Nest thermostat white screen? Well, this guide will help you identify and solve the problem!
If you’re seeing a white/blank screen on your Nest thermostat, then the device is not powered on for one reason or another.
So, in this guide, we’ll explore the possibilities that may cause the thermostat to become unresponsive with a white screen and help you fix the issue effectively.
When your Nest thermostat’s screen is white/blank, begin with a simple power reset from the primary circuit and replace the thermostat’s batteries.
Let’s continue to unwrap the white/blank screen!
Why Does the Nest Thermostat Keeps on White Screen?
If your Nest thermostat is showing a white or blank screen, perhaps the device is not working due to a problem with the HVAC system or power connection.
Hence, you have to inspect all factors involved thoroughly, so here are all the possibilities at your disposal:
There are quite a few possibilities to inspect, and in this guide, we’ve managed to find a solution for each of them.
So, let’s continue reading the troubleshooting guide below and solve the issue!
How to Fix the Nest Thermostat White Screen in Easy Steps?
Tip: Follow the steps chronologically!
1. Reset Power from the Main Circuit
Whenever the Nest thermostat shows a white or blank screen, the device is not working, so you must begin the troubleshooting with a power inspection.
The problem may be coming from your A/C installation, so the first step is resetting the power from the primary A/C circuit breaker.
So, head over to the panel of your A/C installation, remove the cover (if any), and flip the switch on the fuse powering your HVAC system.
This will immediately shut down your entire installation and reset the power supply to all the instances involved in the setup.
When you turn on the power back, check whether your Nest thermostat still shows white/blank!
2. Replace the Thermostat’s Batteries
The base model of the Nest thermostat uses a set of 1.5 V AAA alkaline batteries, which must be replaced, especially when you’re only seeing a white screen.
Typically, the batteries of your thermostat may last for months, based on the usage, hence, if yours are dead, replace them…
Important: Only use high-quality battery units!
Charge Your Thermostat’s Battery
If you’ve got the Nest thermostat E or Nest Learning, you can’t replace the batteries since they are rechargeable units using power from the A/C line.
However, in case of a recent A/C outage, the batteries might have been left uncharged, which could ultimately lead to the white display!
So, in those cases, you must dismount the thermostat from the wall and connect the device via a USB cable to an adapter or even to your computer.
This way, you will charge the thermostat’s batteries manually, which will allow your device to power on later when you mount the unit back.
Tip: Keep your thermostat connected to power for at least 45 minutes!
3. Inspect the Thermostat Connection
Your Nest thermostat blank screen could be due to a fault in the connections to your HVAC system.
Those connections are very important, and if they were improperly set up during the installation, sooner or later, the thermostat will start showing white!
There are a couple of fundamental connections in a Nest thermostat, and to expose the wires, you must dismount the thermostat.
When you reveal the wires, check the following bullets for reference and reconnect any improperly set wires.
Warning: Stop the thermostat’s power from the circuit breaker before you begin!
Here’s how the Nest thermostat must be connected:
- Green wire – “G” terminal
- White wire – “W1” terminal
- Blue wire – “C” terminal
- Red wire – “RH” terminal
- Brow wire – “W2AUX” terminal
- Black wire – “Star icon” terminal
Remember that your Nest thermostat may not involve all these wires, and you may not see the red, brown, and black connections.
So, simply skip the wires your thermostat does not include and verify that the fundamental connections (green, white, and blue) are connected properly!
Tip: Also, check for any damage on the wires or connectors!
4. Verify the Furnace’s Door is Closed
Sometimes, the Nest thermostat will entirely refuse to function and show a blank screen when the furnace door is not fully closed.
Hence, the next step of importance is to check whether the furnace door is fully closed and if there are any obstructions preventing the door from closing!
- Carefully inspect the switch of the furnace door for damage or a defect!
If your furnace door is closed, but the Nest thermostat still shows a white/blank screen, you must thoroughly check for other faults in your HVAC system.
If everything looks intact, proceed with the next step…
5. Switch Your HVAC System OFF/ON
As mentioned, the Nest thermostat may not work correctly when there is a problem in the HVAC system, so the next step would be to restart everything.
Most HVAC systems have an electrical switch, which you can move to the “OFF” or “ON” position to force-restart the entire installation.
In some rare cases, you may not find a power switch for the HVAC system, so we recommend scrolling up to the first solution and restarting the power from the breaker.
If that doesn’t help, you must verify that there are no home power issues by checking lights and other appliances.
Note: Have you checked for a blown fuse on the primary circuit?
6. Check for a Tripped Float Switch
It’s not excluded that your drip pan is filling up, which activates the float switch, and in turn, the power to your HVAC is disabled automatically.
When this happens, the Nest thermostat will only show a white or blank screen, and you cannot turn on the heating or cooling until further notice.
So, follow these steps to reset the float switch in your system:
- First, locate the drain line near the float switch.
- Then, gently remove the cap from the drain pipe.
- Next, pour hot water into the drain line to clean it.
- Then, unscrew the bottom part of the float switch.
- Next, allow all the wastewater to drain out entirely.
- Screw the cap and wait for the system to activate.
It’s essential to remain patient even if your Nest thermostat still shows a blank screen.
So, after the float switch has been reset, you may need to wait up to 5 minutes for the HVAC system to reactivate and for your Nest thermostat to show something on display beside the white screen.
Tip: We recommend cleaning the drain pipe regularly!
7. Check for a Furnace Control Board
Sometimes, when the home’s electrical system is overwhelmed by the ACs or appliances, you may blow a fuse on the furnace’s control board.
This will disconnect the thermostat from the HVAC system, hence, you’ll observe a black/white screen accompanied by unresponsiveness.
So, open the control panel of your furnace and look for a 5-amp or 3-amp (orange/purple) fuse that could have blown up.
If you discover a blown fuse, you must replace it as soon as possible to restore the functionality of your HVAC system and solve the thermostat’s white/blank screen.
Info: You can recognize a blown fuse by the burnt and black spots or smoky odor!
8. Replace/Fix Your Nest Thermostat
If nothing helped, perhaps your Nest thermostat is faulty.
However, this is not fatal in most cases and will be covered by your warranty, especially if your thermostat suddenly stops working.
The white screen could only indicate frozen software, but without access to the menus, you can’t really factory reset or troubleshoot the Nest thermostat.
Tip: For more assistance, go to Google Nest Help!
Quick Recap:
Hence, whenever the Nest thermostat white screen appears, you must first inspect if the thermostat receives power and replace the batteries.
If the problem continues, verify that the furnace door is not opened and check for a blown fuse in your furnace control panel.
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Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.