What to Do When Your Nest Camera Suddenly Stops Working
A security camera that is offline is no security at all. If you've discovered that your Nest camera has suddenly stopped working, showing as "Offline" in the app or having no status light, it can be a real cause for concern.
The good news is that the cause is often something simple and easy to fix. Most issues are related to power or network connectivity. This guide will take you through the essential troubleshooting steps to diagnose the problem and bring your camera back online.
Common Reasons a Nest Camera Stops Working
Before you start, let's look at the most likely culprits. The problem is almost always one of these three things:
- Power Issue: The camera is not receiving electrical power.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity Issue: The camera has lost its connection to your home network.
- Software Glitch: A temporary bug in the camera's software has caused it to become unresponsive.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Follow these steps in order. Do not skip a step, as the simplest solution is often the right one.
1. Check the Power Supply
This is the most fundamental step. If the camera has no power, nothing else will work.
- Check the Status Light: Look at the small LED light on the front of your Nest camera. Is it on? Is it green, blue, or another colour? If there is no light at all, the camera is not receiving power.
- Inspect the Cable: Ensure the power cable is securely plugged into the back of the camera and that the power adapter is firmly plugged into the wall outlet.
- Test the Outlet: Unplug the camera's adapter and plug something else you know works (like a lamp or a phone charger) into the same outlet. This will confirm if the outlet itself is providing power.
- Examine the Cable for Damage: Check the entire length of the USB cable for any cuts, kinks, or frayed sections that could indicate it's damaged.
2. Troubleshoot the Wi-Fi Connection
If the camera has a light on but is showing as "Offline" in the app, the problem is with its connection to the internet.
- Check Your Home Internet: Is the Wi-Fi working for other devices in your home, like your laptop or smartphone? If not, the problem is with your internet service provider or your router.
- Restart Your Wi-Fi Router: This is a crucial step. Unplug your router from the power outlet, wait for a full 60 seconds, and then plug it back in. Wait 5-10 minutes for it to fully restart and for your devices to reconnect. This single step solves a huge number of connectivity issues.
- Check for Wi-Fi Password Changes: Have you recently changed the password for your home Wi-Fi network? If so, your camera will not be able to connect. You will need to go into the Nest or Google Home app, select the offline camera, and go through the steps to update its Wi-Fi information.
3. Power Cycle the Camera
If the camera has power and your Wi-Fi is working, but the device is still unresponsive or offline, the next step is to perform a simple restart (also known as a power cycle).
- Unplug the camera from the power outlet.
- Leave it unplugged for 60 seconds. This ensures that the internal components fully lose their charge and any temporary glitch is cleared.
- Plug the camera back in.
- Wait for a few minutes for it to boot up and attempt to reconnect to your network. Check the app to see if it has come back online.
In the vast majority of cases, one of these three steps will resolve the issue. If your camera still won't work after following this guide, you may need to consider performing a factory reset as a last resort.