Works with Nest is dying; jump ship before it's too late
Way back in May 2018, Google announced it was killing the Works with Nest platform, with the service shutting down at the end of August 2019.
That’s obviously been and long gone now and, as such, Google is encouraging Nest device owners – those with smart thermostats, cameras, smoke detectors, and more – to migrate their Nest accounts over to Google.
Although Google loosened its stance that all Works with Nest integrations will stop working immediately, it has warned users that if they don’t migrate to a Google account they’ll miss out on features like suspicious activity detection, 2-Step verification and security checkup; as well as a more hassle-free way of getting your Nest devices working with other Google services – think camera footage on a Home Hub or Android TV, for example.
You also won’t be able to subscribe to the new Nest Aware plans without migrating your account first.
However, if you do move over to a Google account, your Works with Nest connections will stop working straight away and you won’t be able to revert back – something IFTTT has warned people about.
Therefore, before migrating you might also want to check what other Works with Nest integrations you have to make sure it’s definitely the right move for you. You can do this by going to the Works with Nest section of your Nest app.
If you’re happy to go ahead and migrate to a Google account, it’s pretty straightforward; especially as you’ve more than likely already got a profile with the search giant.
Here’s how:
- Tap the settings cog from the Nest app
- Choose Migrate to a Google Account
- Select Continue with Google
- Sign in with your Google Account
Now, follow the steps to review and disconnect any existing Works with Nest connections and then to merge your Nest Home with your Google Home (if you already had one set up).
At this point, if you share your Nest account with family members you will need to re-invite them. It’s important to note that anyone you give access to your unified Google Nest Home will have the same level of access and control as you – this mean they can remove you from the home, so choose wisely!
Finally you need to agree to Complete migration (there’s still an option to say No thanks and bail on the whole thing).
That’s it, you’re done.
What to be aware of
While Google has said it’s working with some Works with Nest partners to migrate their integrations over to its Works With Google platform, has proved to be slow going so far.
According to Google, moving forward all smart home interactions will have to go through Works with Google Assistant and the Google Home app, which currently only has three triggers for Routines: voice, touch or schedule (it does promise more will come later though).
Even if Works with Nest partners such as Philips Hue, Lutron, and Rachio move to Works with Google Assistant, there’s currently no way to replicate the functionality offered by their existing WWN programs.
No more shutting off lights when the thermostat goes to Away mode. No more turning on your Lutron switches if the Nest Cam detects movement. No activating your Rachio sprinkler controller when your Nest Protect senses smoke.
It feels like a blow to the intelligent smart home. Google told The Ambient last year that it is working on presence and occupancy being supported, and says it will bring over Home/Away Routine triggers.
How will this affect my smart home?
Since August last year, no new Works with Nest integrations have been allowed to be added. While Google initially made it sound like all integrations would stop working on 31 August 2019, it clarified that existing connections will keep running.
That is, until you merge your Google and Nest accounts. As soon as you accept this merger, your WWN integrations will stop, even if it’s before the August deadline, and that will be that.
Google says the merger will let Nest and Google devices work together in new ways, without additional setup, and give you the benefit of one place to manage multiple homes and home members – the Google Home App (although the Nest app is staying, for now).
You can stay with Nest and be governed only by Nest’s terms and privacy policies… but you won’t get new features
If you choose not to merge and stick with Nest, that’s fine (at least for the time being) and you’ll be governed only by Nest’s terms and privacy policies, not Google’s. If you do this, you will get security updates, but no new features.
If you decide to go full steam ahead with the new Google Nest, all those integrations Google says are coming to manage your smart home will need to be managed through the Google Home app. This also means Google’s own smart speakers, like the Google Home, Mini, Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max are going to make managing your Google smart home easier. This is Google’s world, we’re just living in it.
Can I still use Alexa with Nest?
Yes. Google worked early on with Amazon to migrate the Nest skills on Alexa “to ensure a smooth transition prior to winding down the Works with Nest program.”
A wise move, as cutting Alexa off from Nest would have caused a lot of push back from users who bought the device with that capability as an advertised selling point.
What happens to my data?
Once you sign up with Google, all your smart home data – past, present and future – will go to Google. When it first purchased Nest back in 2014, Google said this would not happen. But, to no one’s surprise, it now is. All your Nest home data will become associated with your Google Account. While any data from Google Assistant interactions is subject to being used for ad personalisation (you can opt out of this), Google says Nest device data won’t be used in this way, however users will not be able to review or delete their data unless they delete their account.
Users will no longer have access to their data from the API, which will shut out workaround solutions used to control Nest devices on officially unsupported platforms – such as SmartThings and Home Assistant. Work with Google Assistant, the replacement for Works with Nest, won’t allow the open API access that let these workarounds exist. It will also be a more tightly controlled system than WWN, with partner devices not having any access to or control of Nest devices.
