How To Change The Wi-Fi Network On Your Google Home Device
One of the big appeals ofsmart home devicesis interconnectivity. You tweak some settings on your phone and your devices start working together in a coordinated fashion — the fans and window treatments switch on when the thermostat detects high temperatures, the lights and plugs turn off as soon as you lock the door, and the cameras and speakers get activated exactly at bedtime. But all of this only works if your smart devices are online. That’s why it’s important to keep them connected to your Wi-Fi network at all times.
However, you might encounter instances when your Wi-Fi network changes. Perhaps you switched to a different internet service provider, got yourself a new router, Wi-Fi extender, or mesh, or simply decided to edit the network name and password of your existing connection. Any of these could potentially disconnect the smart devices from your home network. If you’re using Google Home or Nest smart devices (Nest is simply a rebrand of Home), Google recommends setting up your new Wi-Fi with the same SSID and password as before to prevent your devices from disconnecting. However, if this isn’t possible or you prefer to use a different SSID and password, you can still change the Wi-Fi network on your Google Home or Nest devices. We’ll walk you through how to do so.
For speakers, displays, streaming devices, and newer thermostats
Here’s a step-by-step guide to change the Wi-Fi network of your Google Home or Nest speaker and display, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, and the newer thermostat models (Nest Thermostat 2020 and Nest Learning Thermostat fourth gen):
You can then go ahead with the rest of the setup process, which may include setting up Google Assistant, enabling personal results, picking your streaming subscriptions, and configuring Home & Away Routines. If, however, you see a “Could not communicate” error somewhere along the Wi-Fi reconnection process,factory reset your Google Home speaker, display, streaming device, or thermostat first.
For newer video doorbells and select cameras
Unlike Google Home/Nest speakers, displays, and newer thermostats that forget a Wi-Fi network and easily reconnect to a new one, certain Nest video doorbells (wired Nest Doorbell second gen and battery Nest Doorbell battery) and Nest cameras (wired Nest Cam,battery Nest Cam, Nest Cam with Floodlight) with the Google Home app don’t provide the same option. To change the Wi-Fi network, they first require a factory reset. This, of course, will wipe your video history, so if you have any important clips, don’t forget to back them up to your phone. After doing so, follow these next steps:
After your doorbell or camera is set up, it should be connected to your new Wi-Fi network.
For older video doorbells and cameras
The older Nest video doorbell (wired Nest Doorbell first gen) and Nest cameras (Nest Cam and Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor versions) use the Nest app, which allows you to change the device’s Wi-Fi network without factory reset. The process is done via Bluetooth, so you’ll need to be near your device as you update Wi-Fi network settings. Once you’re close to the Nest doorbell or camera, proceed with these steps:
After removing the doorbell or camera, factory reset it (differs per model) and set it up again but now using the new Wi-Fi network.
For older thermostats
The earlier versions of the Nest thermostat, including the first- to third-generation of the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E, can’t connect to a new Wi-Fi network via Google Home app. Instead, you need to go into the Settings on the device itself. Here’s how to do so:
If you reset the Account Connection, your thermostat will wipe previous network settings and disconnect from the Nest app. You’ll need to remove the device in the app. Open Nest, navigate to Settings > [your thermostat]. Then, press the Remove thermostat button and select Confirm. Then, set it up again in the Nest app using the entry key found in the thermostat’s Settings > Nest app > Get entry key:
Finish the setup process and your thermostat should appear in your Nest app.
For lock and smoke and CO alarms
Unlike other Google smart home products, the Next x Yale Lock doesn’t have a built-in Wi-Fi module, so it can’t connect to Wi-Fi on its own. Instead, it uses Nest Connect to go online. If you need to change the Wi-Fi network on your lock, you simply have to update the network settings on the Nest Connect the lock is paired with. This update can be easily made via the Nest app. The same process is also used when changing the Wi-Fi network on the Google Nest Protect for both the first and second gen models. Here’s a quick step-by-step walkthrough of how to change the Wi-Fi network for your Nest lock and smoke and CO alarm:
The Nest device will then set up the new Wi-Fi connection, and a message saying the Wi-Fi settings have been updated should pop up after a couple of seconds. Simply press Done to exit.
