Nest Night Vision Not Working? See Clearly in the Dark Again
Your Nest camera's ability to see in the dark is one of its most critical security features. When night vision fails, your nighttime recordings become uselessly dark, leaving your property vulnerable. This issue usually manifests as a completely black video feed at night or an image that is too dark to make out any detail.
The problem is almost always related to the camera's infrared (IR) LEDs. Let's walk through the steps to get them working again.
## 1. Check Your Night Vision Settings in the App
The first and most simple thing to check is that night vision is actually enabled for your camera. It is possible that the setting was accidentally turned off.
- Open the Nest app on your smartphone.
- Select the camera you are having issues with.
- Tap the Settings icon (the gear) in the top right corner.
- Select Night Vision.
- Ensure the setting is on Auto. This allows the camera to automatically switch on the IR lights when it gets dark. You can also temporarily set it to Always On for testing purposes. If it is set to Off, that is your problem.
## 2. Clean the Camera Lens
Over time, the lens of your outdoor camera can become covered in dust, dirt, or spiderwebs. This grime can block the IR lights or cause glare that confuses the camera's sensor, preventing night vision from activating correctly.
Gently wipe the camera lens and the area around it with a soft, microfibre cloth. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners. Once clean, check the video feed again in a dark environment.
## 3. Look for and Eliminate IR Glare
Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, but it behaves like visible light. If your camera is positioned too close to a reflective surface, such as a window, a white wall, or the soffit under your eaves, the IR light can bounce straight back into the lens. This is known as IR glare or bounce-back.
This glare tricks the camera into thinking the scene is bright, causing it to either not turn on night vision or to produce a washed-out, white image.
To fix this:
- Reposition the camera so it is not pointing directly at a nearby surface.
- Angle the camera slightly away from walls or overhangs.
- If viewing through a window, turn off the camera's built-in night vision and place a separate, external IR illuminator outside.
## 4. Power Cycle the Camera
A temporary software glitch can sometimes prevent the night vision from activating. A simple reboot can often resolve this.
Unplug your Nest camera from its power source for at least 30 seconds. If it is a battery model, you may need to turn it off using a switch or button. After 30 seconds, plug it back in and give it a few minutes to fully restart. This simple step is surprisingly effective at fixing a wide range of camera issues.
## 5. Check for Physical Obstructions
Finally, ensure there is nothing physically blocking the IR LEDs, which are typically located in a ring around the camera lens. A poorly fitted third-party skin or a piece of tape could be covering the lights and preventing them from illuminating the scene. Remove any obstructions and test the camera again.