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Install Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

You have several different options for mounting and installing your Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor. You can run the power cable to an outdoor outlet or to an outlet inside your home through an existing vent or hole, or drill one yourself.

Watch a video overview

Here's a video you can watch that will walk you through the steps to install your Nest Cam IQ Outdoor. Read below for additional information or if you need help with any of the steps.

1. Getting started

  1. Set up your Nest Cam with the app.
  2. Review the Safety Guidelines for mounting your camera.
  3. Remove the black foam pad between the wall
    plate and camera base. It’s only there for
    protection during shipping.
  4. You can leave the lens sticker on until you’re
    finished installing your Nest Cam. This will help
    to keep the lens protected from dust and smudges. But be sure to remove it when
    you’re done with installation.
Cam IQ outdoor image

 

Important: Make sure that you comply with all local regulations, and that you know where all in-wall pipes and electrical wires are before drilling. If you don’t feel comfortable drilling through an exterior wall, contact a local professional to install your camera for you. 

2. Tools you'll need

Everything you need to get started is in the box: the camera, wall plate, power cable, clips to secure the cable, screws, and wall anchors for hard surfaces like brick or stone.

Note: If you'd like to plug your camera into an outdoor power outlet, an adapter and cable rated for outdoor use may be available for purchase at the Nest Store in select countries.

Cam IQ outdoor camera part illustration
Cam IQ outdoor wall plate
Cam IQ outdoor screws
Camera Wall plate 12 Nest screws
Cam IQ outdoor power cable line
Cam IQ outdoor cable clips
Outdoor power cable (25 feet) 8 cable clips 12 wall anchors
Cam IQ outdoor power adapter
nest cam hexkey line
Cam IQ outdoor cable strap
Indoor power adapter Hex key Power cable strap

Other items you may need

• A phillips head screwdriver or drill with phillips bit

• Caulk to seal the wall plate and cable hole

• Drill bits

  • 3/32" or 2 mm for pilot holes

  • 7/32" or 6 mm for wall anchors

  • 1/2" or 13 mm for the cable hole

If you’re drilling into brick or stone, you'll need masonry bits.

3. Find a good location

You probably have a good idea of where you want to install your Nest Cam IQ Outdoor already. Here are some key things to think about:

Consider the view

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor has Supersight close up tracking view, so it can automatically zoom in when it notices a person. Since it’s more versatile, you can install your camera where it can look over a large area of your property like the driveway or yard. You’re not limited to shorter distances, but you can also choose to install it near your front, back or side door.

Make sure that there’s nothing too close to where you’ll install the camera. You don’t want anything blocking the view. For instance, is a post, plant or porch light blocking the view? It might affect your Nest Cam’s exposure, focus or Night Vision.

It’s best to angle the camera down so the sun doesn’t shine into the lens. Usually this won’t happen until the sun is low in the sky early in the morning or at sunset. If you notice glare, adjust the camera so the horizon is out of the camera’s view.

Install it just above head height

You’ll want to install your camera just above head height in the location that you’ve chosen. 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) above the ground is high enough to let you see people’s faces, but close enough so you can talk to them with the camera’s speaker and microphone.

Shelter is good

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is weatherproof, but raindrops or snowflakes might stick to the lens. Sun shining directly into the lens can also affect the video. If your home has eaves or a place that will provide shelter from the weather, see if that will work for the camera location.

Where to put your camera so you can keep an eye on what you want >

4. Test camera video streaming outside

Thick or insulated walls can greatly reduce Wi-Fi signal strength. Make sure your camera can stream video from the location you’ve chosen.

  1. Plug in your camera and hold it up to where you’d like to mount it. Check that it can stream video to the Nest app.
  2. If you can’t see the camera video, the Wi-Fi connection may not be strong enough there. Try moving your camera a bit. Sometimes a few inches can make a difference. You can also try moving your Wi-Fi router.
  3. Go to nest.com/wifihelp for more information and troubleshooting help.

5. Plan the cable path

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is designed to be plugged into an indoor power outlet, so you’ll need to plan how you’ll run the cable through the wall to inside your home.

Note: If you’ve purchased the Google Nest Weatherproof Power Adapter (available at the Google Store in select countries), you don’t need to worry about plugging in the power cable inside your home. Plug your power cable into the closest outdoor power outlet. You might also want to install a lockable “while in use” cover over the outlet to prevent your camera from being unplugged. If you don’t have an outdoor outlet, you can follow the steps below.

  • You can put the power cable through an existing opening like an attic vent. This doesn’t require you to drill a hole for the cable, but you’ll have some exposed cable on the outside of your home.

If you don’t have an existing opening, you’ll need to
drill a hole to pass the cable inside. You have two
options for this method:

  • You can install your camera directly over the
    cable hole. This will conceal the power cable on
    the outside of your home, but the cable may be
    exposed inside as you run it to a power outlet.
    Keep in mind how you’ll conceal the cable once
    it’s inside your home.

  • To avoid having an exposed cable run inside your
    home, you can route the cable along the outside
    of your home to a hole that’s drilled closer to an
    indoor outlet. This approach can reduce the
    amount of cable that’s visible inside your home.

No matter which method you choose, remember that
you can paint the cable and the clips (but not the
camera!) to blend in.

Cam IQ outdoor cable path line

 

 

6. Measure the cable

Before you mount your camera, measure the
cable along the route where you’ll be installing
it.
Cam IQ outdoor garage placement line

 

Disconnect your camera from the cable to
make it easier to measure. Push the latch on
the back of the camera to unlock the cable.

Tip: You can put the camera back in the box to
keep it protected.
Cam IQ outdoor push latch line

 

7. Install the wall plate 

Once you’ve checked that your installation
plan is good, you can mount the wall plate.

  1. Hold the wall plate up where you want
    to mount your camera and mark the
    holes with a pencil.
  2. Use a 3/32" (2 mm) bit to drill pilot
    holes for the screws.
Note: If the wall is made of a hard material
like brick or stucco, you may need to use the
included wall anchors to hold the screws.
Use a 7/32" or 6 mm bit for the anchors.
Cam IQ outdoor wall plate screws

If you're  installing the camera over the cable hole

 
  • Use a ½” or 13 mm bit to drill the center
    hole.

  • Run the cable through the hole in the
    wall and pull it through the wall plate’s
    center hole until you reach the end of
    the cable. Make sure it’s the end of
    the cable with a gray rubber ring.
    Tip: Use the caps that came attached
    to both ends of the cable to keep dust
    and dirt from getting into the
    connector. If you don’t have the caps,
    you can cover the cable tip with some
    masking tape.

  • Spread caulk on the back of the wall
    plate in the shape of a U. Leave an open
    space that will point down when the
    plate is mounted so water can drain out.

  • Mount the wall plate with the included
    screws.

  • Plug the end of the power cable that
    has the gray rubber ring into the base
    of your camera.

Cam IQ outdoor camera over cable hole

 

If you're routing the cable on the outside of your home

 
  • Spread caulk on the back of the wall plate in the shape of a C. Leave an open space that will point down when the plate is mounted so water can drain out.

  • Mount the wall plate with the included screws.

Important: Make sure the wall plate’s cable notch points in the direction you’re going to run the cable.

Cam IQ outdoor wall plate notch

8. Mount your camera 

  1. Plug the end of the power cable that has the gray rubber ring into the base of your camera. It will click into place.

    • Tuck the excess cable back into the hole in the wall.
    • If you’re running the cable along the wall before it goes inside, route the cable through the notch in the wall plate.
  1. Push the camera base into the wall plate until it clicks into place.

Cam IQ outdoor camera over cable hole

 

Note: If you ever need to remove your
camera from the wall plate, insert the
included hex key into the hole in the base
and turn it counterclockwise.
Cam IQ outdoor remove hex key

 

9. Adjust the view 

Make sure your camera is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.

Use the Nest app to check the view while you adjust the
camera angle. You can rotate both the hinge and the camera
lens 360 degrees. Make sure the Nest logo is at the bottom.

Use the app’s zoom and enhance feature to crop out
anything you don’t want.

adjusting camera IQ outdoor view line

Cam IQ outdoor rotate illustration

 

10. Install the cable

Secure the cable using the included cable clips.
You can install as many clips as you need
outside or inside of your home.

For a clean looking installation, try to route the cable along a ledge or corner.

If you routed the cable along the outside of
your home and have an exposed hole to pass
the cable inside, be sure to seal the hole with
caulk.
install cam IQ outdoor cable clip

 

11. Finish up

Remove the sticker on the lens if you haven’t already. Wipe off any dust or dirt with a soft lint-free cloth.

You can paint the cable and the clips to match your home. Do not paint the camera. This can affect performance and void your warranty.

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