Nest Thermostat Touch Screen Not Working? (Instant Fix)

Nest thermostat touch screen not working, and you’re wondering why? This guide is for you!

The severity of the issue depends on whether the Nest thermostat’s display is blank/white or the menus and icons are frozen (unresponsive).

Respectively, if you can see the menus but cannot interact with them, the system is frozen, but if the display is blank, the thermostat is not working.

When the touchscreen of your Nest thermostat is not working/responding, start by fully charging your thermostat. Next, verify that your thermostat’s wiring is correct, especially the “C” wire, and check the HVAC system state.

Let’s continue and unwrap everything!

Why is My Thermostat Nest Touch Screen Not Working?

There are many potential problems that will prevent you from interacting with your thermostat’s touch screen.

The possibilities revolve around the power supply of your thermostat all the way to your HVAC installation and thermostat’s wiring.

So, here are all the possibilities as to why your Nest thermostat’s display is not working:

For now, we’ll exclude the possibility that your Nest thermostat is defective or the touchscreen is broken and proceed with everything we can justify.

So, without further ado, let’s jump right in…

Nest Thermostat Touch Screen Not Working – Easy Solutions!

Tip: Follow the steps consecutively!

1. Wake Up Your Nest Thermostat

The first step is the easiest one. You must ensure that your thermostat is not sleeping, which might make you think the touch screen is not working.

The Nest thermostat has two options when it comes to waking up, one is (when you approach), and the other is (when you press).

So if you’ve changed the option to (tap to wake), you must tap on the touch screen twice, and this will wake up your thermostat.

Regarding the other option (when you approach), the sensor will automatically turn on the touchscreen display when you’re close to the thermostat’s panel.

If your thermostat touchscreen does not light up, continue reading ahead!

2. Fully Charge Your Nest Thermostat!

If your Nest thermostat’s display is blank/white and the touch screen is not working, your device is not receiving power from the supply.

The base Nest thermostat model uses two AAA alkaline batteries, while the Nest E and Nest Learning thermostats use a direct electrical line withdrawal.

So, if you’re using the Nest E/Learning thermostat, the device’s battery may be dead due to a recent power outage or a problem with the device’s wiring.

Hence, the best way to justify this speculation would be to plug your Nest thermostat directly into a different (wired) power supply.

How to Charge a Thermostat (E/Learning)?

1. Gently dismount the thermostat from the wall.
2. On the back side, you’ll see the USB-C port.
3. Info: The port is located just above the logo.
4. Connect the thermostat to the power supply.
5. Wait for about 20 minutes, so keep reading!

Tip: You can use any power outlet/adapter to charge your Nest thermostat!

3. Replace the Thermostat’s Batteries!

If you’re using the base model of the Nest thermostat, then the thermostat relies on replaceable batteries, and when they are dead, the touch screen will not work.

Thus, it’s essential to replace the two AAA alkaline batteries with a fresh pair of high-quality units to exclude this possibility!

To replace the Nest thermostat batteries, dismount the face plate and eject the batteries from the back.

Then, insert a fresh pair of triple-A batteries into the compartment, minding the polarity springs and the direction of the batteries.

Once done, mount the thermostat and test the screen.

Note: Your Nest thermostat may take a few moments to load and visualize the graphics!

4. Reset the A/C from the Main Circuit

Another reason why the Nest thermostat display is not working may be due to inconsistency or an outage in your A/C line.

So first, check whether other appliances in the same room work and reset the power from the main circuit to refresh the voltage and hopefully turn on the thermostat. 

Here’s how to reset the power from the primary circuit in easy steps:

1. Head over to the main electrical installation panel.
2. Open or unlock the cover if necessary to access it.
3. Check for blown fuse (smoke odor/burnt particles).
4. Flip the switch for the room of your Nest thermostat.
5. Also, turn off the switch for your HVAC installation.
6. Wait for 60 seconds with the electricity turned OFF.
7. Flip the switch for the thermostat and HVAC system.

When the power kicks back in, your Nest thermostat may not immediately turn on, so be patient until the device loads up.

If the thermostat display is unresponsive or white/blank, keep reading!

5. Verify the Wiring of the Thermostat

The wiring is the most crucial factor of the Nest thermostat, and the screen will be unresponsive or white/blank when the fundamental “C” wire is disconnected.

This is the electrical line for your thermostat, which is used to charge the batteries and generally power the touchscreen display.

So, based on your Nest thermostat’s model, some of the wires listed below may or may not be there, so verify that the existing wires are correctly connected.

Alert: Turn OFF the power from the primary circuit before interacting with the wiring!

Nest Thermostat Wiring
Wire Color	Terminal
Gray	Y2
Green	G
Orange	OB
Red	Rc
Brown	W2
Blue	C

It’s essential that the wires are connected correctly and that your thermostat is receiving charge, otherwise, the display may never turn on.

In addition, you must inspect whether the terminals or wires are damaged and if they are plugged in correctly.

Note: In case of any misconfiguration/damage found within your thermostat's wiring, we strongly recommend contacting a technician.

6. Inspect the HVAC for Potential Faults

The next step is as simple as an inspection, but crucial to understand why the Nest thermostat’s touch screen is not working.

When there is an issue with your HVAC installation, the thermostat won’t be able to control the heating and cooling in your home, and that’s why you can’t interact.

So, there are a couple of general things to verify in your HVAC installment:

1. The furnace door must be fully closed.
2. The HVAC power switch must be “ON.”
3. The AC drain line must not be clogged.
4. The boiler must be connected correctly.
5. The A/C from the circuit must be intact.

When you’re confident that your HVAC system is working correctly, reboot your Nest thermostat and check whether the touch screen works.

If not, reseat the batteries, wait for the thermostat to turn on, and test whether the touch screen is working.

7. Use the Google Nest Troubleshooter!

If nothing has helped and you are unable to resolve the problem by the troubleshooting steps so far, perhaps Google’s Nest Troubleshooter will help you out.

This is a specialized tool that will identify the problem you’re experiencing with the touch screen and provide you with more steps!

Here’s precisely what you must do to use the troubleshooter:

1. You will need a phone or computer with internet.
2. Then, navigate to Google Nest Troubleshooter.
3. From there, you must select your Nest thermostat.
4. Next, you must select the type of display problem.
5. Finally, the troubleshooter will suggest what’s next.

Tip: Only provide accurate information to the troubleshooter!

8. Check the Touch Screen for Damage

If the Nest thermostat display is lit up and turned on, the device is working, but if the touch is not registering, perhaps there is a hardware problem.

So, look closer at the display to discover any severe scratches, liquid damage, or other visual defects that might suggest the actual cause.

In case the touch screen is cracked or you find other defects, perhaps the issue cannot be fixed at home, so you may need additional assistance.

We recommend checking the unit’s warranty!

Tip: For more help, contact Google Nest Support.

Quick Recap:

Hence, whenever the Nest thermostat touch screen not working, you must verify that the power supply to the device is working.

This involves the batteries, the “C” wire, and the primary circuit.

If the power is intact, you must inspect your HVAC system for any issues!

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