2 m) high, where most doorbells are located.

Use the wall plate to mark holes to drill for the cable and the screws. Use a bubble level to check that the wall plate is straight. Important: The doorbell wires must come through the bottom of the wall plate hole (as pictured). If they don’t, they can prevent the doorbell from locking onto the wall plate. With an 11/32 in (9 mm) drill bit, drill a hole for the power cable completely through the wall. Important: You need to know where any in-wall plumbing and electric wiring are before you drill. Drill pilot holes for the screws with a 3/32 in (2 mm) drill bit. Use the included masonry bit and wall anchors if you need to drill into stone, stucco or other hard materials. Mount the wall plate with the screws. Important: Make sure the wall plate is right side up. The Nest logo should be at the bottom.

Step 6: Run the power cable through the wall

Important: Do not plug in the adapter yet. You might damage it if the wire ends touch each other. Keep it unplugged until you finish installation.

1. Go inside your home and slip the wall grommet over the adapter cable.
2. Run the cable through the hole to the outside.

Step 7: Connect the adapter wires to your doorbell

It doesn’t matter which terminal you connect a wire to. Make sure the screws are snug and that the wires point down as shown. This is so excess wire can be tucked back into the wall to let the doorbell properly connect to the wall plate.

Step 8: Mount your doorbell

Slide the top of the doorbell into the wall plate. Press until the doorbell clicks into place. If it doesn’t seat properly or it doesn’t click, check that you’ve fully tucked any excess wire back into the hole. Tip: If you ever need to remove your Nest doorbell, push the included release tool into the hole on the bottom to unlock it. You can also use a thumb tack or paper clip.

Step 9: Switch the power on and plug in the adapter

1. Skip ahead in the app until it asks you to switch the power back on.
2. Turn the power on at your breaker or fuse box.
3. Plug the power adapter into the indoor wall outlet.

• Important: You can use an extension cord to reach, if needed. If you have excess cable, you can either tuck it back into the hole in the wall or use a cable tie to wrap it up.

Step 10: Check your doorbell's power

Once it’s plugged in, your Nest doorbell should turn on, and its light ring should turn blue.

Troubleshooting

If the light ring doesn’t turn on, double check that the adapter is plugged into a live power outlet. Then, unplug the adapter and plug it back in. Also, make sure the wires are properly connected to the back of the doorbell lo and that the screws are snug.

Step 11: Finish setup with the app

 1. Connect to Wi-Fi

Tell the app where you installed your doorbell. Then, select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.

Troubleshoot issues

• If your doorbell can’t connect to your Wi-Fi network, you can try to move your router a bit closer or add a Wi-Fi extender.
• If you already have a Nest product installed in your home, your doorbell should try to get your Wi-Fi info from it. Try to move it closer to your doorbell if possible. You can also temporarily uninstall your doorbell and plug it in closer to the assisting product while you try to connect to Wi-Fi again.

2. Test the video stream

Once your doorbell is connected to Wi-Fi and the app, the app should test the video.

3. Turn the chime off and test

Before you test your doorbell, turn off the chime option in the app, even if you don’t have a wired doorbell chime installed.

1. To exit the set up, tap Done.
2. Tap your doorbell on the app home screen. Then, tap Settings  .
3. Switch “Indoor chime” off.
4. Press your doorbell’s button to check that it’s working. You should also get a notification from the app that someone’s at your door.

Step 12: Use your doorbell

Learn more about Nest doorbell basics, how to change settings, and more at Get started using your Nest Doorbell (wired).