Why Your Nest Doorbell Isn’t Recording and How to Fix It

The Nest doorbell stops recording due to unstable wifi, poor power supply, sync errors, and ignoring patches. Google Nest doorbells do not record 24/7. They record specific events, and this problem occurs when they stop recording or saving clips. Doorbell keeps the recorded videos for 3 to 6 hours in the free version, and a Nest Aware subscription is required to access them longer. Follow this guide to fix the recording issues in the Nest doorbell.

Does Your Subscription Cover Recording Features?

The limited event history feature is available in the free version of the Google Home app. Purchase a standard Nest Aware subscription for $10 monthly and $100 per year for 30 days of recorded videos. Premium Nest Aware subscription is for 20 per month or $200 per year with 60 days of video recordings. Renew the subscription to view the event history or manually download the specific events within 6 hours to the local storage.

Is Your Wi-Fi Connection Stable?

The Nest doorbell relies on a compatible wifi network to record videos. Set up the router with 2.4 GHZ or 5 GHz band strength to record high-resolution videos. Move near the router or use a wifi extender. Avoid using MAC filtering and turn on the DHCP. Restart the router every month to clear the cache and bugs.

Is the Doorbell Powered Properly?

Look at the power supply and battery of the wireless doorbells. Google Nest doorbells stop recording events when they are out of power. Install the compatible transformer for wired doorbells. Inspect the charging cables to see if they are damaged. 

Have You Updated the Firmware and Google Home App?

Look at the firmware updates regularly. Outdated versions are prone to cyber attacks and bugs. Install the updated Google Home App from the App Store or the Play Store. It speeds up the recording process and removes the errors. Restart the doorbells after updating the firmware. Press and hold the pin for a maximum of 5 seconds until the white light (wireless) or the yellow light (wired) turns ON.

Are Your Settings Configured Correctly in the App?

Verify the Google Home App and Nest doorbell settings are configured to support recording. Look at the app permissions, event settings, activity zones, motion sensitivity, and active subscription to record videos. Go to Devices in the Google Home App and navigate to notifications to change the activity zones and events. 

How to Fix Cloud Sync or Storage Issues

Limited storage in the Google Cloud prevents recording new videos. Clear the cache and buy extra storage to store videos permanently in the Google account. Re-link the doorbell in the Google Home App to solve the syncing error. 

Should You Reset the Doorbell?

Perform a quick restart to fix minor issues without deleting data. Resetting the doorbell permanently deletes the video event history and dbirng settings to default. Make sure to remove the device from the Google Home App when resetting the device and re-link it later. Press and hold the pin for 10 to 12 seconds to reset the wired or wireless Nest doorbells.

When to Contact Google Support

Contact Google support if the Nest doorbell does not work after all these fixes. Google support works in case of hardware malfunctions, like the LED is lighting and the camera is still not recording. Consider replacing the doorbell if it's under warranty, and avoid opening the back of battery doorbells. It damages the sealed back and cancels the warranty.   

How to Prevent Recording Problems in the Future

Here are the four tips to prevent recording problems in the future:

  1. Maintain a Stable Internet Connection: Reboot the router regularly and maintain a stable wifi connection. Remove all the metal bricks or walls that hinder signal strength.
  2. Keep Software Updated: Update the firmware software and Google Home App to avoid lags or bugs. 
  3. Service Power Source Regularly: Don’t let the wireless doorbell’s battery drop less than 20%. Check the transformer and power supply to the wired doorbell regularly.
  4. Test Motion Detection Monthly: Run motion detection test and adjust the sensitivity according to the priorities. The medium sensitivity range is suitable for avoiding unnecessary alerts and conserving the battery. This test shows if the camera is capturing events or not.
By Ricky Riche
Ricky Riche

Ricky Riche

My name is Ricky and I have been a mechanical engineer for 25 years. My 3D-printing journey started when I purchased my first doorbell camera. Once I installed it, I knew I needed to do something different. I wanted to see my doormat where delivery drivers would bring my items and I didn’t want to scroll through all the events. Due to my dissatisfaction, I started designing my own doorbell mounts. After some trial and error, I finally came up with the perfect mount solutions to meet multiple issues. We guarantee we have a doorbell mount on our shop to meet your specific concern.

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