Delayed Nest Camera Notifications? Here's How to Fix the Lag
A security camera's value is tied to its ability to alert you to events in a timely manner. When you receive a notification about a person at your door minutes after they've already left, the system isn't working as it should. This delay, or lag, between an event happening and the alert appearing on your phone is a common and frustrating problem for many Nest camera users.
This guide will help you understand the causes of notification lag and provide you with effective troubleshooting steps to make your alerts as close to real-time as possible.
Why Notification Delays Happen
The journey of a Nest notification is more complex than it seems. First, the camera detects motion. It then uploads the video clip to Google's cloud servers. These servers process the video (for example, to determine if it was a person or a package) and then send a push notification to your phone via the internet. A delay at any point in this chain will result in a late alert.
The most common bottleneck in this process is your home's Wi-Fi network.
Step 1: Analyse and Improve Your Wi-Fi Network
A slow or unstable internet connection, particularly the upload speed, is the number one cause of notification lag.
- Run a Speed Test: On your phone, while connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your camera, run an internet speed test (you can find many free apps or websites for this). Pay close attention to the upload speed. Google recommends a minimum of 2 Mbps of sustained upload speed per Nest camera.
- Check Signal Strength: In the Google Home app, go to your camera's settings and find the 'Wi-Fi' or 'Technical info' section. Look for the signal strength indicator. A weak signal will cause delays as the camera struggles to upload video.
- Reduce Network Congestion: If other people in your home are streaming 4K video, gaming online, or downloading large files, it can saturate your upload bandwidth, leaving little for your Nest camera. Try to pause these activities and see if notification speed improves.
- Improve Your Signal: If the signal is weak, try moving your Wi-oFi router closer to the camera. If that's not possible, a Wi-Fi extender or upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system can provide a much stronger and more stable connection throughout your home.
Step 2: Adjust Camera Video Quality
While you want the best video quality, setting it to maximum can contribute to delays if your internet connection can't keep up.
- Open the Google Home app.
- Select your camera.
- Go to Settings > Video.
- You will see a setting for 'Video quality'. If it's on 'Max', try lowering it to 'High'. This reduces the amount of data the camera needs to upload, which can significantly speed up the process on slower connections.
Step 3: Check Your Phone's Settings
Sometimes the delay isn't in the cloud but on your phone itself. Modern smartphones use aggressive battery management systems that can delay notifications from apps that aren't actively being used.
- Disable Battery Optimisation:
- On Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Google Home (or Nest app). Find the 'Battery' or 'Power management' section and ensure the app is set to 'Unrestricted' or 'Not optimised'.
- On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and make sure it is enabled for the Google Home/Nest app.
- Check 'Do Not Disturb' Mode: Ensure that you haven't accidentally put the app on a 'silent' or 'low priority' notification channel.
Step 4: Restart Everything
When in doubt, a simple restart can clear up temporary software glitches.
- Restart your Camera: Unplug your Nest camera from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. For battery models, use the app to restart it.
- Restart your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router for a minute and let it fully reboot.
- Restart your Phone: A quick reboot of your phone can also help.
By focusing on improving your Wi-Fi upload speed and checking your phone's battery settings, you can eliminate the most common causes of Nest notification lag and get back to receiving timely, actionable alerts.