Google Nest thermostat smart features disabled: Difference between revisions

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-Old Google Nest thermostats will no longer work as Google shuts down support without providing an option for local control.
+{{IncidentCargo
+|Company=Google, Nest
+|StartDate=2025-10-25
+|EndDate=
+|Status=Active
+|ProductLine=Nest Learning Thermostat
+|Product=1st generation 2011, 2nd generation 2012, 2nd generation Europe version 2014
+|ArticleType=Incident
+|Type=Abandonware, Service Termination
+|Description=Google is ending support for 1st/2nd generation Nest thermostats October 2025, removing app control and safety features despite working hardware.
+}}
+[[Google]] has announced the discontinuation of cloud-based support for first and second-generation [[Google Nest]] Learning Thermostats, affecting devices purchased between 2011-2014. While the thermostats will continue basic operation, all smart features and remote capabilities will be permanently disabled.
 ==Background==
-Nest Labs launched the Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011, introducing smart thermostats to the mainstream. The company was acquired by Google in 2014. First & 2nd generation Nest thermostats were marketed as one-time purchases, with cloud-based functionality including smartphone control, Google Assistant integration, & Home/Away automation.
+Nest Labs launched the Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011, introducing smart thermostats to the mainstream market. The company was acquired by Google in 2014 for $3.2 billion. First and second-generation Nest thermostats were marketed as premium one-time purchases with cloud-based functionality as core features, including smartphone control, voice assistant integration, and home automation capabilities.
+==The discontinuation announcement==
+On April 25, 2025, Google officially announced that support would end for the following devices on October 25, 2025:<ref name="official">{{Cite web |title=Support changes to our earliest generation Nest Learning Thermostats |url=https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Support-changes-to-our-earliest-generation-Nest-Learning-Thermostats/ba-p/713068 |date=2025-04-25 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Google Nest Community |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260127215416/https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Support-changes-to-our-earliest-generation-Nest-Learning-Thermostats/ba-p/713068 |archive-date=27 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name="google-announcement">[https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/16233096 "Upcoming End of Support for Nest Learning Thermostats (1st and 2nd Gen) - Google Nest Help."] Google.com, ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260227051701/https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/16233096 Archived])</ref>
+*Nest Learning Thermostat (1st generation, 2011)
+*Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, 2012)
+*Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, Europe version, 2014)
+===Features being discontinued===
+After October 25, 2025, affected devices will lose:<ref name="official" /><ref name="google-announcement" />
+*Remote control via Nest and Google Home apps
+*Google Assistant and third-party voice assistant integration
+*Home/Away Assist functionality
+*Push notifications
+*Software and security updates
+*All cloud-based features and connected services
+===Safety feature impact===
+The discontinuation affects the Emergency Shutoff feature, which automatically shuts off heating systems when Nest Protect smoke detectors sense carbon monoxide.<ref name="emergency-shutoff">[https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9245889 "What you need for Emergency Shutoff to work - Google Nest Help."] Google.com, ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260121043913/https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9245889 Archived])</ref> Google has confirmed that "Nest Protects will also disconnect from the thermostat and Emergency Shut-off will no longer run."<ref name="google-announcement" />
-Nest advertised these features as core to the product experience, encouraging buyers to integrate them into home automation setups.
+===Remaining functionality===
+Google states that basic thermostat functions accessible directly on the device will continue to work, including:<ref name="google-announcement" />
-==Google ends support for 1st and 2nd Gen Nest Thermostats==
+*Pre-set temperature schedules
-On April 25, 2025, Google officially announced that it would be ending support for the Nest Learning Thermostat (1st gen, 2011), Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd gen, 2012), and the European 2nd gen variant (2014).<ref name="official">{{Cite web |title=Support changes to our earliest generation Nest Learning Thermostats |url=https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Support-changes-to-our-earliest-generation-Nest-Learning-Thermostats/ba-p/713068 |date=2025-04-25 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Google Nest Community |archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/NxA1x |archive-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
+*Manual temperature adjustments
+*Mode switching (heat/cool)
+*Auto-Schedule settings management
-===What will stop working===
+==Harm to consumers==
-After October 25, 2025:
+The discontinuation removes core features that were primary selling points when consumers purchased these devices. Users who built smart home systems around these thermostats face the loss of functionality they paid for, with no option for local control or open-source alternatives. The removal of the carbon monoxide safety shutoff feature presents particular concern for consumer safety.
-*Remote control via the Nest or Google Home app won't work
-*Integration w/ Google Assistant & connected features such as Home/Away Assist will stop functioning.
-*Emergency shut-off and Nest Protect integrations will no longer work.<ref name="chrome">{{Cite web |title=Google ends support for Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 1 & 2 |url=https://chromeunboxed.com/your-old-nest-thermostat-is-going-to-lose-app-control-later-this-year/ |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Chrome Unboxed |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wip/TyMq4 |archive-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>
-Local manual control—such as adjusting temperature or editing schedules on the device itself will still work, but all cloud-based and voice assistant features will be disabled.
+==Company response and compensation==
+Google cited the age of the hardware as the primary reason, stating it had become "increasingly challenging to continue to update these products."<ref name="official" /> The company offered limited-time discounts to affected customers:
-==="The thermostat still works"===
+*United States: $130 off 4th generation Nest Learning Thermostat
-While Google clarified that the thermostats won't be physically bricked, the loss of cloud features renders many of the original selling points unusable. As Carl T. Bergstrom put it on bluesky
+*Canada: $160 off 4th generation model
-<blockquote>''“We’re Google, and we’re going to brick your perfectly functional thermostat after buying the company that made it.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carl T. Bergstrom on Bluesky |url=https://bsky.app/profile/carlbergstrom.com/post/3ltkvrz26tc2u |date=2025-07-09 |access-date=2025-07-13 |archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/QkXeH |archive-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>''</blockquote>
+*Europe: 50% off Tado Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit<ref name="official" />
-==Consumer response==
+No options were provided for continuing use through open-source integrations, local control, or third-party services.
-Google's decision affects people who built entire smart home systems around these devices: some of these users likened it to remote deactivation of purchased hardware.
-The only compensation offered was a limited-time email promotion:
+==Public response==
-*US: $130 off the 4th gen Nest Learning Thermostat
+The announcement generated significant criticism from consumers and technology commentators. Carl T. Bergstrom summarized the sentiment: "We're Google, and we're going to brick your perfectly functional thermostat after buying the company that made it."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carl T. Bergstrom on Bluesky |url=https://bsky.app/profile/carlbergstrom.com/post/3ltkvrz26tc2u |date=2025-07-09 |access-date=2025-07-13 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251126232013/https://bsky.app/profile/carlbergstrom.com/post/3ltkvrz26tc2u |archive-date=26 Nov 2025}}</ref><ref name="chrome">{{Cite web |title=Google ends support for Nest Learning Thermostat Gen 1 & 2 |url=https://chromeunboxed.com/your-old-nest-thermostat-is-going-to-lose-app-control-later-this-year/ |date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-07-13 |website=Chrome Unboxed |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251128071758/https://chromeunboxed.com/your-old-nest-thermostat-is-going-to-lose-app-control-later-this-year/ |archive-date=28 Nov 2025}}</ref>
-*Canada: $160 off the 4th gen model
-*Europe: 50% off the Tado Smart Thermostat X Starter Kit<ref name="official" />
-==Google's justification==
+==Current status==
-Google cited the age of the hardware as the primary reason, claiming it had become "increasingly challenging to continue to update these products."<ref name="official" /> No options were provided for continuing use with open-source integrations or third-party tools.
+As of October 2025, the discontinuation happened. Affected consumers are advised to:
-While over 10 years of support is framed as generous by some users, critics argue that basic functionality being disabled post-sale undermines consumer trust and the concept of ownership
+*Document current device functionality and integrations
+*Ensure alternative carbon monoxide safety measures are in place before the cutoff date
+*Save all communications from Google/Nest regarding the discontinuation
+*Consider filing complaints with consumer protection agencies if appropriate
+*A community driven open source project has been created.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No Longer Evil Thermostat |url=https://nolongerevil.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325163401/https://nolongerevil.com/ |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=15 Apr 2026 |website=No Longer Evil}}</ref> This gives owners the ability to flash a custom firmware on to the Gen 1 and 2 devices. Currently a free account is required as the firmware redirects the devices to the projects own servers. A full release of the API code is planned to allow users to create their own servers. This process, of course, carries the risk of bricking the device during the flashing process.  This initiative has been covered in an article on Toms Hardware Guide<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyson |first=Mark |date=9 Nov 2025 |title=No Longer Evil Thermostat hack strips Google from Nest thermostat to heat your home better — open source project revives sunsetted hardware, gives more precise control |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/software/no-longer-evil-thermostat-heats-your-home-better-by-removing-google-revive-sunsetted-hardware-gain-more-precise-control-open-source |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226012907/https://www.tomshardware.com/software/no-longer-evil-thermostat-heats-your-home-better-by-removing-google-revive-sunsetted-hardware-gain-more-precise-control-open-source |archive-date=2026-02-26 |website=Tom's Hardware}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 38: / Line 72: @@
 [[Category:Google]]
-[[Category:Nest]]
+[[Category:Google Nest]]
 [[Category:Smart home device obsolescence]]
 [[Category:Cloud service dependency]]
 [[Category:Remote deactivation]]
-[[Category:Forced obsolescence]]
+[[Category:Planned obsolescence]]
 [[Category:Ownership revocation]]