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To erase a Nest camera’s saved footage, use Delete video history in the app that manages that camera: Google Home for cameras set up there, or the Nest app for older cameras managed there. The command deletes all saved video history and snapshots for that camera—not just one clip—and Google says deletion is permanent and cannot be recovered.
Before you delete the history
- Save any footage you may need. In Google Home, open the camera, select an event, open its controls or menu, then choose Save clip. You can also review Google’s instructions for creating, saving, and downloading clips. What you can save depends on the camera and app; the event-saving route does not make a clip of footage with no detected activity.
- Check the camera and account. Deletion applies to the selected camera. It does not clear other cameras in the home.
- Decide whether you only want to stop future history. The deletion command removes current history; on supported cameras, you can instead choose No video history to delete saved history and stop retaining new video history.
- Remember copies outside camera history. Downloaded clips or footage you emailed, shared, or stored elsewhere are separate copies. Deleting the camera’s cloud history does not delete those copies; remove them from each place they were saved or shared.
Important: Google says deleted video history and snapshots cannot be recovered and are not backed up. Confirm you have the right camera and saved anything you want to keep before proceeding. See Google’s video-history deletion guidance.
Delete history in the Google Home app
Use this path for cameras set up and managed in Google Home:
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- Tap Home, then All devices.
- Touch and hold the camera’s device tile.
- Tap More → Settings → Delete video history.
- After checking that you selected the correct camera and no longer need its footage, tap Delete to confirm.
This removes all saved video history and snapshots for that camera. Other cameras’ histories are not affected. Google’s documented deletion procedure is in the app; its web tools are documented for viewing history and saving clips, not as a substitute for this deletion path.
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- Meet the smarter, sharper wired Google Nest Cam Indoor; with 2K HDR video and Gemini, it knows what to look out for and what to do next[1,2,3](Gemini features require a Google Home premium subscription; try it for 1 month at no cost to you)[4]
- With an Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium, know more about what’s happening with notifications like “Kids are playing soccer in the living room”[3]; and get even more detailed descriptions and tap to see a summary of what happened[3]
- Google Nest Cam Indoor keeps your data safe with encrypted video, two-step verification, and enhanced security through your Google Account; and a green LED light lets you know when it’s processing or streaming video
- Video is crisp and clear in 2K HDR, Nest Cam’s highest resolution yet[1,2]; see rich color and details, and see in the dark with night vision; and with a wider, taller field of view, you can see even more of a long hallway or large room[1]
- Search your video history with help from Gemini[3]; try something like “What happened to the vase in the living room?” to see a summary and relevant clips (subscription required)
Delete history in the Nest app
Use the Nest app for cameras originally set up and still managed there:
- Open the Nest app and select the camera.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Delete video history.
- Confirm by tapping Delete history.
This deletes that camera’s video history and snapshots permanently. Google’s guidance on video history in the Nest app explains the distinction between older Nest-app-managed devices and cameras managed in Google Home.
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- Meet the smarter, sharper wired Google Nest Cam Outdoor; with 2K HDR video and Gemini, it knows what to look out for and what to do next[1,2,3](Gemini features require a Google Home premium subscription; try it for 1 month at no cost to you)[4]
- Stay in the know with always-on power: Nest Cam Outdoor keeps you plugged into home, day and night, with no need to recharge or replace batteries
- Google Nest Cam Outdoor keeps your data safe with encrypted video, two-step verification, and enhanced security through your Google Account; and a green LED light lets you know when it’s processing or streaming video
- With an Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium, know more about what’s happening with notifications like “Rabbits eating garden plants”[3]; get even more detailed descriptions and tap to see a summary of what happened[3]
- Video is crisp and clear in 2K HDR, Nest Cam’s highest resolution yet[1,2]; see rich color and details, and see in the dark with night vision; a wider, taller field of view means almost nothing’s out of frame[1] – even in a long driveway or big yard
Delete history and stop saving new history
If you want both to clear the existing history and prevent new video history from accumulating, supported cameras in Google Home offer a No video history choice. Follow the Google Home path above through Settings → Delete video history, then choose No video history instead of the one-time delete option. Google documents this setting for certain newer wired and battery cameras and doorbells; availability depends on model.
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With history disabled, you lose the ability to review newly retained event or 24/7 history. This is distinct from turning off a camera or deleting its device from the app. For model-specific details, check Google’s supported-device and deletion guidance.
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- Nest Cam has built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, animal, and vehicle and send alerts directly through the Google Home app[1], no subscription required.Controller Type:Google Assistant.Connectivity protocol:Bluetooth;Wi-Fi.Power source type:Battery Powered.Operating Temperature : –4°F to 104°F (–20°C to 40°C).
- Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with 1080p HDR video[1] with night vision, and see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history[2]; add a Nest Aware subscription (sold separately) for up to 60 days of video history[3]
- If your Wi-Fi goes down or there’s a power outage, Nest Cam will store up to an hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed[4]. Nest Cam Outdoor comes with a wall plate that can be mounted on your brick wall.
- Put Nest Cam anywhere, outside or in; it’s battery powered, so you don’t need to set it up near an outlet, and the magnetic mount makes installation effortless
- For continuous power and 24/7 video recording with Nest Aware Plus, add a weatherproof power cable or indoor stand with power cable (both sold separately)
Turn off activity snapshots only
If your camera is managed in the Nest app and your concern is activity snapshots rather than all video history, there is a narrower control: select the camera, then tap Settings → Activity History → Disable Activity History snapshots. Google says this deletes current snapshots and prevents new snapshots from appearing in the app. Snapshots may still be included in enabled alert notifications or emails, so this is not a way to erase all copies or all video history. See Google’s Activity History instructions.
What deletion does—and does not—remove
- Snapshots: Yes. Deleting video history also deletes the camera’s snapshots in that history.
- Other cameras: No. The control applies to the selected camera, not every camera in the home.
- Downloaded or shared footage: No. Delete saved files and shared copies separately from the phone, computer, drive, email, or service where they exist.
- Other Google data: Do not assume this clears every record associated with the camera or account. Camera history, activity snapshots, detection information, Assistant activity, and other Home data have separate controls. Google describes these categories in its Home and Nest Privacy Hub and data export and deletion guidance.
- Future recordings: If history remains enabled, the camera can accumulate new history according to its settings and plan. A one-time deletion is not the same as disabling history.
Does history expire automatically?
Yes. Camera history is subject to rolling retention, but the duration varies by camera, recording type, and subscription. Google’s current examples include limited event previews or event history without a subscription, up to 30 days of event history on Google Home Premium Standard, and up to 60 days of event history plus up to 10 days of 24/7 history on Premium Advanced for eligible wired cameras. Older first-generation Nest Aware plans have different rules. Check the current event and 24/7 history details for your device and plan.
Rank #4
- Nest Cam has built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, animal, and vehicle and send alerts directly through the Google Home app[1], no subscription required.Operating Temperature : –4°F to 104°F (–20°C to 40°C)
- Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with 1080p HDR video[1] with night vision, and see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history[2]; add a Nest Aware subscription (sold separately) for up to 60 days of video history[3]
- If your Wi-Fi goes down or there’s a power outage, Nest Cam will store up to an hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed[4]
- Put Nest Cam anywhere, outside or in; it’s battery powered, so you don’t need to set it up near an outlet, and the magnetic mount makes installation effortless
- For continuous power and 24/7 video recording with Nest Aware Plus, add a weatherproof power cable or indoor stand with power cable (both sold separately)
Automatic expiration is not immediate deletion. If you want saved history removed now, use the camera’s deletion control. Eligible wired cameras may have 24/7 history as well as event clips; battery cameras generally use event history, with device-specific exceptions and requirements. The deletion control is intended to clear the selected camera’s stored history, not merely hide the events currently visible in a timeline.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoes canceling Nest Aware delete footage?
Cancellation is not the most direct way to erase footage immediately. Google says history and snapshots for Google Home Premium or Nest Aware subscriptions are deleted at the end of the billing period; first-generation Nest Aware has separate cancellation behavior. Canceling can affect all cameras covered by the subscription and may remove retention features you still want. For targeted removal now, delete history for the individual camera. You do not need a paid subscription to use the documented deletion control.
Best Value
- Meet the smarter, sharper wired Google Nest Cam Outdoor; with 2K HDR video and Gemini, it knows what to look out for and what to do next[1,2,3](Gemini features require a Google Home premium subscription; try it for 1 month at no cost to you)[4]
- Stay in the know with always-on power: Nest Cam Outdoor keeps you plugged into home, day and night, with no need to recharge or replace batteries
- Google Nest Cam Outdoor keeps your data safe with encrypted video, two-step verification, and enhanced security through your Google Account; and a green LED light lets you know when it’s processing or streaming video
- With an Advanced subscription to Google Home Premium, know more about what’s happening with notifications like “Rabbits eating garden plants”[3]; get even more detailed descriptions and tap to see a summary of what happened[3]
- Video is crisp and clear in 2K HDR, Nest Cam’s highest resolution yet[1,2]; see rich color and details, and see in the dark with night vision; a wider, taller field of view means almost nothing’s out of frame[1] – even in a long driveway or big yard
Deleting your Google account is much broader and can affect other services and devices. It is not necessary just to clear one camera’s history.
If “Delete video history” is missing
- Confirm you are in the correct Google account and home.
- Open the camera’s device tile and its settings—not an event in the general Activity feed.
- Check whether the camera is managed in Google Home or the Nest app. Older or migrated devices may not be controlled in the app you first tried.
- Update the relevant app and look again under the camera’s Settings for Delete video history. Labels and navigation can vary by app version, phone platform, camera model, and account setup.
- If the option is still unavailable, check the device’s setup and access permissions or contact Google support. Insufficient home or device permissions are a possible cause, though the exact permission behavior can vary.
A timeline gap or dark section does not by itself prove deletion failed. Event-based history records detected activity rather than necessarily providing continuous footage; gaps can be normal. See Google’s explanations of Nest app history and watching camera history on a computer.
Can you delete Nest camera history from a computer?
Google documents viewing camera history and saving clips through browser options, including Google Home for web and the Nest web app, subject to device and account setup. Its direct instructions for deleting video history use the Google Home or Nest mobile app. Use the relevant app for the documented deletion control.
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