FAQs on camera sensing: Google Nest Hub Max

Nest Hub Max offers on-device camera sensing features that help you personalise and control your experience based on what the camera sees, such as Face Match (which helps your device recognise you) and Quick Gestures (which helps you control your device). These features can be enabled or disabled at any time via the camera sensing setting.

What are camera sensing features?

Camera sensing features allow the camera of your Nest Hub Max to sense what's happening in your home's environment by instantaneously analysing images from the device's camera, without sending those images to Google. If you turn the camera sensing setting on, your Nest Hub Max can be more helpful – for example, you can then choose to turn on Face Match to personalise your experience with your device or use Quick Gestures to easily stop and resume media. Today, the camera sensing setting only applies to the Face Match, Quick Gestures and Look and Talk features, but we aim to add more camera sensing features over time. Any future camera sensing features will also require the camera sensing setting to be turned on.  

What are the benefits of camera sensing?

• On-device processing: Camera sensing happens locally on your Hub Max. This means that once enabled, camera sensing features are not sending your video footage to Google, but instead your video is processed on device. Learn more in our commitment to privacy in the home. 
• Easy control: Camera sensing gives you more control. If you prefer not to have features enabled like Quick Gestures or Face Match that locally analyse images on your Hub Max, simply select “Not now” during Hub Max setup or disable it at any time in settings.

How do I enable or disable camera sensing?

During setup of your Nest Hub Max, you will be prompted whether you want to enable camera sensing features. If you decide not to enable camera sensing during setup, you can always do so later by going to device settings:

1. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your Google Nest display.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap and hold your device's tile.
4. At the top right, tap Settings   Recognition and sharing.
5. Turn Camera sensing on or off. When camera sensing is disabled, Face Match and Quick Gestures will also be disabled.

Note: If you decide not to turn on camera sensing during setup, you will not be prompted to enrol in Face Match during setup.

Camera sensing and personal results

If you set up your Nest Hub Max to only show personal results (like reminders and calendar events) on Face Match, they will no longer show when you turn off camera sensing. To readjust your personal results:

1. Make sure that your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi or linked to the same account as your Google Nest display.
2. Open the Google Home app .
3. Tap and hold your device's tile.
4. At the top right, tap Settings   Recognition and sharing.
5. The option to show personal results upon Face Match will be greyed out. Turn on camera sensing to make this option available, or choose 'Always show' or 'Never show' according to your preference.

Learn more about personal results

Camera sensing and Duo calls

Camera sensing does not affect auto-framing during Duo video calls, where the camera pans and zooms to keep you in view. That feature can be managed directly in a Duo call.