Is Alexa Compatible With Nest? 5 Things You Can Do (2023)

Google and Amazon joining forces?

Is it possible?

You’d be surprised what Google and Amazon smart devices can do together.

“Will this require a complicated tutorial?”

Not at all!

So, sit back and relax because…

You’re about to discover:

How to enable the Google Nest skill on your Alexa app.
What you can do if Alexa doesn’t discover your Nest devices.
Which Nest devices are compatible with Alexa (and those that aren’t).
And so much more…

Is Alexa compatible with Nest?

Alexa is compatible with Nest devices, such as cameras, doorbells, and thermostats. However, old models have limited features. These include 1st gen Cam, Cam IQ, and Nest doorbell (wired version). Finally, you need to enable an Alexa skill for the devices to work together.

5 things you can do with Nest and Alexa

#1: Control and change your home’s temperature

First, you’ll need a Google Nest thermostat.

Here are all the compatible Nest devices that work with Alexa:

So, what can you do with Google’s smart thermostat devices?

Here are a couple worth mentioning:

Ask about your room’s temperature.
Set a temperature through voice command.
Increase and decrease your Nest thermostat’s temperature.

Need commands? Allow me to give you a cheat sheet:

Google Nest thermostat commands

To know the current set temperature

Just say, “Alexa, what’s the temperature of my house/home?”

Or, if you want to be more specific, you can say:

“Alexa, what’s the current temperature my (Google Nest thermostat name) set to?”

For that example, it can be the kitchen’s or the living room’s Google Nest thermostat.

Change or set the temperature

To change the temperature, all you have to say is:

“Alexa, change the (Google Nest thermostat name) to (specify number) degrees.”

And if you’re just setting up the temp, tell Alexa:

“Alexa, set the (Google Nest thermostat name) temperature to (specify number) degrees.”

Increase/decrease the temperature

Make Alexa adjust the temperature accordingly by saying:

“Alexa, decrease/increase the (Google Nest thermostat name) temperature.”

Note: By default, if you don’t specify the temperature, Alexa will increase or decrease it by 2°F (1°C).

#2: Show a live view of your Nest’s camera

Say you’re in your bedroom and want to see what’s happening in the living room.

With a Google Nest camera installed, it’s as easy as saying an Alexa command.

Even better, you can catch a live viewing of what’s going on outside your home.

So, how do you do it?

First, take note of these compatible Google Nest devices with Alexa:

Nest Cam outdoor.
Nest Cam with floodlight.
Nest Cam indoor (battery and indoor models).

Now, 1st gen Nest cameras are also compatible but don’t have live viewing capabilities.

And finally, here are the commands you should use to access live viewing:

“Alexa, show the (name of your Nest camera).”
“Alexa, show the (name of your Nest camera) feed.”

Alternatively, you can also say:

“Alexa, show the feed from the (name of your Nest camera).”

For example.

If your Nest device name is “Garage,” you would say:

“Alexa, show the Garage.”

Personally, I prefer to say:

“Alexa show the Garage feed” since it’s more accurate.

After you’re done live viewing, tell Alexa to stop using either of these commands:

“Alexa, exit.”
“Alexa, hide the (name of your Nest camera) feed.”

#3: Set Alexa to notify you when someone rings a doorbell

Wouldn’t it be cool if Alexa could tell you when a visitor rings your doorbell?

Not to mention, you’d feel a lot safer, right?

Say you were taking a bath, spaced out, and didn’t hear a thing.

Well, leave it to Alexa and your Google Nest doorbell.

Unlike the other 2 examples mentioned above, this doesn’t require a command.

All you need to do is enable the feature.

But first, make sure you have a Google Nest doorbell (battery model).

Why?

Because this is the only compatible device…for now.

From there, here’s what you wanna do:

Tap on your Google Nest doorbell in the Google Home app (iOS or Android).
Click on the Settings option (gear icon) in the upper-right corner of your screen.
Select “Doorbell.”
Turn on “Visitor announcements.”

The next time someone rings your doorbell, Alexa will notify you.

#4: Detect motion activity

Take doorbell announcements a step further with motion activity detection.

The moment your camera senses any movement, it detects the motion and alerts you.

Think of it as a security measure to keep you and your family safe from unwanted visitors.

So, how do you enable it?

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Access Google’s Partner Connections Manager.

Note: Make sure you’re signed in to the same account you used to set up your camera or doorbell.

Step 2: Choose Amazon Alexa in the menu.

Step 3: Toggle on “Events.”

Choose the Nest camera and doorbell devices you want to use for motion detection.

Step 4: Open the Google Home app.

Step 5: Click on your camera or doorbell.

Step 6: Tap Settings (gear icon).

Step 7: Select Events.

Click on “Seen events.”

Step 8: Toggle on motion events and notifications.

It’s also worth noting that motion announcements only work on selected Nest devices:

#5: Talk to visitors with your Nest doorbell

Maybe you want to confirm something before receiving a package.

Or request a quick little passcode to ensure it’s your friend and not some possessed zombie.

Well, that’s only the tip of the iceberg with this feature:

Talk to your visitors using the Alexa app and through your Nest doorbell.

However, you need to meet certain conditions first. Namely:

Your Nest camera should be turned on.
Compatible only with Nest doorbell (battery model).
Only works if your Alexa device has a display, like Echo Show or Fire Tablet.

Once you have all those ready, just say either of these commands:

“Alexa, talk to the front door.”
“Alexa, answer the front door.”

You might also like: Can You Use Alexa Show as a Security Camera? 3 Facts

How to use Alexa with Nest?

For starters, Alexa needs to know your Nest device exists.

And 1 way of doing that is by enabling the Google Nest skill.

“Is it hard to do?”

To tell you the truth, it’ll only take you about 3 to 5 minutes.

But before all that, make sure your Alexa app’s updated:

Go to your Google Play Store or App Store.
Type “Alexa.”
Click on the app.
If an update’s available, install it immediately.

From here, you’ll need to link your Nest device with Alexa.

How to set up your Nest device on the Alexa app

Launch the Alexa app (iOS or Android).
Click on “More” (3-horizontal lines at the bottom-left of your screen).
Tap “Skills & Games.”
Click on the Search option (magnifying glass icon).
Type “Google Nest.”
Tap the skill and select “Enable to Use.”
Sign in to your Google account.
Follow any additional on-screen instructions.
You’ll see a message “Your Google Nest account has been successfully linked.”
Tap “Discover Devices.”

What if Alexa can’t find my device?

If you see a “No devices found” message, hit “Close” at the bottom of your screen.

Then, manually select the device you want to add:

Step 1: Tap “Devices” on your Alexa app’s home screen.

Step 2: Click on the “+” icon in the top-right corner of your screen.

Step 3: Choose the device you want to add.

For example, if you want to add a Nest camera, choose “Camera” in the list of devices.

Step 4: Select the brand of the camera you want to add.

In this case, scroll down and tap “Google Nest.”

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your Nest camera.

Want something a little more specific?

Here’s a video guide showing how to set up a Nest thermostat device on the Alexa app:

Check out: Can Alexa Be Hacked? 10 Shocking Security Facts

Why is Alexa not compatible with my Nest thermostat?

According to Amazon, Alexa’s compatible with all Nest Learning Thermostat models.

This means all 1st generation to 3rd generation devices should work with Alexa.

If you have a Nest Thermostat E, this also works.

That said, if your smart thermostat stops working with Alexa out of the blue…

Here’s what you can do:

Launch your Alexa app.
Tap “Devices” (located at the bottom row of your screen).
Click on “All Devices.”
Select your Nest Thermostat.
Tap the gear icon on the top-right corner.
In your Nest Thermostat’s settings, tap the garbage bin icon (upper-right corner).
Confirm the removal of your device.
On your Alexa app’s Devices menu, tap the “+” icon (top-right corner).
Add your Nest thermostat again.

If that doesn’t work, an alternative solution is to disable the Google Nest skill:

Open the Alexa app.
Tap on “More.”
Click on “Skills & Games.”
Select “Your Skills.”
Tap on the “Google Nest Skill.”
Hit “Disable.”
Tap “Enable to Use.”
Set up your Nest thermostat.