Google's setup articles cover the messages you see when adding a Nest camera or doorbell in the Google Home app. Use a current app, keep the phone near the device and be on the same wifi you want to use; Google's article on not finding the wifi network during setup covers a network that is hidden, on the wrong band or too weak. Scan the QR code on the device or its packaging as prompted; clean the phone camera and improve the light if the scan fails.
The checks in more detail
If the app cannot connect to the device during setup, Google's article on app connection during setup lists steps: turn on Bluetooth and location permission, restart the phone, restart the camera and try again. For error messages, use Google's setup messages page. If the app says the camera is connected to another account, use the help codes guide (C101, C208, C308, C309), which explains the previous owner must remove it or you must factory reset it. Charge a battery model first.
Choose a location with a strong signal. A factory reset is sometimes needed to start clean. After setup, name the camera and assign it to a room, then test live view and an alert. If setup fails repeatedly, try another phone and another wifi band. Have your wifi password written down before you begin, since typing it from memory is a frequent cause of failed setup. If setup works on another phone, the first phone's permissions or app version are the cause.
Do setup during the day when you are not rushed, since interrupted setup is the usual cause of repeats. Use the same phone that will control the camera for setup, since some permissions and account links stay with the phone and are annoying to redo later. Once setup works, give the camera a clear name and room straight away and test one alert, since finishing the configuration while you are at the device is far easier than doing it later from a ladder.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest cameras and doorbells will not complete setup or pairing”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A weak wifi signal
What separates it Setup cannot connect because the wifi signal is weak where you are setting it up
How to confirm Set the device up near the router, and then move it to its final place afterwards
- 2
A hidden or wrong-band network
What separates it The app says the network is not found because the network is hidden or on the wrong band
How to confirm Check the band and that the network is visible, then choose it again in the app
- 3
A camera scan failure
What separates it The QR code is not read because the camera lens is dirty or the light is poor
How to confirm Clean the camera lens and add some light, then scan the code again
- 4
A previous owner's account
What separates it The app says it is connected to another account because a previous owner did not remove it
How to confirm Ask the previous owner to remove it from their account, or reset it yourself
- 5
Missing permissions
What separates it The app cannot find the device because Bluetooth or location permissions are off
How to confirm Enable Bluetooth and location for the Google Home app, then try the setup again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact message shown in the app during setup
- The help code, if the app shows one
- Which wifi band the network uses
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUpdate the app
ReversibleUpdate the Google Home app and the phone software before you start, so the setup runs smoothly.
Charge a battery model
ReversibleCharge a battery model first, since setup uses a lot of power and a low battery can stop it.
Set up near the router
ReversibleSet up near the router, where the signal is strong, and move the device afterwards.
Scan the QR code
ReversibleScan the QR code carefully, and clean the lens so that the camera can read it properly.
Enable permissions
ReversibleEnable the permissions the app needs, which are Bluetooth and location, during the whole setup.
Check the help code
ReversibleCheck the help code if the app shows one, since the code explains exactly what went wrong.
Factory reset
ReversibleFactory reset the device if the setup stays stuck, and then begin the setup again.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Used devices
- Ask the seller to remove the device from their account.
- Battery
- Charge before setup.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Nest Cam (wired, 2nd gen).
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If setup fails on another phone, contact Google Nest support
- !If the wifi is not found, use the setup wifi article
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Setup errors.
Setup wifi.
App connection.
Help codes C101, C208, C308, C309.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What is a help code?+
A help code is a code, such as C101, that points to a specific problem such as an account issue.
Why is it linked to another account?+
It can be linked to another account because a previous owner did not remove it from theirs.
Why won't the QR code scan?+
The QR code may not scan because of a dirty lens, or because the light is too poor.
Which wifi band?+
Use a wifi band that the camera supports, and make sure that the network is visible.
Do I need location on?+
Yes, turn location on during setup, since the app uses it to find the device nearby.
Can I try another phone?+
Yes, you can try another phone, since it shows whether the phone or the device is the problem.