Google Nest cameras and doorbells offer a wide range of features for smart home monitoring, even without a subscription. These devices are designed to enhance your home security and provide peace of mind without requiring any additional fees.
Without a subscription, Nest cams can detect both sound and motion, allowing you to stay informed about activities happening in and around your home. You can also stream live video directly from your camera to the Google Home app or Nest app, giving you real-time access to what’s happening at any given moment.
In addition, Nest cams can save video clips to the cloud, ensuring that you have a record of important events. The length of video history that can be stored depends on the type of Nest camera and the subscription level. While some cameras offer limited event video history without a subscription, others require a Nest Aware subscription for full access to video history features.
It’s essential to note that certain advanced features, such as intelligent motion and sound alerts, person detection, and familiar face alerts, are only available with a Nest Aware subscription. However, even without a subscription, Nest cams provide valuable security and monitoring capabilities for your smart home.
In this article, we will explore the features and functionalities of Nest cams without a subscription, as well as the additional benefits that come with a Nest Aware subscription. Whether you’re considering installing a Nest cam for the first time or are already a Nest user, this article will provide valuable insights and help you make informed decisions about your smart home monitoring needs.
Buy on AmazonRecording and Saving Video with Nest Cam
When it comes to video recording and storage capabilities, Nest cameras offer two options: event video history and 24/7 video history. Let’s take a closer look at how these features work and what you need to know to make the most of them.
Event Video History
Nest cameras, such as the Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor, can save video clips of significant events. These events typically include activities like motion or sound detection, specifically when a person is detected. With event video history, you can easily review and access these clips whenever needed.
To view and manage your event video history, you can use the Google Home app, Google Home for web, or the Nest app. This allows you to conveniently monitor your home, check for any unusual activity, and ensure the safety and security of your family and property.
24/7 Video History
For even more comprehensive monitoring, eligible Nest cameras also offer the option of 24/7 video history. With this feature enabled, your camera continuously streams and saves video footage, giving you access to a continuous recording of your chosen location.
It’s worth noting that for Nest Cam (battery) cameras, you will need to connect them to a power source in order to enable 24/7 video history. This ensures that your camera has a constant power supply and can capture uninterrupted video footage.
Managing Your Video Settings
To optimize your video recording and storage preferences, it’s essential to configure your event video settings in the Home app. This allows you to specify the specific types of activities that should be saved as part of your event video history.
Keep in mind that all video history is deleted on a rolling basis. This means that older footage is automatically deleted as new clips are added to your event video history. By customizing your video settings, you can ensure that only the most relevant and important video clips are saved, maximizing storage space and efficiency.
Nest Aware Subscriptions and Video History
Enhance your Nest Cam experience with Nest Aware, a subscription service that provides additional features and extended video history. By subscribing to Nest Aware, you can unlock the full potential of your Nest Cam and enjoy a range of benefits.
With Nest Aware, newer camera models like the Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Doorbell (battery) allow users to access up to 3 hours of event video history even without a subscription. However, most older Nest cameras and doorbells require a Nest Aware subscription to access event video history or 24/7 video history, ensuring that you never miss out on any important moments.
The subscription tiers, including Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus, offer varied days of video history storage, depending on the camera model and subscription level. Whether you require extended video history for added security or prefer to review specific events, Nest Aware has flexible options to suit your needs.
Benefits of Nest Aware Subscriptions
- Extended event video history
- 24/7 continuous video history (available on compatible models)
- Access to advanced features such as intelligent alerts
- Customizable activity zones for personalized monitoring
- Expanded video history storage duration
Take a look at the table below for a detailed overview of the video history storage options provided by different Nest Aware subscription levels:
| Camera Model | Subscription Tier | Video History Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Nest Cam (battery) | Nest Aware | 5 days |
| Nest Aware Plus | 10 days | |
| Nest Doorbell (battery) | Nest Aware | 5 days |
| Nest Aware Plus | 10 days | |
| Other Nest Cameras and Doorbells | Nest Aware / Nest Aware Plus | Varies depending on model and subscription |
With Nest Aware subscriptions, you can confidently monitor your home and ensure that you have all the video history you need. Subscribe today to make the most of your Nest Cam and enjoy enhanced peace of mind.
Additional Features with Nest Aware Subscription
When you subscribe to Nest Aware, you unlock a range of advanced features that enhance the functionality of your Nest cameras. With a subscription, your cameras can provide more intelligent motion and sound alerts, including person detection and familiar face alerts. This means that you will receive notifications specifically tailored to detect people and familiar faces, improving the accuracy and relevance of your alerts.
In addition to person and familiar face alerts, Nest Aware enables your Google Nest and Home speakers and displays to detect important sounds like smoke alarms or breaking glass. This added level of awareness helps you stay informed and enhances the overall security of your home.
Furthermore, with Nest Aware, you can set up Activity Zones to define specific areas for alerts. This feature allows you to customize the surveillance of your cameras, focusing on the areas that matter most to you. Whether it’s your front door, backyard, or any other specific location, Activity Zones ensure that you receive precise alerts for the areas you choose.
One of the most valuable benefits of Nest Aware is the extended video history recording. While the free subscription level provides a limited amount of video history, subscribing to Nest Aware unlocks the ability to access continuous 24/7 video history. This means that all recorded footage is saved and accessible whenever you need it, giving you peace of mind and an invaluable resource for reviewing past events.
Additional Features with Nest Aware Subscription
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Intelligent Motion and Sound Alerts | Receive notifications for detected motion and sounds, including person detection and familiar face alerts. |
| Important Sound Detection | Detect important sounds like smoke alarms or breaking glass. |
| Activity Zones | Define specific areas for alerts to focus on the areas that matter most to you. |
| Extended Video History | Access continuous 24/7 video history for comprehensive recording and playback of past events. |
New Nest Cam Models and Features
Google has introduced a range of new nest cam models that come with enhanced features and expanded subscription options. These new models offer improved functionality and provide an exceptional smart home monitoring experience.
Improved Functionality Without a Monthly Subscription
The new nest cam models offer enhanced functionality even without a monthly subscription. Users can enjoy features like local video recording and on-device processing of activity zones and image recognition, all without the need for a subscription. This means that you can still benefit from advanced features and capabilities without any additional costs.
Continuous Operation Even Without an Internet Connection
One of the standout features of the new nest cam models is their ability to work offline. This means that even if your internet connection is interrupted, the cameras will continue to operate and provide continuous monitoring. This ensures that you never miss any important events, even in the event of network outages.
Introducing the New Models:
| Model | Features |
|---|---|
| Google Nest Cam (battery) | Wire-free design, local video recording |
| Nest Doorbell (battery) | Smart doorbell functionality, offline operation |
| Google Nest Cam (wired) | Continuous power supply, enhanced video quality |
| Nest Cam with floodlight | Built-in floodlight, customizable lighting and motion detection |
These new models offer a wide range of options to suit different monitoring needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a battery-powered camera, a doorbell with advanced features, a wired camera with continuous power, or a camera with a built-in floodlight, there’s a nest cam model that fits your requirements.
With these new nest cam models, Google continues to innovate and provide cutting-edge solutions for smart home monitoring. Whether you’re a homeowner, a renter, or a business owner, these cameras offer the reliability, functionality, and peace of mind you need.
Nest Cam Security and Anti-Theft Measures
The Nest cameras come with built-in security features, but it’s always a good idea to take additional measures to ensure the safety of your devices. Google offers an anti-theft mount specifically designed for the Nest Cam, providing extra protection against potential theft.
The anti-theft mount securely clamps around the camera and tethers it to the wall using a durable metal cable. This innovative solution helps keep your Nest Cam in place, reducing the risk of it being stolen or tampered with.
While the anti-theft mount provides an added layer of security, it’s important to note that the Nest cameras are magnetically mounted and can still be easily removed from the mount. Therefore, it’s crucial to exercise caution and take appropriate precautions to safeguard your cameras.
To ensure the security of your Nest Cam, consider the following measures:
1. Strategic Camera Placement
Select the optimal location for your Nest Cam, ensuring it is installed out of reach and away from easily accessible areas. By placing the camera at a height and angle that provides the best coverage while minimizing its visibility, you can deter potential thieves from targeting your device.
2. Connection to Power Source
If you have a Nest Cam (battery) model, it’s essential to connect it to a power source whenever possible. This not only ensures uninterrupted operation but also reduces the risk of someone removing the camera due to its magnet mounting system.
3. Home Security System Integration
Integrate your Nest Cam with your existing home security system, if applicable. By connecting your camera to a comprehensive security setup, you can benefit from enhanced surveillance capabilities and proactive anti-theft measures.
Implementing these security measures alongside the anti-theft mount provided by Google can significantly increase the protection of your Nest Cam and provide you with peace of mind.
Transition to Google Home App and Nest Aware Changes
Google is making changes to enhance the user experience and simplify the management of smart home devices. As part of this initiative, Google is gradually transitioning away from the Nest app and integrating Nest devices into the Google Home app. This consolidation allows users to control their Google Nest cameras and other devices directly from the Google Home app, creating a unified platform for all Google smart home products.
With this transition, certain features and services, such as the Works with Nest ecosystem and Nest accounts, have been discontinued. While the Nest app will continue to support legacy devices, the focus will be on the Google Home app for new Nest cameras and devices. By consolidating all the functionalities and controls into one app, Google aims to provide a seamless and streamlined experience for users.
For users who were previously using the Nest app, the transition to the Google Home app may require a few adjustments. However, rest assured that the new Nest cameras and devices are fully compatible with the Google Home app, ensuring that you have access to the latest features and updates. Plus, you can still enjoy all the benefits of Nest Aware, Google’s subscription service that offers extended video history, intelligent alerts, and more.
As the transition progresses, Google will continue to provide support and resources to help users through the process. Whether you’re a longtime Nest user or just getting started with Google Home, this transition marks an exciting step towards a more seamless and integrated smart home experience.