The Nest Doorbell (wired) is designed to replace a wired doorbell and use your home’s current doorbell chime. The Nest Doorbell (battery) can either replace a wired doorbell and use your home’s doorbell chime, or use its internal rechargeable batteries to stay powered. If your home doesn’t have a doorbell system, or if your doorbell system doesn’t work with the Nest doorbell, you can use an indoor power adapter to install your doorbell instead. Important: The indoor power adapter is available in select countries, and is sold separately from the Nest doorbell. |
Safety tips
You need to drill a hole completely through your home’s exterior wall to run the power cable to a power outlet inside your home. Before you do, consider the following:
- You need to know where any in-wall plumbing and electric wiring are.
- Check the building codes where you live to make sure your installation is safe.
- You can contact a local professional if you don’t feel comfortable drilling all the way through the wall.
Warning: Do not plug the adapter into an outdoor power outlet. It isn’t weatherproof.
Install Nest Doorbell (battery)
1. Check that you have everything for installation
Important: Although your doorbell comes with most of the parts you need for installation, you need to purchase the indoor power adapter separately.
Check that you have all the parts included in the box.
What’s included in the box
- Nest Doorbell (battery)
- Wall plate
- Wedge
- Wire extenders (Note: You won’t need these for battery-powered installation.)
- Screws
- Wall anchors
- Spacers
- Unlock tool
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
Need a wedge?
The Nest Doorbell (battery) already comes with a wedge that you can use to adjust the doorbell’s camera angle if it’s located in a corner. The wedge can angle your doorbell horizontally up to 20°.
If your doorbell needs a wider horizontal angle or if you need to adjust the angle vertically, you can purchase a Made for Google doorbell wedge.
Tools
- Phillips screwdriver
- Power drill
- Phillips drill bit
- 1/4 in (6.35 mm) drill bit (for wall anchors)
- 3/32 in (2.38 mm) drill bit (optional, to drill into hard materials like brick and stucco)
- Bubble level (to check doorbell alignment)
App and internet requirements
- The Google Home app
- A compatible phone (to connect to Wi-Fi and use the Home app)
- Your Wi-Fi network name and password
- A broadband internet connection with at least 2 Mbps for your doorbell
2. Charge your doorbell before installation
Use the included USB-C cable to fully charge your doorbell for battery-powered installation. Keep it plugged in during setup so that it can connect to the app and the Wi-Fi network.
The status light pulses white when your doorbell is charging and appears to be solid white when it’s completely charged.
3. Connect your doorbell to the app with the QR code
To add your doorbell to the app and begin installation, follow the steps below:
- If you haven’t already done so, download the Google Home app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Open the Home app . If prompted, sign in with your Google Account.
- Tap Devices Add Google Nest or partner device .
- Choose the home you want to add your doorbell to, or select Add another home to create a new one. Then, tap Next.
- The app should try to look for nearby devices. If prompted, select the Nest Doorbell battery as the device you want to set up.
- Use your phone’s camera to scan the QR code on the back of the doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and enter the numbers near the QR code.
- The app helps to walk you through setup. When the app asks what you want to use to power your doorbell, select Battery. Complete setup and installation instructions in the app.
4. Drill a hole for the adapter cable
Safety tips
You need to drill a hole completely through your home’s exterior wall to run the power cable to a power outlet inside your home. Before you do, consider the following:
- You need to know where any in-wall plumbing and electric wiring are.
- Check the building codes where you live to make sure your installation is safe.
- You can contact a local professional if you don’t feel comfortable drilling all the way through the wall.
Warning: Do not plug the adapter into an outdoor power outlet. It isn’t weatherproof.
- Unmount your doorbell. Insert the release tool to unlock the latch at the top.
- From the outside of your home, measure the midpoint between the top and bottom of the back plate. Use that point to drill a hole for the adapter cable to pass through.
- After drilling the hole, pass the adapter cable from the inside of your home to the outside.
5. Connect adapter to your doorbell and plug it in
- Connect the adapter wire ends to the wire terminals on the back of your doorbell.
- Remount your doorbell.
- Plug in the adapter into an indoor power outlet. If preferred, you can also install clips to neatly place the adapter cable along the wall.
Your doorbell uses the power from the indoor power adapter to stay charged.
Install Nest Doorbell (wired)
Note: The steps in this article are different from the steps to install the Nest doorbell in the app. So, you need to skip some steps in the app and follow them here instead.
What you need for installation
Important: The indoor power adapter is available in select countries, and is sold separately from the Nest doorbell.
What’s in the box
- Nest Doorbell wired
- Wall plate
- Wedge
- Chime connector
- Wire extenders
- Drill bit
- Screws
- Release tool
Tools
- Phillips screwdriver
- Power drill
- Phillips bit
- 11/32 in (9 mm) drill bit that’s long enough to go completely through your home’s exterior wall
- Hammer
- Pencil
- Bubble level (to check doorbell alignment)
App and connection requirements
- The latest version of the Nest app
- A compatible phone (check the requirements here)
- Your Wi-Fi network name and password
- A broadband internet connection with a minimum of 2 Mbps upload speed for your doorbell (and each Nest camera in your home)
1. Turn the power off
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2. Add your doorbell with the QR code
Before you open the app
- Have your Wi-Fi network and password handy to connect the Nest doorbell to the app and the internet.
- Enable your phone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- Check if your phone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network you want to connect your doorbell to.
The Nest app
If you're new to Nest
- Download the Nest app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app and create an account.
- On the app home screen, tap Add .
- Scan the QR code on the back of your doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and type the numbers at the top of the QR code.
- The app helps to walk you through installation and setup. Do not close the app.
If you already have an account
- Open the Nest app .
Note: If you have more than one home in your account, make sure that you’ve first selected the Nest home where you want to install your doorbell. Tap Menu in the top left of the home screen to change homes. - In the top right corner of the app home screen, tap Settings .
- Select Add product .
- Scan the QR code on the back of your doorbell. You can also tap Continue without scanning and type the numbers at the top of the QR code.
3. Skip the app instructions
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4. Check if you need to use the wedge
You can use the included wedge if you want to install your doorbell in a corner, or you simply want to change the viewing angle a bit. Stick the wedge onto the wall plate with the adhesive strips. Make sure you install the wedge the right way
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5. Drill and install the wall plate
If you need to replace your current doorbell, you might be able to mount your Nest doorbell over the old doorbell button’s location. However, you might need to drill a new hole or remove the current doorbell wires and drill out the existing hole so the power adapter’s cable can pass through the wall.
If you don’t have a doorbell, install your doorbell about 4 ft (1.2 m) high, where most doorbells are located.
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6. Run the power cable through the wall
- Go inside your home and slip the wall grommet over the adapter cable.
- Run the cable through the hole to the outside.
Important: Don’t plug in the adapter yet. You might damage it if the wire ends touch each other. Keep it unplugged until you finish installation.
7. Connect the adapter wires to your doorbell
It doesn’t matter which terminal you connect a wire to. Make sure the screws are snug and that the wires point down as shown. This is so excess wire can be tucked back into the wall, letting the doorbell properly connect to the wall plate. |
8. Mount your doorbell
If it doesn’t seat properly or it doesn't click, check that you’ve fully tucked any excess wire back into the hole. Tip: If you ever need to remove your Nest doorbell, push the included release tool into the hole on the bottom to unlock it. You can also use a thumb tack or paper clip. |
9. Switch the power on and plug in the adapter
- Skip ahead in the app until it asks you to switch the power back on.
- Turn the power on at your breaker or fuse box.
- Plug the power adapter into the indoor wall outlet.
- Note: You can use an extension cord to reach if needed. If you have excess cable, you can either tuck it back into the hole in the wall or use a cable tie to wrap it up.
10. Check your doorbell's power
Once it’s plugged in, your Nest doorbell should turn on, and its light ring should turn blue.
Troubleshooting
If the light ring doesn’t turn on, double check that the adapter is plugged into a live power outlet. Then unplug the adapter and plug it back in. Also, make sure the wires are properly connected to the back of the doorbell lo and that the screws are snug.
11. Finish setup with the app
1. Connect to Wi-Fi
Tell the app where you installed your doorbell. Then select your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
Troubleshoot issues
- If your doorbell can’t connect to your Wi-Fi network, you can try to move your router a bit closer or add a Wi-Fi extender.
- If you already have a Nest product installed in your home, your doorbell should try to get your Wi-Fi info from it. Try to move it closer to your doorbell if possible or, temporarily uninstall your doorbell and plug it in closer to the assisting product while you try to connect to Wi-Fi again.
2. Test the video stream
Once your doorbell is connected to Wi-Fi and the app, the app should test the video.
3. Turn the chime off and test
Before you test your doorbell, turn off the chime option in the app, even if you don’t have a wired doorbell chime installed.
- To exit the setup, tap Done.
- Tap your doorbell on the app home screen. Then tap Settings .
- Switch “Indoor chime” off.
- Press your doorbell’s button to check that it’s working. You should also get a notification from the app that someone’s at your door.