Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (2024)

Learn the basics of how to use your Google Nest thermostat, change settings, set temperature schedules, save energy, control it with your phone, and more.

If you don't find what you're looking for here, use the search bar above, or go to theNest thermostat support pagefor more help.

Select the thermostat you have:

Nest Thermostat

Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (1)

Nest Thermostat E Nest Learning Thermostat

Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (2)Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (3)

How to tell which thermostat you have

Nest Thermostat

Download documents for your thermostat

Nest thermostats include a few printed materials in the box to familiarize you with the product and installation, but you should follow the installation instructions in the Home app which will also provide you with the right wiring diagram for your system.

Each thermostat has different guides you can download.

Note: These guides should open directly in your browser. If you’re having trouble viewing them, you may need to download and install a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Install your thermostat

The app will guide you through thermostat installation and setup step-by-step. It will also give you a custom wiring diagram that you'll need for installation.

To get a preview of what you’ll need for installation, read our installation article or watch the Nest Thermostat installation video.

Control your thermostat

Nest Thermostats don’t have a touch screen. Use the touch bar on the right side to control your thermostat. Swipe up to raise the temperature, swipe down to lower it, and tap to confirm. The display will show you how many minutes until your desired temperature is reached.

  • Tap the touch bar to bring up the menu.
  • Swipe up or down to select an option.
  • Tap the touch bar again to confirm your selection.

Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (4)Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (5)

Here are the most important articles to familiarize yourself and get you comfortable with using your thermostat:

  • How to control your thermostat with the Home app
  • How to manually set your Nest thermostat to heating, cooling, or off
  • Learn about Nest thermostat settings and how to change them
  • Hold the temperature on the Nest Thermostat

Save energy with your thermostat

There are a few ways you may be able to save energy with your thermostat like setting Eco temperatures when no one’s home, reviewing your Home Report to monitor your energy use, or joining an energy saving program.

  • How to improve energy savings with your Nest thermostat
  • Learn about the Nest Home Report email we send you
  • How to read your Nest thermostat’s Energy History
  • About Nest thermostat savings

Temperature schedules

When you set up your Nest Thermostat, it has a default schedule for your Comfort, Eco, and Sleep temperatures that you can further customize. You access schedules through device settings for the Home app.

  • Explaining Nest thermostat savings
  • Nest thermostat temperature schedules
  • How to reset your temperature schedule
  • Learn how Eco temperatures work

How your thermostat works

Your Nest Thermostat has many settings to help you feel comfortable in your home. Hold temperature can maintain the current temperature or any of your presets. You can also set temperatures with a swipe of your thermostat’s touch bar. Learn more about how to control your thermostat.

  • Learn about Early-On and how to change settings
  • How Safety Temperatures work
  • Learn about Filter reminders
  • Learn about Furnace Heads-Up
  • Learn about Airwave
  • Nest thermostat's technical information
  • Learn about Hold temperature for Nest Thermostat
  • How to change temperature with your Nest Thermostat
  • How to change batteries for your Nest Thermostat

Common troubleshooting issues after set up

These articles cover the most common issues you may encounter after setting up your Nest thermostat. This is not an extensive list so if you don’t find what you’re looking for below, there are other troubleshooting articles that you can find using the search bar above.

  • Troubleshoot common issues
  • Restart or reset your thermostat
  • Troubleshoot a "No power" alert on the Nest Thermostat
  • Manual reset for Nest Thermostat

If you moved into a home with a Nest thermostat already installed

If you moved into a home that already has a Nest thermostat installed, follow these steps to remove the previous owner’s settings.

  1. Have the previous owner remove the thermostat from their account if possible. If this isn’t possible, reset the thermostat to factory defaults. You may also need to do an account reset on your thermostat before you can pair it to yourself.
  2. Set up the thermostat and add it to your account.

Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat

Download documents for your thermostat

Nest thermostats include a few printed materials in the box to familiarize you with the product and installation, but you should follow the installation instructions in the Nest app which will also provide you with the right wiring diagram for your system.

Each thermostat has different guides you can download.

Note: These guides should open directly in your browser. If you’re having trouble viewing them, you may need to download and install a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Installyour thermostat

The Nest app will guide you through thermostat installation and setup step-by-step. It will also give you a custom wiring diagram that you'll need for installation.

To get a preview of what you’ll need for installation, read our installation articleor watch an installation video. Select your thermostat below:

Control your thermostat

Nest thermostats don’t have a touch screen. Use it just
like a normal thermostat, turn the ring up when you want it a little warmer, and turn it down when you want it a little cooler.

  • Press your thermostat ring towards the wall to see more options.
  • Turn the ring to select an option.
  • Press the ring again to confirm your selection.
Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (8)

Here are the most important articles to familiarize yourself and get you comfortable with using your thermostat:

  • How to control your thermostat with the Nest app
  • How to manually set your Nest thermostat to heating, cooling, Eco Temperatures or off
  • Learn about what you’ll see on your Nest thermostat(including icons, Farsight, and notifications)
  • Learn about Nest thermostat settings and how to change them

Save energy with your thermostat

There are a few ways to save energy with your thermostat like setting Eco Temperatures when no one’s home, reviewing your Home Report to monitor your energy use, or joining an energy saving program.

  • How to improve energy savings with your Nest thermostat
  • Learn about the Nest Home Report email we send you
  • How to read your Nest thermostat’s Energy History

Temperature schedules

Your Nest thermostat starts learning on dayone, so it’s up to you to teach it good habits to help save energy. You can set your own heating or cooling schedules or have your thermostat Auto-Schedule for you.

  • How Nest thermostats learn and how to teach it
  • Learn about Nest thermostat temperature schedules and how to change them
  • How to use your Nest thermostat as a traditional programmable thermostat
  • How to reset your temperature schedule
  • Learn how Eco temperatures work

How your thermostat works

Your Nest thermostat has a few different features that can keep you feeling comfortable. For instance, Early-On pre-heats or cools to reach your scheduled temperature on time. You can also set Safety Temperatures, which prevents your home from going above or below certain temperatures, and learn about the other ways your thermostat works.

  • Learn about Early-On and how to change settings
  • How Safety Temperatures work
  • Learn about Filter reminders
  • Learn about Furnace Heads-Up
  • Learn about Airwave
  • Learn about Sunblock
  • Learn about the Nest thermostat’s Technical Info menu

Common troubleshooting issues after set up

These articles cover the most common issues you may encounter after setting up your Nest thermostat. This is not an extensive list so if you don’t find what you’re looking for below, there are other troubleshooting articles that you can find using thesearch bar above.

If you moved into a home with a Nest thermostat already installed

If you moved into a home that already has a Nest thermostat installed, follow these steps to remove the previous owner’s settings.

  1. Have the previous ownerremove the thermostatfrom their account if possible. If this isn’t possible,reset the thermostat to factory defaults.You may also need to do an account reset on your thermostat before you can pair it to yourself.
  2. Set up the thermostat andadd it to your account.

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Beginner's guide to the Nest thermostat (2024)
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