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Most old Nest Cams can now be moved to the Google Home app without a factory reset. The transfer is an account migration, not a new installation: your camera remains associated with your Google Account, while live view and new recordings move into Google Home. Before starting, download any footage you cannot afford to lose and check your camera, account, subscription, and app eligibility.
Quick answer
- In the Nest app, open the camera, tap Settings, then choose Transfer to Home app.
- Follow the prompts, select the camera or cameras, and leave them powered and online.
- Google says the software update can take up to 25 minutes.
- Older recordings generally remain in the Nest app until they expire; they are not automatically copied into a permanent Google Home library.
- Do not factory-reset the camera just to migrate it. A reset deletes settings, snapshots, and video history.
Google’s newer Public Preview rollout also offers a broader one-click Nest-to-Home transfer for older Nest devices, including multiple cameras at once. Availability can vary by camera model, account, app version, subscription, and rollout status. See Google’s current Google Home product update and transfer guide.
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Which old Nest cameras can transfer?
Google’s dedicated legacy-camera documentation lists these products:
The Tool Desk
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- Nest Cam Outdoor
- Nest Cam IQ Indoor
- Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
- First-generation wired Nest Doorbell, formerly called Nest Hello
Google also provides transfer instructions for the Nest Hub Max camera. In a March 2026 update, Google said its one-click Public Preview migration had expanded to older Nest cameras and other Nest devices dating back to 2015. That broader statement does not mean every model has identical controls or that every account will see the feature immediately.
#1 Best Overall
- 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)
If your camera still works in the Nest app but no transfer option appears, treat that as an eligibility or rollout question first—not as proof that the camera is broken.
Before transferring: protect your footage and check eligibility
1. Save important recordings
Transfer does not mean that all historical Nest video is copied into Google Home. Download important clips or create any available exports before beginning. This is especially important if you are considering a reset later.
2. Update both apps
Install the latest Nest and Google Home apps from your phone’s app store, and update the phone’s operating system if an update is available. Google’s documented legacy-camera process lists Google Home app version 3.26 or later.
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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 errors3. Confirm the account arrangement
Your Nest account must be migrated to a Google Account, and you should be the owner of the Nest home. An invited member may not see the transfer control even when the camera itself is eligible. Google’s Nest account FAQs explain the account-migration requirement.
4. Check Public Preview
The traditional camera-specific migration flow requires Public Preview in Google’s documentation. The newer one-click rollout may present its own transfer prompt, so look in both apps after updating. Public Preview is an availability channel, not a guarantee that every account receives the control at the same time.
Rank #2
- 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
5. Check your subscription
Google’s dedicated transfer page says an eligible camera may have no subscription or may be covered by a Google Home Premium subscription covering all devices in the home under one plan. A first-generation Nest Aware subscription can prevent transfer until you upgrade or cancel.
Do not upgrade solely because you think a paid plan is required: Google’s current documentation allows transfer without a subscription in eligible circumstances. Also note that upgrading from first-generation Nest Aware means you cannot switch back to that first-generation plan.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Method 1: Transfer a camera from the Nest app
- Open the Nest app.
- Tap the camera you want to move.
- Tap Settings.
- Choose Transfer to Home app.
- Review Google’s information and eligibility notices, then tap Continue.
- Tap Transfer.
- Select the camera, or select the cameras offered by the app.
- Complete the remaining in-app instructions.
- Keep every selected camera powered on and connected to Wi-Fi while the update runs.
- Wait for the completion notification. Google says the process may take up to 25 minutes.
This process normally does not require scanning a QR code, removing the camera, or setting it up as a new device. QR-code setup is for adding or re-adding a camera, as described in Google’s camera setup guide.
Method 2: Use the newer one-click Nest-to-Home transfer
Eligible Public Preview accounts may see a broader migration prompt in Google Home. This flow can transfer multiple older Nest cameras and other Nest devices in one operation.
- Open the Google Home app.
- Look for the Nest-to-Home transfer prompt or Public Preview migration control.
- Review the devices Google identifies for transfer.
- Select the older cameras you want to move.
- Confirm the transfer.
- Wait for the software update to finish.
- Open each camera in Google Home and verify it individually.
The exact wording and location of this prompt may change as Google expands the rollout. If the prompt is absent, use the Nest-app method and work through the eligibility checklist above.
Rank #3
- 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)
What changes after the transfer?
The camera’s live view becomes available in the Google Home app and Google Home for web. Google says key configuration data normally transfers, including camera settings, activity zones, notification settings, and schedules. Presence sensing may need to be configured again.
| Usually available or transferred | May be unavailable or require reconfiguration |
|---|---|
| Live view in Google Home | Timelapses |
| Camera settings | Saving clips to the Nest library |
| Activity zones | Social, public, or password-protected livestream sharing |
| Notification settings | Email notifications |
| Schedules | Assistant on device and some legacy audio controls |
| New Home history | Zoom & Enhance, Safety Clip, and Supersight close-up tracking |
| Presence sensing may need setup again |
These limitations come from Google’s documented legacy transfer path and can vary by model and rollout. Google is continuing to expand the Home experience for older cameras, so the controls shown on your account may differ from an older help-page list. Check the current transfer documentation before assuming a feature is permanently unavailable.
Where are old Nest recordings?
Think of the transfer as creating a boundary between the two apps:
- New history: recordings created after transfer are stored and viewed in Google Home and Google Home for web.
- Older history: existing Nest history remains accessible in the Nest app until its normal retention period expires.
- No automatic archive: old Nest history is not merged into a new, permanent Google Home video library.
If you later transfer the camera back to Nest, video created while it was in Google Home remains in Google Home until it expires. The two apps do not become one combined historical archive.
Does transferring require a factory reset?
No. A normal transfer between your own migrated Nest and Google Home accounts should not require a factory reset.
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)
A factory reset is a separate setup operation. According to Google’s reset instructions, it erases personalized settings, saved Wi-Fi credentials, snapshots, and the entire video history. It cannot be undone, and the camera must be set up again.
Do not reset the camera merely because you want to move it from Nest to Google Home. Reset only when changing ownership, removing an account lock, recovering from a setup problem that requires re-pairing, or addressing a configuration such as Wi-Fi that cannot be changed in the app. Export any needed video first.
Troubleshooting a missing or failed transfer
“Transfer to Home app” is missing
- Confirm the exact camera model.
- Update Google Home, Nest, and your phone’s operating system.
- Confirm the Nest account has been migrated to a Google Account.
- Confirm you are the Nest home owner.
- Check Public Preview enrollment if using the camera-specific flow.
- Make sure the camera is online and visible in the Nest app.
- Check whether it has already appeared in Google Home.
- Review subscription eligibility, particularly if you have first-generation Nest Aware.
- Look for a transfer prompt in both Google Home and the camera’s Nest settings.
- If everything qualifies, wait for the account-side rollout; Google may not expose the control immediately.
Do not make a reset your first response. It will not preserve your Nest history or settings.
The camera goes offline during the update
A transfer includes a software update and can temporarily interrupt access. Leave the camera powered and connected, wait up to the stated 25-minute window, and check for Google’s completion notification before removing or resetting anything.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The camera transferred but is not visible in Google Home
Close and reopen Google Home, confirm that you are signed into the same Google Account, and check the correct home and room. If the transfer notification says it completed, allow additional time for the device list to refresh before attempting setup again.
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
“Camera is connected to another account” appears
This usually describes an ownership or account-lock problem, not a normal same-owner migration. For a camera set up in Google Home, Google’s prescribed route generally involves a factory reset and pairing it to the new account. Follow Google’s connected-to-another-account guidance, and save needed footage first because resetting deletes history.
How to move the camera back to Nest
Google documents a reverse-transfer option when it is available for the camera and account:
- Open the camera’s settings in the Nest app or use the available reverse-transfer control.
- Tap Transfer from the Home app.
- Tap Continue.
- Review the information.
- Tap Transfer, then OK.
Afterward, live video returns to Nest, but the history created in Google Home remains there until it expires. Nest notifications must be configured again, and routines or Home/Away Assist settings may need review. In rare cases, Google may require the camera to be added to Nest again with its QR code or setup code.
Should you transfer now?
Transfer now if you want your cameras and other smart-home devices in one app and mainly need live view, alerts, activity zones, schedules, and current event history.
Stay in Nest temporarily if you depend on timelapses, Nest Library clip saves, public livestream sharing, email notifications, advanced legacy controls, or a first-generation Nest Aware plan you do not want to change.
Reset only when the camera is changing owners, locked to another account, or must be re-added after a setup failure—and only after downloading footage you need.
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