Routines that involve the battery Google Nest Doorbell, such as a chime on a connected speaker, a light that comes on when someone presses the button or a camera alert sent to a display, run through Google Home, so they fail when the doorbell is offline, a feature is switched off or the notification permission is missing. Open the routine in Google Home, confirm the doorbell is selected as the starter, then press the button and watch for the action. If nothing fires, check the doorbell shows online and that its notification and activity settings are on.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest cameras and doorbells routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The doorbell is offline when the routine runs
What separates it The routine works only when the doorbell is awake and connected
How to confirm Check the doorbell's status and signal; follow the offline steps if it is not online
- 2
The starter is not the doorbell
What separates it The routine never starts
How to confirm Open the routine and confirm the doorbell, and the button-press or person event, is the starter
- 3
The doorbell's event setting is off
What separates it The app shows no activity for the event the routine needs
How to confirm Turn on the matching notification or activity option in the doorbell's settings
- 4
The speaker or display is not available
What separates it The routine starts but nothing plays
How to confirm Check the speaker or display is online and in the same home
- 5
Permissions or linked accounts changed
What separates it A routine that worked stops after an account change
How to confirm Check the home membership and relink the account if needed
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The routine's starter and action as written
- Whether the doorbell and the target device show online
- The event options turned on for the doorbell
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedPress the button and watch
ReversiblePress the doorbell to see whether the event appears in Google Home at all.
Open the routine
ReversibleIn Google Home open the routine and confirm the doorbell is the starter.
Check the doorbell's event options
ReversibleMake sure the matching event option is on in the doorbell's settings.
Check the target device
ReversibleConfirm the speaker, display or light is online in the same home.
Recreate the routine
ReversibleIf it still fails, delete and rebuild the routine, then test again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Where routines live
- Google Home app
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Nest Cam (battery).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a routine with a correct starter and an online doorbell still never fires, contact Google Nest support
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Alerts, zones and delays.
Zones.
Members and Admins.
Plans and features.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my doorbell routine not run?+
Most often the doorbell is offline, the starter is wrong or the event option is off. Press the button and see whether the event shows in Google Home.
Can the doorbell chime on a Nest speaker?+
Yes, when the doorbell and the speaker are in the same home and the routine uses the button press as its starter.
Do routines work when the doorbell battery is low?+
A very low battery can leave the doorbell offline, so charge it first.