Nest Thermostat Not Responding? – (Quick Fix Guide)

Wondering why the Nest thermostat not responding? Well, you’ve found the right article!

Not being able to interact with the Nest thermostat limits you from setting up your household temperature manually, adjusting schedules, or managing the settings.

This guide will help you uncover the reason behind the touchpad error (unresponsiveness) and provide top solutions.

If the Nest thermostat isn’t responding to your touches, reinsert the batteries or charge the thermostat manually. Next, reset the power of the HVAC system at the circuit breaker and correct the terminal’s wiring.

Keep reading to uncover more about the thermostat’s malfunction!

Why is the Nest Thermostat Not Responding to Touch?

Nest’s non-responsiveness to the touch may belong to an issue with the display panel or the electrical wiring of the thermostat.

The first step is to understand what could possibly cause the Nest thermostat’s touchpad to malfunction and construct reliable troubleshooting solutions!

Here’s why the Nest thermostat isn’t responding to the touch:

Nest Thermostat: Touchscreen or Touchpad?

All Nest thermostats do not use touchscreen technology. Instead, the thermostat uses an integrated touch bar on the right side of the unit.

That allows controlling and customizing the software settings of the device with the assistance of the scroll wheel around the device.

Turning the scroll wheel right or left will cause the thermostat to browse through the settings menu, landing on the desired setting and highlighting it.

Then, via a single tap on the touchpad, you can access the selected setting and configure each aspect of the thermostat’s operation.

Nest Thermostat Not Responding – Here’s How to Fix!

Tip: Follow the steps in consecutive order!

1. Reload the Thermostat Interface

There’s a possibility that the Nest thermostat system has run into a temporal functionality issue, and the display has stopped responding.

Since restarting isn’t possible whenever the thermostat is inactive, you can attempt to reload the interface using the physical wheel.

All Nest thermostat devices have a physical wheel that, when spun, allows navigation through the settings.

If the thermostat isn’t responding only to your touches, you should attempt to rotate the wheel 180° clockwise and repeat the same movement counterclockwise.

Do Nest Thermostats Have Physical Buttons?

Unfortunately, Nest thermostats do not have built-in physical buttons that allow interaction with the menu.

All Nest thermostats are solely operated through the touchpad on the side and the physical menu wheel that enables highlighting and accessing different sections of the settings.

Tip: Tap the touchpad of the Nest thermostat multiple times at each corner to test!

2. Inspect the Thermostat’s Batteries

The first step is to verify that the backup power supply of the Nest thermostat and the internal batteries are in proper condition.

All Nest thermostats are connected to the HVAC system via a “C” wire that provides the primary electricity supply and charges the rechargeable battery unit.

Keep in mind that only the standard Google Nest thermostat uses two replaceable triple-A batteries, while the Nest Learning and the Nest Model E thermostats use rechargeable ones.

How to Reinsert Nest Replaceable Batteries?

1. First, remove the frontal plate of the thermostat.
2. Uninstall the base mount by undoing the screws.
3. Locate the two triple-A batteries in the sockets.
4. Carefully eject the batteries of the thermostat.
5. Lastly, wait for 30 seconds and reinsert them.

How to Charge Nest Rechargeable Batteries?

1. Remove the Nest thermostat frontal plate from the wall.
2. Locate the USB charging port on the back-side panel.
3. Connect a USB-C cable to the thermostat’s input port.
4. Connect the other end of the cable to the A/C adapter.
5. Plug the adapter into a standalone electrical socket.
6. Wait for 30 minutes until the Nest thermostat charges.
7. Reinstall the front plate onto the wall mount of the Nest.

Remember that you can only replace the batteries of the standard Nest thermostat since it uses replaceable triple-A batteries.

Do not attempt to eject or replace the rechargeable battery on the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat model E.

Tip: For defects with the rechargeable batteries, contact Nest for assistance!

3. Set the Nest Thermostat to “MANUAL”

It is possible that the Nest thermostat has frozen up or temporarily glitched due to a conflict with one of the automatic heating/cooling settings.

Your Nest thermostat should become operational once it accesses the “MANUAL” temperature configuration regime pre-set within your Nest app.

Here’s how to set the Nest thermostat to “MANUAL” setting in easy steps:

1. Start by opening the Nest app on your Android/Apple iOS device.
2. Tap on your Nest thermostat from the homepage of the Nest app.
3. If the screen says “AUTOMATIC,” tap once to switch to “MANUAL.”

If the settings configuration of the Nest app already says “MANUAL,” it means the thermostat is currently working on regulated temperatures.

In that case, tap “MANUAL” again to revert your thermostat to “AUTOMATIC” and cause the device’s system to unfreeze.

Notice: Verify that the Nest app is updated to the latest firmware version available!

4. Reset the HVAC Circuit Breaker

A proven method to address issues with the power supply of the Nest thermostat is to stop the power supply of the HVAC system by pulling the breaker switch.

Turning the switch will turn off all devices connected to the system, including the Nest thermostat, and refresh the entire setup.

Info: The circuit breaker reset is a sustainable solution after a sudden power outage!

Here’s how to perform a reset on the HVAC system via the breaker switch:

1. Locate the circuit breaker panel in the house or garage.
2. Next, open the panel and locate the “HVAC” switch inside.
3. Gently push the switch of the HVAC system downwards.
4. Wait for 60 seconds and pull the HVAC switch upwards.
5. Verify that the furnace is functional and test the thermostat.

Tip: For a lousy HVAC circuit breaker, call an HVAC technician or contact the Nest team!

5. Check the Terminal Wires Installation

Improper installation of the Nest thermostat’s terminal wires can result in lasting issues with the functionality, including unresponsiveness.

If the wires are damaged, not in proper condition, or connected with the wrong terminals, many functional aspects of the Nest thermostat will stop! 

• To access the terminal of the Nest thermostat, first, stop the power from the primary circuit and remove the frontal plate.

How to Properly Install Nest Terminal Wires?

• Connect the Blue-colored wire to the “Common” (C) terminal.
• Connect the White-colored wire to the “Cooling” (W2) terminal.
• Connect the Red-colored wire to the “Power” (RC) terminal.
• Connect the Orange-colored wire to the “Heat Pump” (O/B) terminal.
• Connect the Green-colored wire to the “Fan” (G) terminal.
• Connect the Yellow-colored wire to the “Cooling” (Y1) terminal.

Don’t forget to verify that the power supply of the HVAC system is deactivated before engaging with the terminal installation of the Nest thermostat. 

Note: Only reactivate the power supply of the HVAC system after closing the panel!

6. Re-Add the Nest Thermostat

It is possible that the Nest thermostat won’t respond due to an issue with the Nest mobile application installed on your phone device.

If the profile of the thermostat is inactive or the Google Nest app can’t initialize the device, it is recommended to reinstall the profile entirely.

Here is how to re-add the Nest thermostat from the Nest mobile app:

1. Open the Nest app on your mobile Android/iOS device.
2. From the home screen of the app, enter the “Settings.”
3. Next, tap on the “Add Product” button from the options.
4. Tap “Continue” and select the type of Nest thermostat.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the setup.

Keep in mind that adding identical Nest products and assigning the settings will automatically remove the older profile of the thermostat.

Hence, you will be prompted to create a new settings configuration for the Nest thermostat within the mobile application.

Note: Verify that your phone is securely connected to an internet network!

Quick Recap:

When the Nest thermostat not responding, you must inspect the condition of the internal thermostat batteries and correct the terminal wire installation.

If the issue persists, reset the power of the HVAC system at the main breaker and factory reset the Nest thermostat.

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