Google ended software and security updates, Google Home and Nest app access, and cloud-connected controls for certain first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats on October 25, 2025. The affected thermostats can still be operated directly at the wall and their preset schedules are expected to continue working, but they are no longer supported smart thermostats.
This affects the Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen, Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd gen, and the 2nd-gen European version—not every thermostat with the Nest name. If you own one, identify the model before deciding whether the problem requires replacement, HVAC troubleshooting, or simply a change in how you operate the thermostat.
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Which Nest thermostats are affected?
Google identifies three affected model groups:
- Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen, introduced in 2011.
- Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd gen, introduced in 2012.
- Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd-gen European version, introduced in 2014.
The support change does not list the third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat or Nest Thermostat E as affected. Do not rely only on the thermostat’s shape or display because different generations can look similar. Check the thermostat’s information menu, model and serial information, or Google’s device-identification guidance before assuming that your unit has reached end of support.
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What changed on October 25, 2025?
For the three affected groups, Google says the thermostats no longer connect to or work through the Google Nest or Google Home apps. They also no longer receive software or security updates.
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| Function | Status on affected 1st- and 2nd-gen thermostats |
|---|---|
| Adjusting temperature at the thermostat | Still available, provided the HVAC system and thermostat are functioning normally. |
| Changing heating, cooling, or other local modes | Still available through the device’s controls. |
| Preset schedules | Expected to continue working uninterrupted. |
| Checking the temperature from a phone or tablet | No longer available through the Nest or Google Home app. |
| Changing the temperature remotely | No longer available. |
| Phone notifications | No longer available through the discontinued connected service. |
| Google Assistant and other connected assistant control | No longer available through the affected cloud service. |
| Home/Away Assist and cloud-dependent automation | No longer available in the affected connected service. |
| Software and security updates | Ended. |
| Nest Protect-related thermostat emergency shutoff behavior | Google says the Nest Protect devices no longer remain connected for this thermostat-related behavior. |
What still works locally?
The thermostat is not necessarily physically dead because Google ended support. Owners can continue to use the controls on the thermostat itself to change temperature modes, adjust settings, and manage auto-schedule options available on the device. Preset schedules are expected to continue operating.
The practical distinction is local HVAC control versus smart-home control. A thermostat may still turn heating or cooling equipment on and off locally while losing all phone-based and cloud-based features. It is therefore inaccurate to say that every affected thermostat immediately stops controlling a home’s HVAC system. It is equally inaccurate to describe one as retaining full Nest functionality.
Google warns that continued use without software or security updates may lead to decreased performance over time. That does not establish a specific failure date, nor does it mean every unit will stop regulating temperature immediately.
Why did Google end support?
Google says that continuing to update its earliest Nest products became increasingly challenging because of their early hardware. The company also cited the hardware required to support future energy-management and smart-home capabilities.
That is a support and capability decision, not an announcement that every affected thermostat has a failed relay, bad wiring connection, or incompatible HVAC system. If the thermostat cannot control heating or cooling locally, diagnose that separately rather than assuming the October 2025 cutoff explains every symptom.
How to identify your Nest thermostat generation
- Open the thermostat’s information or settings menu and look for its model, serial number, and software version.
- Compare those details with Google’s thermostat model-identification materials rather than relying only on the appearance of the front display.
- Check whether the device is a 1st gen, 2nd gen, or 2nd-gen European model.
- Do not automatically include a third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat or Thermostat E in the affected group; Google’s notice does not identify those products as part of this cutoff.
If an old thermostat still heats or cools but has disappeared from the app, the support change itself is a plausible explanation. If the HVAC equipment does not respond to local controls, inspect power, wiring, system compatibility, and the HVAC equipment separately.
Should you replace an affected Nest thermostat?
Replacement is the more defensible choice when you need phone access, remote temperature changes, notifications, voice-assistant control, cloud automation, or current software and security support. You may choose to continue using the old thermostat locally if those features are not important and it is regulating the HVAC system reliably, but plan around the loss of connected functionality.
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Google directs eligible owners toward the Google Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen as the supported replacement path. The current Google Store specification page lists a U.S. price of $279.99. That price and availability are regional and can change; the U.S. figure should not be generalized to other countries.
The special replacement offer described by Google—$149.99 in the United States and CA$219.99 in Canada—was valid only through December 31, 2025. As of August 2026, that promotion is expired unless Google separately confirms a new offer.
The 4th-generation model supports Google Home and Matter and uses the Google Home app for installation and setup. Google lists compatibility with most 24-volt systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced-air, heat-pump, and radiant systems. “Most” is important: it is not a guarantee that the thermostat will work with every installation.
Before ordering a Google Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen, use Google’s compatibility checker and compare the existing wiring and HVAC equipment with the requirements. A construction or HVAC professional should review unusual, multi-stage, heat-pump, radiant, or otherwise complex systems before a replacement is installed.
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Installation and wiring considerations
A smart thermostat replacement is not simply a matter of matching the old thermostat’s wall plate. Confirm the following before disconnecting anything:
- The HVAC system’s voltage and equipment type.
- The terminals currently used and the function of each wire.
- Whether a common wire, commonly called a C wire, is available or required.
- Whether the new thermostat’s compatibility checker accepts the specific heating and cooling configuration.
- Whether the existing wall opening or paint outline will require a trim plate.
- Whether local electrical, mechanical, or manufacturer requirements call for professional installation.
Google’s 4th-generation specifications say that a C wire or Nest Power Connector may be necessary in limited cases. The connector is not automatically required for every home, and it should not be installed merely because an old Nest thermostat lost app access. First determine whether the issue is the support cutoff, the new thermostat’s power requirement, or a separate wiring problem.
The listed 4th-generation package includes a Nest Temperature Sensor 2nd gen, along with items such as a trim plate, steel plate, mounting screws, and wiring labels. Retail packages and regional bundles can change, so check the actual product listing before assuming every item is included. An additional room sensor may help where temperature varies significantly between rooms, but it is not a remedy for incompatible wiring.
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A safe replacement decision process
1. Confirm that the old unit is actually affected
Use the device information menu and model details. If the thermostat is a third-generation model or Thermostat E, do not apply the first- and second-generation cutoff without checking its separate support status.
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If the wall thermostat still responds and the HVAC system runs, the loss of app access is consistent with Google’s service change. If the thermostat is blank, repeatedly restarting, or unable to call for heat or cooling locally, investigate power and equipment faults instead.
3. Decide whether local-only operation is acceptable
Keep using the old unit only if you can live without remote control, app status, notifications, assistant commands, cloud automation, and future security updates. Remember that performance may decrease over time without updates.
4. Check compatibility before purchasing
Use Google’s compatibility checker for the replacement thermostat. Record the existing wiring and HVAC equipment, but do not assume that wire colors alone identify terminal functions.
5. Choose DIY installation or professional help
A straightforward compatible 24-volt system may be suitable for a confident installer who follows the product instructions. Professional HVAC thermostat installation is the safer route for heat pumps, multi-stage equipment, radiant systems, unfamiliar wiring, missing common-wire arrangements, or any installation where turning off power and identifying equipment terminals is uncertain.
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Do not discard the old thermostat immediately. Keep photographs and labels of the original wiring, retain the model information, and confirm that heating, cooling, fan operation, schedules, and any required sensors work after installation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common questions from affected owners
My Nest thermostat disappeared from the app. Is it broken?
Not necessarily. For the listed first- and second-generation models, Google’s October 25, 2025 support change removed Nest and Google Home app and cloud-connected functionality. If the thermostat still works at the wall, the missing app connection may be an expected consequence of that change rather than a wiring failure.
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Can I still use the thermostat manually?
Yes. Google says owners can continue controlling the affected thermostat directly on the device, including changing temperature modes and managing available local schedule settings. Its preset schedules are expected to continue working.
Can I restore app access with a firmware update?
No supported firmware update is available to restore the discontinued service. Google says the affected products no longer receive software or security updates. Replacement is the appropriate path when connected control or current support is required.
Does the October 2025 cutoff affect the third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat?
Google’s affected-device notice does not list the third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat or Thermostat E. Identify the exact model instead of grouping every Nest-branded thermostat together.
Is the fourth-generation thermostat guaranteed to work with my HVAC system?
No. Google describes the 4th-generation thermostat as compatible with most 24-volt systems and lists several common equipment types, but wiring and system configuration still matter. Use the compatibility checker, and obtain professional advice for complex or uncertain installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date did Google end support for the affected Nest Learning Thermostats?
The change took effect on October 25, 2025. The affected first- and second-generation thermostats lost Google Home and Nest app connectivity and stopped receiving software and security updates.
Will an affected Nest thermostat still heat and cool my home?
It may. Local controls and preset schedules can continue working, so the thermostat may still regulate the HVAC system. App access, remote control, notifications, assistant control, and cloud automation are the features that ended.
What should I replace a first- or second-generation Nest thermostat with?
Google directs eligible owners toward the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen. Confirm compatibility with your wiring and HVAC equipment before buying or installing it.
Is Google’s $149.99 replacement offer still available?
The documented offer of $149.99 in the United States or CA$219.99 in Canada ended on December 31, 2025. It should be treated as expired unless Google announces a new promotion.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: October 25, 2025 ended connected support—not necessarily local HVAC control—for the Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen, 2nd gen, and 2nd-gen European version. Confirm your model, test the thermostat at the wall, and replace it when remote access, notifications, smart-home integrations, or current security support matter. Before installing a 4th-generation replacement, use Google’s compatibility checker and get professional help for complex HVAC wiring.
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