There are two common reasons to factory reset a Nest Cam: you’re troubleshooting a camera that won’t reconnect or behave normally, or you’re transferring ownership of the camera to someone else. Either way, the procedure varies depending on which Nest Cam model you have — and getting it wrong means the reset either won’t stick or won’t fully clear the previous account. This guide covers the correct steps for every current Google Nest camera.
Before you reset: A factory reset permanently deletes all video history, personalized settings, and saved Wi-Fi credentials. There is no way to recover this data — Nest does not keep backups. If you need to save any footage, download it as a video clip or time-lapse from the Google Home app first.
Restart vs. Factory Reset: Try This First
Before doing a full factory reset, it’s worth trying a simple restart — especially if your camera has frozen, lost its connection, or stopped loading the live feed. A restart keeps all your settings intact and takes less than a minute. For wired Nest Cams, unplug the power adapter, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in. The camera will reconnect on its own. For battery models, press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds rather than the full 12.
If a restart doesn’t resolve the issue, then a factory reset is the appropriate next step.
What a Factory Reset Erases
A factory reset wipes the following permanently:
- All video history and snapshots
- Activity zones and detection settings
- Wi-Fi network name and password
- All personalized camera settings
- The camera’s association with your Google account
Additionally, if you have a first-generation Nest Aware subscription on the camera being reset, Google recommends canceling it before proceeding — otherwise you may lose subscription benefits tied to that device.
Step 1: Remove the Camera From the Google Home App
For most Nest Cam models, you need to remove the camera from your account in the app before — or alongside — the hardware reset. Your camera must be connected to Wi-Fi for this step to work.
- Open the Google Home app on your phone.
- Tap the camera you want to reset.
- Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and tap Remove Device (some models show Remove Camera).
- Tap Confirm when prompted.
For some wired models like the Nest Cam Indoor (wired), this app removal is the entire factory reset — there is no physical reset button. For other models, this step removes the camera from your account, after which you’ll complete the reset on the hardware itself.
Step 2: Hardware Reset by Model
After removing the camera from the app, use the appropriate hardware reset procedure for your specific model below.
Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Cam with Floodlight
- Make sure the camera is plugged into a power source.
- Locate the reset button on the back of the camera head.
- Press and hold the reset button for 12 seconds.
- Release when the status light blinks yellow and you hear an audio cue.
- The camera will restart. When the light glows solid white, the reset is complete.
Nest Cam (wired, indoor or outdoor) — 2nd and 3rd gen
- Locate the small reset pinhole on the back of the camera.
- Insert a straightened paperclip or similar thin object.
- Press and hold for 12 seconds until the status light blinks yellow.
- Release and wait for the camera to complete the reset process.
- The light will glow solid white when finished.
Nest Cam IQ (indoor or outdoor)
- Keep the camera plugged in throughout the process.
- For the IQ Indoor: locate the reset button on the bottom of the camera stand. For the IQ Outdoor: locate the reset button on the front of the camera below the Nest logo.
- Press and hold with a paperclip for several seconds until the light ring rotates yellow.
- Continue holding through the yellow rotation — the camera will chime when the reset completes.
- After the reset, the camera will show as Offline in the app until you remove it from your account (if you haven’t already).
Nest Cam Indoor (wired) — no physical reset button
This model does not have a hardware reset button. The factory reset is completed entirely through the app using the Remove Device steps above. Once removed from the Google Home app, all settings and video history are wiped.
Transferring Ownership to Someone Else
If you’re selling or giving away a Nest Cam, the original owner must complete the factory reset before handing it over. The new owner cannot set up the camera on their account until it has been removed from the previous owner’s Google account.
In the event the original owner is unavailable or uncooperative, Google Support can assist with transferring ownership if you can provide proof of purchase such as a receipt. This is worth knowing if you’ve purchased a used camera that’s still linked to a previous account.
After the Reset: Setting Up Again
Once the factory reset is complete, the camera is back to its out-of-box state. To use it again, open the Google Home app, tap the + button, and follow the setup prompts to add it as a new device. You’ll need to reconnect it to your Wi-Fi network and reconfigure any settings such as activity zones, notification preferences, and detection sensitivity.
If you had a Nest Aware subscription on the camera, it will need to be reactivated after setup. Furthermore, any smart home integrations — such as Google Assistant routines or third-party automations — will need to be re-linked once the camera is back online.
What If the Reset Doesn’t Fix the Problem?
If the camera’s status light turns on after the reset but the camera still won’t connect or behave normally, the issue is likely firmware-related. In that case, contact Google Nest support directly — they can sometimes push a firmware repair remotely.
If the status light doesn’t turn on at all after the reset, the issue is most likely hardware. Try a different power cable and a different outlet before assuming the camera itself has failed. That said, if the camera is out of warranty and won’t power on, it may be time to consider a replacement. The current Nest Cam Indoor (wired) starts at around $100 and is a solid upgrade over older models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset delete my Nest Aware subscription?
No — the subscription is tied to your Google account, not the camera hardware. However, a factory reset will delete the video history associated with the camera. If you plan to keep using the camera on the same account, you don’t need to cancel the subscription before resetting. If you’re transferring the camera to a new owner, cancel the subscription first so you’re not continuing to pay for a camera you no longer own.
My Nest Cam won’t connect to Wi-Fi after a reset — what should I do?
First, make sure the camera is still showing as removed from your Google Home account — it should not appear in your device list. Then attempt setup again from scratch using the + button in Google Home. If the camera still won’t connect, verify your Wi-Fi network is 2.4 GHz compatible (most Nest Cams support both 2.4 and 5 GHz, but the setup process may default to 2.4 GHz). As a last resort, contact Google Nest support.
Can I factory reset a Nest Cam remotely?
Partially. You can remove the camera from your Google Home account remotely via the app, which clears the account association and deletes video history. However, the full hardware reset — which clears the camera’s internal firmware settings — requires physical access to the device and its reset button.
I bought a used Nest Cam and it’s still linked to the previous owner’s account. What should I do?
The previous owner needs to remove the camera from their Google account before you can add it to yours. If you can’t reach them, contact Google Nest support with proof of purchase — they can remove the camera from the prior account on your behalf.
