Google Nest Camera Not Recording? How to Fix It Now
Your Google Nest camera is a vital part of your home security, and its ability to record events is crucial. When it fails to record, whether it's a missed package delivery or an unexpected visitor, it can be a major cause for concern. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process to diagnose and fix recording issues with your Nest camera.
## The First and Most Critical Check: Your Nest Aware Subscription
Before you investigate any other possibilities, you must confirm the status of your Nest Aware subscription. This is the most frequent reason for a Nest camera to stop recording.
- What is Nest Aware? It's the paid subscription service from Google that stores recorded video events in the cloud.
- What happens without it? Without an active Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription, your camera can stream live video, but it will not save any recorded video history.
How to check your subscription:
- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap on "Settings" and then "Subscriptions".
- Manage your subscriptions and verify that your Nest Aware plan is active and associated with the correct home/account.
## Verify Camera Power and Settings in the App
If your subscription is in good standing, the next step is to ensure the camera is actually turned on and configured to record.
### Is the Camera On?
It may seem obvious, but it's easy for a camera to be accidentally turned off within the app.
- Open the Google Home or Nest app and select your camera.
- Check the top of the screen. There should be a toggle or button that clearly states the camera is "On".
- Also, be mindful of Home & Away Routines. These automated routines can turn your cameras off when the app detects you are home. Review your routine settings to ensure they aren't preventing recording when you need it.
### Check Your Recording and Event Settings
Modern Nest cameras allow you to customise which events are recorded.
- Go to your camera's settings in the app.
- Tap on "Events" and then "Seen events".
- Here, you can choose what you want to be recorded (e.g., People, Animals, Vehicles). Make sure the types of events you want to capture are enabled. If "Motion" is turned off, general activity might not be recorded.
## Diagnosing Wi-Fi and Connection Problems
For your camera to record, it needs a strong and stable connection to your Wi-Fi network to upload video to the cloud.
- Check Camera Status: In the app, does the camera show as "Offline" or "Connecting"? If so, it cannot record. You'll need to troubleshoot the connection itself.
- Look at Video Quality: Is the live stream choppy, pixelated, or frequently buffering? This is a classic sign of a poor Wi-Fi connection that would also prevent successful recording uploads.
- Improve the Connection:
- Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera.
- Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
- If possible, connect your camera to the 5 GHz band of your Wi-Fi network for better speed, or the 2.4 GHz band for better range, depending on your situation.
## Final Troubleshooting: Restart and Review
If all else fails, a simple restart can often work wonders.
- Restart the Camera: Unplug your Nest camera from the power source. Wait for at least one minute before plugging it back in. This forces it to reboot and re-establish its connection.
- Review Your Activity Zones: If you have Activity Zones set up, make sure they are drawn correctly. If an event happens just outside a zone, it won't be recorded. Try disabling the zones temporarily to see if recording resumes.
By methodically checking your subscription, in-app settings, and Wi-Fi stability, you can quickly get to the bottom of why your Nest camera isn't recording and restore this essential security feature.