The correct steps depend on your Nest model. The 2020 Nest Thermostat and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) use Google Home; the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen and earlier) use the Nest app for setup and full controls. Identify the model first, then use the matching instructions below.
Google’s current model and setup guidance is at Google’s thermostat setup page and its older-device support page.
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Identify your Nest thermostat and app
A thermostat with a touch bar on the right side is usually the 2020 Nest Thermostat. A rotating outer ring and clickable display indicate a Nest Learning Thermostat or Nest Thermostat E. Confirm the model in the app rather than relying only on appearance.
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| Model | Primary app | Scheduling terms and features |
|---|---|---|
| Nest Thermostat (2020) | Google Home only | Temperature presets, schedules, Quick Schedule and Savings Finder |
| Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | Google Home only | Temperature presets and Smart Schedule |
| Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) | Nest app; may also appear in Google Home after account migration | Auto-Schedule and Basic Schedule |
| Nest Thermostat E | Nest app; may also appear in Google Home after account migration | Auto-Schedule and Basic Schedule |
Older models can appear in Google Home after migration to a Google Account, but the Nest app may still be required for complete settings.
#1 Best Overall
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Connectivity : Wi-Fi - 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz, 802.11a/n 5 GHz Wi-Fi., Wireless interconnect : Bluetooth Low Energy Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home. Lock feature: No
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
Change the temperature right now
In Google Home
- Open Google Home.
- Tap Home, then Climate.
- Select your thermostat.
- Drag around the temperature ring, or tap the plus and minus controls.
- If the thermostat is in Off or Eco, select an active heating or cooling mode before setting a normal target.
Google documents this path at Google Home thermostat controls.
On the thermostat
- Nest Thermostat: Swipe up or down on the right-side touch bar.
- Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen): Turn the dial.
- Older Learning Thermostats and Thermostat E: Turn the outer ring and press it to confirm.
Know whether the change is temporary
A manual adjustment normally lasts until the next scheduled temperature change. Use Hold where available to keep it longer, edit the schedule to make it recurring, or change the preset that supplies the temperature. Details are in Google’s temperature preset and hold guidance.
Understand Heat, Cool, Heat • Cool, Off and Eco
- Heat: Runs heating only.
- Cool: Runs cooling only.
- Heat • Cool: Maintains a high/low range by switching between heating and cooling.
- Off: Stops normal heating and cooling, subject to safety-temperature behavior and system configuration.
- Eco: Uses configured energy-saving Eco Temperatures.
Heat, Cool and Heat • Cool can each have a separate schedule. Editing Heat while the thermostat is in Cool will not change the cooling schedule. Eco is not the same as Off, and selecting Eco manually can be superseded by the next scheduled temperature unless you apply a hold. See Google’s mode documentation.
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Create or edit a recurring schedule
Nest Thermostat and Learning Thermostat (4th gen) in Google Home
- Open Google Home.
- Tap Home → Climate → thermostat.
- Tap Settings → Schedules.
- Choose Heat, Cool or Heat • Cool.
- Select a day and tap Add.
- Choose the temperature, set the start time, select the repeating days and save.
To change an event, open it and edit its time or temperature. To remove one, open the event and choose delete. Where the model offers it, use the day-copy option to duplicate a day’s events. Google’s current instructions are at schedule management and Google Home schedule help.
Rank #2
- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills[2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
Thermostat E and older Learning Thermostats in Nest
Open the Nest app, select the thermostat and open its schedule. Choose the operating mode, tap a day or event, then add, edit, copy or delete temperature points. These models can also be linked to Google Home after migration, but the Nest app remains the dependable path for their full scheduling workflow.
Example schedule
| Time | Heat target | Cool target | Example purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. | 68°F | 74°F | Wake-up |
| 8:00 a.m. | 62–65°F | 78–80°F | Workday setback |
| 5:30 p.m. | 68°F | 74°F | Return home |
| 10:30 p.m. | 65°F | 76–78°F | Sleep |
These are illustrative settings, not universal energy recommendations. Climate, humidity, insulation, equipment, utility rates and household comfort determine suitable temperatures.
Use temperature presets
On the Nest Thermostat and Learning Thermostat (4th gen), Google Home provides named presets such as Comfort, Eco, Sleep and custom presets.
- Open Google Home and go to Home → Climate → thermostat.
- Tap Settings → Temperature preferences → Temperature presets.
- Select a preset, adjust its temperature with plus or minus, and tap Save.
A preset is a reusable temperature definition. A schedule decides when a temperature or preset takes effect. A hold keeps a selected temperature beyond the next schedule transition. The same Google guidance is at temperature presets and holds. The Thermostat E and earlier Learning Thermostats do not use this current Google Home preset workflow.
Rank #3
- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills [2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
Choose learning, manual scheduling or Savings Finder
Auto-Schedule
Auto-Schedule applies to the Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostats, not the 2020 Nest Thermostat. It learns from temperature changes over several days. In the Nest app, open Settings → Nest Sense → Auto-Schedule to enable or disable it.
Basic Schedule
Basic Schedule is the manually programmed alternative on older Learning Thermostats and the Thermostat E. Switching to it resets the learned schedule and lets you program fixed events.
Smart Schedule
The Learning Thermostat (4th gen) uses Smart Schedule terminology in Google Home. It is a current-model feature and should not be treated as the older Nest app’s Auto-Schedule.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSavings Finder
The 2020 Nest Thermostat can suggest schedule changes intended to save energy through Savings Finder. This is different from a learned Auto-Schedule.
Rank #4
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Control the temperature with your voice using smart home devices that work with Google Assistant or Alexa[3]Nest Renew makes it simple to support clean energy right from home; it works with your Nest Thermostat[5] to help you automatically prioritize your usage[6] to times when energy is cleaner or less expensive.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. You can control your Nest Thermostat manually when there's no internet connection.
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home
- Programmable thermostat that lets you create an energy efficient schedule in the Google Home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]. | Control the temperature with your voice using smart home devices that work with Google Assistant or Alexa[3].
Use a manual schedule when you want predictable, auditable behavior. Use learning features when routines vary and you are willing to review changes. Google’s model-specific scheduling information is at this support page and current-model setup guidance.
Set Home/Away and presence behavior
Google Home presence automations
Newer Google Home-managed thermostats can use presence to keep the normal schedule when someone is home, switch to Eco Temperatures when the home is Away, and return to the schedule when it is Home. Configure these options through the thermostat’s Home/Away or presence automation settings.
Nest app Home/Away Assist
- Open the Nest app and tap Settings.
- Select Home/Away Assist.
- Choose the Home or Away state and select the thermostat.
- Enable or disable switching to Eco Temperatures.
- Tap Eco Temperatures to adjust away targets.
Google’s Home/Away instructions are at Home/Away Assist help and presence automation guidance. Away generally uses Eco rather than turning the system fully off, and Eco does not necessarily preheat or precool before you arrive.
Create a Google Home routine or automation
A schedule is a repeating thermostat timetable. Presence automation responds to whether people are home. A household routine or automation can use time, presence, voice, another device or a device state as a trigger and then change the thermostat.
Best Value
- ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi.Connectivity Protocol : Wi-Fi
- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. Lock feature: No
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or iPhone
- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
- Savings Finder looks for more ways your thermostat can help you save, and suggests tweaks to your schedule in the app; check with your energy provider to learn more about rebates and more ways to save on a Nest thermostat
- Open Google Home and create a household automation.
- Choose a starter, such as weekdays at 6:30 a.m.
- Add a condition, such as someone being home, if supported and appropriate.
- Add a thermostat action: set Heat, Cool, Heat • Cool, Off or a specific temperature.
- Save, then review the automation’s permissions, account and device.
Google lists thermostat mode and temperature actions, with availability subject to editor, language, region, device and account limits, at automation action support. Automations depend on internet, Wi‑Fi, Google services and third-party availability, so do not use them for safety-critical protection. See Google’s automation reliability warning.
Why your Nest keeps changing temperature
- The next schedule event ran. A manual change normally ends at that transition.
- The thermostat is in another mode. Heat, Cool and Heat • Cool have separate schedules.
- Eco is active. Away status or a manual Eco selection can replace comfort targets.
- A hold expired. The thermostat resumed its schedule.
- Auto-Schedule or Smart Schedule learned a change.
- A preset was activated.
- A routine or automation ran. Review Google Home activity and automation settings.
- Home/Away detection changed. Phones left at home, guests, pets or inconsistent location settings can produce an unexpected state.
- A temperature sensor is prioritizing another room. A sensor does not measure and control every room equally at the same time.
- The schedule was edited in the wrong app or mode.
Diagnostic order
- Check the current mode on the thermostat.
- Check whether Eco is displayed.
- Look for the next scheduled change.
- Review Google Home automations and recent activity.
- For older devices, review Nest Home/Away Assist and Auto-Schedule.
- Check active temperature-sensor settings.
- Restart the thermostat only after configuration causes are ruled out.
Google specifically recommends checking presence-based automations, Home/Away settings and recent routine activity for unexpected Eco changes: troubleshooting guidance.
Important equipment and installation considerations
Temperature sensors
A compatible Nest Temperature Sensor can prioritize a bedroom, office or nursery, but support and scheduling vary by model. It does not create equal, simultaneous control of every room. See thermostat settings and sensor options.
Heat pumps and auxiliary heat
Heat-pump systems may expose auxiliary or emergency heat controls. Available stages and equipment options depend on the model and wiring; do not apply generic heating instructions without checking the configuration.
Compatibility and power
Nest compatibility varies by wiring, stages, HVAC type and model. Some installations need a C wire or Nest Power Connector, while proprietary or unusual systems may require professional installation. Check Google’s compatibility guide before buying or rewiring.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
| Goal | Nest Thermostat / Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) / Thermostat E |
|---|---|---|
| Change now | Google Home or thermostat | Nest app, thermostat, or Google Home after migration |
| Edit schedule | Google Home | Nest app; Google Home availability varies after migration |
| Learning feature | Smart Schedule; Savings Finder on Nest Thermostat | Auto-Schedule |
| Manual scheduling | Schedules and presets | Basic Schedule |
| Away behavior | Google Home presence automation | Nest Home/Away Assist |
| Named reusable temperatures | Comfort, Eco, Sleep and custom presets | Older scheduling workflow |
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