How Nest thermostats learn

Your thermostat can start learning your temperature preferences from the day you start using it.

Use the app or your thermostat to select a desired temperature. Your thermostat will remember your choice and add it to the schedule it’s building for you.

While your thermostat is learning, the exact behavior it’ll show depends on what model you have:

• Nest Learning Thermostat: When you adjust the temperature on the first day, your Nest thermostat will hold that temperature until someone changes it. For instance, if you set your thermostat to 70ºF (21ºC), it’ll stay at that temperature until it’s changed.
• Nest Thermostat E: During setup, you’ll have the option to choose a preprogrammed schedule that balances energy savings and comfort.
  • If you choose the preprogrammed schedule and also have Auto-Schedule turned on, your thermostat will learn your preferences on top of the preprogrammed schedule. So your thermostat will hold its current temperature until someone changes it, or the next scheduled temperature change, whatever comes first.
  • If you choose not to use the preprogrammed schedule, your thermostat will hold the temperature until someone changes it.
  • Learn about your options in Nest thermostat temperature schedules.

On day 2, your thermostat will continue learning a personalized schedule using any temperatures you’ve set. Your thermostat will also try to learn when you’re home or away by how often you adjust the temperature or walk in front of your thermostat.

If you don’t like the temperature your thermostat learned from day one, simply turn the ring. Any changes you make will help set your schedule for the following days.

After a few days, your Nest thermostat will have a decent idea about what temperatures you prefer throughout the day. But it will continue to fine-tune the schedule if you make further adjustments.

After about a week, your thermostat will have learned your temperature preferences and settled on a schedule for you.

It’ll never stop learning, but now will be less sensitive to each change you make. Going forward, your Nest thermostat will only learn from a pattern of at least 2 similar changes.

Here are some examples of patterns your thermostat can learn, and how they’ll change your temperature schedule:

​Here are some things you might notice when you start teaching your thermostat what temperatures you like:

• The Nest Leaf: When you turn the ring, you might notice a green leaf  on the thermostat display. This is the Nest Leaf, which appears when you’ve chosen a temperature that’s more energy efficient. You can use the Nest Leaf as a guide to help save energy.
• Time to temperature: Your thermostat can display an estimate of how long it’ll take to adjust the temperature to your liking in your home. To learn more about Time-To-Temperature, visit What you’ll see on a Nest thermostat.
• Home and Away: Your thermostat can help save energy by automatically switching to an Eco Temperature when it senses no one’s home. This option will take precedence over your regular temperature schedule. Learn how your home automatically switches to Home or Away.
• Meeting your temperature at the scheduled time: Early-On and True Radiant are learning features your Nest thermostat can use from day one. Which one your thermostat uses depends on what type of system you have, but both do essentially the same thing. They can automatically turn on your system early to meet a scheduled temperature. For example, if you schedule your home to be 70ºF (21ºC) at 7:00 AM, your thermostat might turn on the heat early at 6:00 AM so your home is comfortable when you wake up. Exactly how early it’ll turn on depends on what your thermostat has learned about how quickly your home heats and cools, how efficient your system is, and the weather.