Nest Sensor is a device designed by Google that aims to keep a balanced and comfortable temperature throughout the entire house. These sensors get placed around the house and Nest thermostats are able to adjust the temperature accordingly.
The thermostats are able to link to up to 6 of these Nest sensors which enables the system to maintain the perfect temperature. However, as with all electronics, these sensors show various problems such as not connecting.
If your Nest Sensor is not connecting, or simply failing to communicate with the thermostat, there are a few basic ways you can follow to troubleshoot the issue and possibly fix it quickly. You can start by bringing the sensors close to the thermostat and try to connect. Or you can reset it and start from scratch.
In this guide we will show a few methods how to fix a Nest sensor that is not connecting to the main thermostat. Follow the suggestions listed below and may fix the issue all by yourself.
Do Nest Sensors connect to the thermostat via WiFi?
While the Nest Thermostat connects to the WiFi to communicate with the user’s phone app and the main server, the Sensor itself doesn’t connect through the WiFi. The main reason the sensors don’t use the WiFi is to reduce the manufacturing cost and to avoid a possible downtime if the WiFi is disabled.
Nest Sensors connect via a wireless protocol called Thread which is a mesh network technology that connects all the devices together without the use of WiFi.
Thread is a low-power wireless radio protocol for the smart home that allows devices to ‘talk’ directly to each other. This setup avoids any downtime and the devices can use small batteries.
How to connect the Nest Sensors?
It’s straightforward to connect Nest Sensors, follow the steps below:
- Go into your Nest app
- Locate the Settings icon and tap “Add Product”
- Using your phone’s camera, scan the QR code that is located on the Sensor’s battery pull tab. Each sensor has a unique ID. This step adds the device to your account.
- Pull out the battery pull tab, which powers up and activates the device.
- Place the sensor anywhere in your house. It’s recommended to place it in an area where you spend a lot of time.
- Name the sensor on the app (for example “dining room). That’s it basically. The app will do rest.
Another to consider, the sensors cannot be placed at huge distances from the thermostat, especially if there are barriers or obstacles that may deteriorate the signal. As a matter of fact, many times the Nest Sensor not connecting issues is caused by the sensors being too far away from the thermostat.
So, if the sensor is failing to connect, bring it close to the thermostat and go again through the connecting steps listed above. Add the unit to the Nest app and see if it gets connected. If so, then you need to place the sensor closer.
How to reset the Nest Sensor?
Another way to fix the connectivity issues if your Nest sensor is by resetting it. To reset a Nest sensor is super easy: remove the battery and wait for at least 5 minutes. Then place the battery back and try again on the Nest app to see if it’s connected.
Sometimes the sensor won’t go through reset after removing the battery. In this case, you may need to completely remove/uninstall the device from the system. Follow the steps below.
- Remove the battery from the sensor.
- Open up the Nest app on your phone
- On the top-left side, click the Menu button.
- Locate the sensor that you need to reset.
- Remove the product from the list.
- Replace the battery back at the sensor.
- Add the sensor again to the app (as explained in the previous section).
The Nest Sensor keeps going offline
Sometimes the Nest sensor may go randomly offline. You may notice that because the room’s temperature has become uncomfortable or that the sensors are missing on the app. Even if you don’t notice, the Nest app will automatically notify you via a push notification to your phone.
Most of the time the Nest sensor goes offline because of interference or signal issues. Here are a few ways to fix it.
Bring the sensor closer to the thermostat. You can test it first for a few days, but as we said the sensor may go offline if the devices are placed at great distance.
Avoid electrical interferences. Sensors use Thread tech to connect which uses a small amount of power, so even a small interference may disrupt the connection.
Placing the Nest sensor too close to a router, access point, cordless phone, or other device that emits radio frequency signals can cause connection issues. Try moving either your Nest product or other device so they’re at least 3 feet apart.
Replace the battery. If the battery is low, the device will struggle to maintain a stable connection. When the battery is about to expire, the app will let you know.
Conclusion
Nest Sensors are perfect for maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout your home. Google made them easy to install and, frankly, quite affordable.
The sensor not connecting is an issue caused mainly by the distance where the devices are placed, low battery, or interference. Sometimes resetting the sensor will fix the issue. If you can’t fix it, then you can call Google Nest for further technical assistance.
