Nest Thermostat Not Connecting To App? (Proven Solutions)

Got a Nest thermostat not connecting to app? Let’s figure out the solution!

A Nest thermostat that won’t connect to the Home app indicates a connection issue. You must fix the error immediately to regulate your home temperature efficiently.

To connect your Nest thermostat to the app, restart and discharge it to remove any bugs or glitches that are preventing the connection. You also want to turn on your router’s 2.4GHz band and use it to connect your thermostat.

Let’s dig deeper into the solutions!

Nest Thermostat Not Connecting to App – 10 Proven Solutions

There are multiple ways to address the issue. We organized them from the easiest to the most complex for a structured approach. 

1. Restart and Discharge Your Nest Thermostat

The best way to fix a Nest thermostat that’s not connecting to app is to restart and discharge it.

It’s a simple and effective solution that resolves most connectivity issues by clearing temporary glitches or errors and draining any leftover power. 

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the control ring for 10 seconds or until the display goes black. 
2. Wait for a few seconds and repeat step 1 to discharge the thermostat. 
3. Remove your Nest thermostat from its base and wait for 30 seconds.  
4. Reattach it to the base by aligning the pins.
5. Wait for the Nest logo to appear as your device turns on.   

Check if you’ve successfully connected your Nest thermostat to the app on your smartphone. If it doesn’t, proceed to the solutions below. 

2. Power Cycle Your Home WiFi

Another solution worth trying is power cycling your router and modem.

It involves turning off both devices and turning them on again after a brief period.

This will refresh your network and clear any glitches interfering with the connection. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Locate your router and modem and unplug them both. 
2. Wait for about 10 seconds. 
3. Plug them back in and wait for them to power on and reconnect to the internet. 
4. Check if your Nest thermostat is connecting to the app.

Note: If the issue persists after power cycling your home WiFi, contact your internet service provider for further assistance. 

3. Re-add Your Nest Thermostat to the App

If you’ve exhausted the basic troubleshooting steps, re-adding your Nest thermostat to the app is another potential solution.

This resets the connection between your smartphone and thermostat and resolves compatibility issues. 

Here’s how to do this:

1. Open the Nest app on your smartphone.
2. Tap on the Settings icon. 
3. Tap Remove Product and confirm your action. 
4. Select Add Product to add your thermostat back to the app.
5. Follow the prompts to set up your device and reconnect it to your WiFi. 

After re-adding your Nest thermostat to the app, see if it connects properly. If not, explore other solutions listed in this article. 

4. Verify the Nest Service Status

Occasionally, the Nest app not connecting to thermostat problem is due to a Nest service outage or maintenance.

If this is the case, the issue is not on your end but on Nest’s.

You will need to wait for the service to be restored. 

To check the Nest service status, follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser on your smartphone or computer.
2. Go to the Nest Service Status page. 
3. Look for any updates or notifications regarding the status of your Nest service. 
4. You’ll see a list of Nest services along with status indicators. 
5. Check the service status of a specific Nest service. 

Tip: Monitor Nest’s Twitter account for announcements or subscribe to receive real-time updates via email or other notification methods. 

5. Disable Wireless or AP Isolation on Your Router Settings

The Wireless or AP isolation feature on your router settings stops devices on the same WiFi network from communicating with one another.

This also prevents your smartphone from connecting to your thermostat.

Disabling it should resolve the problem. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a web browser on your computer or smartphone.
2. Enter your router’s IP address in the address bar.
3. Press Enter to proceed. 
4. Log in to your router admin page using the username and password.
5. Navigate to wireless settings.
6. Look for Wireless Isolation, AP Isolation, Station Isolation, or something similar.
7. Select the isolation option and turn it off.
8. Save the changes. 

Note: If you can’t locate the isolation option, check the advanced settings within the wireless section or contact your router manufacturer for assistance.  

6. Turn on 2.4GHz on Your Router and Connect Your Thermostat

Some Nest thermostat models do not support the 5 GHz frequency of a dual-band WiFi router.

Check your device’s specifications or user manual to confirm. Then, turn on the 2.4 GHz frequency on your router and connect your thermostat to it. 

Turning on 2.4 GHz on your router

1. Open a web browser and log in to your router admin page.
2. Navigate to wireless settings.
3. Look for Wireless Mode, Band, Frequency, or something similar. 
4. Select the 2.4 GHz only option. 
5. Save the changes and restart your router. 

Connecting your thermostat to the network

1. Press and hold the thermostat ring until it turns off. 
2. Wait for a few seconds until it turns back on. 
3. Press and hold the ring again for 10 seconds. 
4. Unplug the thermostat from its base.
5. Wait for another 30 seconds.
6. Plug it back in and wait for it to boot up.
7. Follow the instructions on the app to connect your thermostat to the 2.4 GHz network.
8. Check if your Nest app now connects to your thermostat. 

7. Lower or Disable Parental Control Settings on Your Router

Parental Control restricts or blocks certain websites or devices from accessing the internet.

It also prevents your smartphone from connecting to your Nest thermostat, especially with pre-set schedules or filters in place.

To fix this, turn off or decrease the feature on your router.  

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a web browser and log in to your router admin page.
2. Navigate to Parental Control settings.
3. Look for Schedule, Filter, Block, Restrict, or something similar. 
4. Lower or disable these settings for your devices.
5. Save the changes and restart your router.
6. Check if your Nest app is connecting to your thermostat.  

Note: Communicate with all network users in your household before lowering or disabling parental control settings on your router to balance safety and freedom in your internet usage. 

8. Reconfigure Your Nest Thermostat’s WiFi Settings

If your Nest won’t connect to app, connect your thermostat to another router, hotspot, or guest network.

Sometimes, the cause of the issue is an incompatible or unstable WiFi network.

Reconfiguring your device’s WiFi settings will help resolve it.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Press and hold the thermostat ring to open the menu.
2. Turn the ring to select the Settings tab.
3. Select Network, then WiFi.
4. Select your desired WiFi network from the list. 
5. Enter the WiFi network password if required.
6. Wait for the Connected message to appear.
7. Verify if your Nest thermostat now connects to the app. 

If this works, the issue is likely with your WiFi. Contact your ISP to resolve it. If not, it’s your thermostat; reach out to Nest support.   

9. Update Your Thermostat’s Firmware

The firmware controls how your thermostat works and communicates with your other devices.

If your Nest thermostat is not connecting to the app, it could be outdated firmware.

To resolve the issue, update your thermostat’s firmware. Here’s how to do this:

Using the Nest App

1. Open the Nest App.
2. Tap the thermostat you want to update.
3. Select Settings.
4. Tap on Device Information.
5. Go to Software Version.
6. Tap Check for Updates.
7. Tap Download and Install if an update is available. 

Using the thermostat

1. Press the thermostat’s ring to open Quick View. 
2. Go to Settings.
3. Turn the ring and choose Software Update.
4. Select Check for Updates.
5. Select Download and Install if an update is available. 

Note: The update usually takes a few minutes to download and install. Once the update is complete, your Nest thermostat will restart. 

10. Reset Your Nest Thermostat

If the solutions above are ineffective, reset your Nest thermostat.

This will resolve issues caused by corrupted or incompatible data and settings.

However, it will also erase all your schedule, preferences, history, and account information. 

Using the Nest App

1. Open the Nest app.
2. Tap the thermostat you want to reset.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Scroll down and tap Reset.
5. Tap Reset all settings.
6. Confirm that you want to reset your thermostat. 

Using the thermostat

1. Press the thermostat ring to launch the Quick View menu.
2. Proceed to Settings.
3. Turn the ring and choose Reset.
4. Select All Settings.
5. Press the thermostat ring to confirm. 

Note: Resetting your Nest thermostat will restore it to its default state. You’ll need to set everything up again from scratch. 

Tip: Back up your schedule before you reset your thermostat.  

Quick Recap

We’ve shown you how to fix the Nest thermostat not connecting to app. The best way is to restart and discharge your device, which resolves most connectivity issues.

Another effective solution is power cycling your home WiFi to refresh your network and clear glitches. 

Our blog is your go-to source for additional Nest troubleshooting articles!