Nest – Moving Guide for Nest Devices

Category: Nest → Account & Device Management

Overview

Whether you're moving to a new home, leaving Nest devices behind, or setting up devices left by a previous homeowner, it's important to properly remove devices from your account and perform factory resets when required.

This helps protect personal information and ensures devices can be activated by the next owner.

Before You Move

If You Are Leaving Devices Behind

Before leaving any Nest device for the next resident:

1. Remove the device from your account.
2. Perform a factory reset if required.
3. Verify the device is ready for a new owner.

Important: Factory resets permanently remove personal data and cannot be undone.

Google Home Devices

Speakers and Displays

Leave Behind

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Select the device.
3. Tap Settings → Remove Device → Remove.
4. Perform a factory reset.

Bring to Your New Home

Using the same Wi-Fi network:

• Plug in the device after moving.
• It should reconnect automatically.

Using a new Wi-Fi network:

• Update the device's Wi-Fi settings in the Google Home app.

Device Left by Previous Owner

1. Factory reset the device.
2. Set it up in the Google Home app.

Nest Cameras and Doorbells (Battery Models)

Leave Behind

1. Remove the device from the Google Home app.
2. Factory reset the camera or doorbell.
3. Cancel any applicable subscription if needed.

Device Left by Previous Owner

1. Factory reset the device.
2. Complete setup in the Google Home app.

Nest Thermostat

Leave Behind

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Remove the thermostat.
3. Factory reset the thermostat.

Bring to Your New Home

Same Wi-Fi network

• Install the thermostat.
• It should reconnect automatically.

New Wi-Fi network

• Reconnect the thermostat to the new network during setup.

Device Left by Previous Owner

1. Remove the thermostat from the previous account.
2. On the thermostat:
   • Go to Settings → Account → Disconnect
3. In the Google Home app:
   • Tap Add → Device → Google Nest Device
4. Select Already Installed.
5. Complete setup and enter the new Wi-Fi credentials.

Nest App Devices

Supported Products

• Nest Thermostat (legacy models)
• Nest Protect
• Nest × Yale Lock
• Nest Cameras
• Nest Doorbells

Leave Behind

1. Remove the device from the Nest app.
2. Factory reset the device if required.

Note: Nest Cam typically does not require a factory reset after removal from the Nest app.

Bring to Your New Home

Move the device and reconnect it through the Nest app.

Device Left by Previous Owner

1. Factory reset the device if necessary.
2. Add it to your Nest account.
3. Complete setup through the Nest app.

Important: Some Nest cameras may remain tied to the previous owner's video history. In some cases, you may need to wait for existing video history to expire before adding the device to a new account.

Moving Checklist

✔ Remove devices from your account

✔ Factory reset devices when required

✔ Update Wi-Fi settings after moving

✔ Cancel unused subscriptions

✔ Set up devices again in the new home

✔ Verify all devices appear in the Google Home or Nest app

Related Topics

• Factory Reset Nest Devices
• Change Wi-Fi on Nest Devices
• Transfer Devices to the Google Home App
• Organize Homes and Devices in Google Home