The product ‘Nest Hello Video Doorbell’ was debuted in 2018, and while it has done well in the market, Ring continues to be the market leader in the smart doorbell category. As a result, while many individuals have questions concerning the Nest Hello doorbell, a few of these inquiries go unanswered as a result of this. The rest of the responses are insufficient. So I choose to put together this FAQ, which addresses 18 of your questions regarding the Nest smart doorbell. I hope you find it useful.
Does Nest Hello come with a chime?
A hardwired chime connection is included with the Nest Hello, which is commonly referred to as a “chime puck” since it is shaped somewhat like a hockey puck while in use.
There has a hardwired chime, which distinguishes the Nest Hello from the Ring doorbell series (it does not have a hardwired chime but may be purchased as a separate WiFi chime and hooked into a wall outlet).
The installation of the chime is covered in steps 2.5 to 2.10 of the Nest Hello install instructions. Essentially, you must snap a photo of the wiring on your old chime and then enter that photo into the Nest app (during installation), and the app will assist you through the process of wiring up the Nest chime.
You must thus also have a hardwired chime in order to install the Nest chime, while you may be able to install your Hello without a hardwired chime (for example, if you do not have a hardwired chime but instead plan using a Google Home device to be alerted of guests).
Does Nest Hello work with Alexa?
Alexa (Echo) is controlled by Amazon, which also owns Nest and Ring. Nest is owned by Google, while Echo (Alexa) is owned by Amazon, which also owns Ring. That is, Nest & Alexa are direct rivals in the home automation industry.
The integration of the two becomes more difficult as a result. The Guest Declaration (this is a Google or Nest word) should be broadcast when your Nest doorbell is pressed by a visitor. In addition, this may be accomplished on Google Assistant-enabled devices — including both audio and video devices, respectively.
As a result, your Android mobile phone (Android is made by Google, and as such, supports Google Assistant) will be able to receive Nest’ Visitor Announcements.'” Naturally, Google Home devices will be included in this.
Due to the fact that Alexa/Echo doesn’t really facilitate Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa products – including the Echo line – do not officially enable Nest Hello.
A free Alexa skill named Nest Camera, on the other hand, has been developed by the Nest team. This is a very poorly rated product (2.5/5 ratings), with over 50% of users giving it 1/5 and stating that it hardly works for them. However, it may work better for you.
If your Amazon product includes a video display, you can use this skill to make it more interactive. A basic Echo / Echo Dot will not be able to communicate with your Nest Hello, in other words.
The Nest Camera skill, as well as the Nest Hello, will be supported by the Echo Show, Echo Spot, and a variety of fire TVs (like fire sticks). In any case, if you are among the 40% of individuals who have given the ability a positive rating, it will work for you!
Does the Nest Hello work on 5 Ghz (WiFi)?
The answer is “yes”… provided that you are located in the United States. Unfortunately, if you reside anywhere else in the world, you’re stuck with 2.4 GHz. Sorry!
Despite the fact that just half of Nest’s products support 5 GHz, this isn’t a one-off choice by Google (aka Nest), and it isn’t limited to only the Hello smart speaker.
Compare this to Ring’s Doorbell series, which has Doorbell 1 and 2 that do not enable 5 GHz but has a Pro (the closest Nest Hello rival) that does support 5 GHz.
If you are staying in the United States, you may experiment with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequencies. It’s important to note, however, that 5 GHz WiFi signals do not permeate solid walls as well as 2.4 GHz WiFi signals can. It is possible that your Hello will perform better at 2.4 Ghz if there are cement or concrete walls between it and your internet network.
Given that you can make rapid changes to this setting at the bottom of the Configuration window, it’s worth immediately experimenting with both possibilities. In certain cases, even with a poor signal, you may discover that you have faster download and upload rates while using 5 GHz.
Why does the Nest Hello have a USB port?
The USB connector on the back of your Hello doorbell frequently causes confusion among users. This item is not intended to be used to recharge your smartphone. Not even for the transfer of video files, as the Nest does not store video locally (all video is sent to ‘the cloud,’ as the name suggests).
Rather than that, the USB connector – which is actually a tiny USB port – is utilized to swiftly charge the little internal battery that is included within the Hello. The hardwired connections should normally be sufficient to recharge this little battery, but in rare instances, an issue may arise that necessitates the removal of the Nest Hello and reinstallation of the device in order to recharge it and restore functioning.
Aside from troubleshooting difficulties with your doorbell, the Nest support staff may also be able to use this USB port.
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Can Nest Hello be installed horizontally?
However, because there is no auto-rotation option for the video, your movie will display sideways in the app if you install it horizontally (i.e. when viewers are at your door).
Because it is not officially supported by Nest, functions such as motion and face recognition will not function properly when your Nest Hello is mounted horizontally.
This is unfortunate because if your present doorbell is positioned horizontally (for example, since you have stone walls or irregular bricks), a Nest Hello will not function as well as you would want them to.
Does Nest Hello come with a wedge kit?
With a wedge kit, you can achieve the best possible video capture in tight spaces such as a narrow door frame or an unusual installation site.
The Nest Hello begins with a 15° wedge that may be used to slightly tilt the camera position to the right or left, which is included in the package (just rotate the wedge front down to tilt the either direction).
Unfortunately, 15° is not a significant tilt — if, for example, the pathway leading from your front door is at a straight angle, a 45° wedge kit should always be used rather than 15°.
As a result of several users contacting Nest customer service about this issue, Nest has given out additional wedge kits, which may be stacked together (with adhesive) to achieve viewing angles of 30° or 45° instead.
Another option is to purchase third-party wedge kits from Amazon, which are now available after the Hello has been on the market for a couple of years.
The final item to mention is that the wedge kit gives you the option to rotate the video left and right. Up to down angles are incompatible with this technique. An alternative solution is to utilize a third-party wedge kit.
Does the Nest Hello record all the time?
Yes, it records continuously since it is hardwired, which allows it to record without having to worry about emptying the battery’s capacity.
If you want to see the recorded footage, you’ll need to sign up for a Nest Aware membership, which costs $6 per month. You can only watch the recordings in real-time if you have launched the app because they are not kept ‘in the cloud’ without this.
Can you install the Nest Hello Doorbell without its chime?
When it comes to installing a Nest Hello, if you don’t already have a doorbell with a chime, you may be wondering how to do so. In such case, if you can’t (or don’t want to) install the Nest chime, you have two alternatives:
1) Purchase a sufficient resistor and hook it up in just the same manner as directed by the Nest app’s installation instructions, only that the resistor will be used in place of the given chime instead.
2) “Puck” terminals from the chime, connect them in parallel with the doorbell and converter, and then cover the other two uncovered U-shaped terminals/forks with a piece of electrical tape.
Both of these methods need electrical expertise, so please make sure you are qualified to do so or hire an expert before proceeding.
Can you install Nest Hello with two chimes?
If you have a large house (or want to be able to hear your doorbell more readily from upstairs), having two doorbell chimes may be beneficial.
So, is this a thing that can be done?
The answer is yes, this is perfectly doable. In fact, when you ask Nest this question, they will provide you with the wiring schematic shown below:
The top image depicts the situation prior to the Nest installation, while the bottom image depicts the situation after the two chimes and Nest Hello have been installed.
Then all you have to do is purchase a second chime (because only one is provided in the package) and link it to the other.
How do you update the Nest Hello Doorbell?
The Nest Hello doorbell should automatically update itself as far as you have a good internet connection, so no need to do anything.
When it’s time for an update, your Nest will automatically restart at the right moment.
To guarantee that you have all of the most recent updates, you may check the most recent Hello version on Google’s support page and then compare it to your app by visiting to: https://support.google.com/hello/verification/comparison/app.html.
1) Open the Nest app and choose your doorbell.
2) Select ‘Settings’ from the drop-down menu in the upper right corner.
3) Scroll down to the bottom and click on ‘Technical Info.’
4) Look for the version number next to ‘Software.’
Why doesn’t my Nest Hello Doorbell ring?
If your internal chime is not creating a sound, or if the sound is barely audible, there are a number of facts that might be contributing to the problem. The most likely cause is a reduced voltage supply, which implies that the doorbell is consuming all of the available power and there isn’t enough ‘left’ for the chime to sound properly.
Other considerations are as follows:
- Having a chime puck with loose or tangled wires on the inside.
- If you have mistakenly enabled ‘Quiet Time’ in the Nest app, you may have accidentally turned the chime off as a result of this.
- In extreme heat or cold, the chime (which serves as a resistor) can be turned off to preserve the doorbell’s internal wiring, which can result in the chime not working at all.
How do I adjust the motion sensitivity on my Nest Doorbell?
Are you receiving an excessive number of visitor alerts? Is it too much or not enough? If this is the reason, it is not impossible that the motion settings have been adjusted wrongly.
By heading to Parameters->Security->Devices and then altering settings such as path light, positioning, and activity zones, you may customize the Nest Detects functionality in the app. You may also try activating ‘Reduced Motion Sensitivity’ under Security Levels. However, this will make a more significant difference in terms of overall security.
The use of custom zones might allow you to activate motion alerts exclusively within a certain custom zone while disabling them outside of that zone. This can assist you in reducing the number of false alarms that you receive.
How do I adjust the microphone sensitivity on my Nest Doorbell?
The Nest Hello’s microphone is capable of handling sound from all sides, which may be both a gift and a nuisance depending on your point of view. The 3-microphone array in the Nest provides automated sensitivity adjustment, allowing it to intelligently take up just the noises you require to be heard.
That said, you will not be able to manually modify the microphone intensity; instead, you will be at the whim of Google’s algorithms, which will try their best to get it right the first time.
The microphone may be turned off fully under Settings -> Sound Systems -> Voice recording, or a momentary Quiet Time can be activated from the Nest app’s home screen.
Installing a Nest Hello without an existing doorbell: is this possible?
If you don’t have any doorbell cabling at all, you got two options: (1) install a wireless doorbell or (2) install a wired doorbell.
1) In order to correctly install a transformer, resistor (chime), and doorbell (Nest Hello), you must run a new electrical cable, ideally from your distribution/consumer unit. Follow Nest’s installation instructions to ensure that you have all three components in place.
2) Charge the Nest Hello straight from an Indoor Power Adapter, just like you would any other electrical item when plugging it in. If you don’t want to utilize the chime, you may use a Google Home product (such as with a Nest Mini) to notify you when you have guests instead.
Option #2 requires far less work and is also significantly less expensive. If your chime puck is no longer in use, you may always sell it on eBay or Craigslist.
Why does Nest Hello have facial recognition?
Yes, face recognition is included with the Hello – as long as you subscribe to the Nest Aware subscription, which is not included by default.
This function will gradually learn common faces (i.e., regular visitors) to your houses — such as friends and family – and, who knows, the local Amazon delivery guy as well.
This is referred to as the ‘Familiar Faces’ function, and it appears to be pretty effective.
Can you save Nest Hello video footage to local storage (not the cloud)?
To answer your question, there is no space facility within the Hello to keep video recordings safe. For video storage, the sole official solution is to pay for Nest Aware, which will save the footage in a secure location in the “cloud.” After that, you may download visual content from this website.
If you subscribe to Nest Aware, you may be able to stream cloud footage to a local computer if you pay the monthly fee. However, without Nest Aware, there is no way to circumvent the system and save the video footage captured by the Hello to a local storage device.
Why does my Nest Hello show a dotted red line of lights?
Motion detection mode is active when the Hello doorbell detects that it is past sunset. As a result, the Hello doorbell has activated night vision so that it may continue to record visitors in low (or no) light situations.
If night vision is not enabled (either because it has been turned off in the app or because it is not yet dark enough), there are two additional probable explanations:
1) This is due to a software and hardware malfunction, which has caused these lights to be activated by accident.
2) It’s freezing outside! On the internet, some people have theorized that the (warm) infrared-based lights may be switched on in order to keep part of the internals suitably heated when the weather is cooler than usual. Yet, this has not been confirmed by the authorities.
My Nest Hello Doorbell won’t stop ringing: help?!
An electrical wiring fault is almost often the cause of this condition. In order to avoid damaging your doorbell (or rather its chime), double-check that all of the wirings correspond to the installation schematics.
Also, double-check that the transformer is suitable with your Hello, that must be supplied by cables producing 16-24V AC in most cases, and at least 10 V in the United States, to function (8V upwards in Europe).
