Nest cameras and doorbells will not stay connected to Wi-Fi: Google's wifi article treats connection problems as distance, obstacles and network settings. A camera or doorbell can lose its connection when it is too far from the router or when electronics, large furniture, appliances, walls and floors block wifi; the fix is to move the device a little or move the router closer. Its main router usually gives a better connection than an extender, so turn off or move extenders to see whether the camera was joining a weak one.
The checks in more detail
Check your internet bandwidth: Google's bandwidth article says the camera adjusts resolution to the connection, and independent summaries of it give about 5 Mbps of upload for 1080p streaming, 0.5 to 1 Mbps for 720p and below 0.5 Mbps for 360p or no stream. Turn off other devices that use wifi heavily to test. Check your wifi network and router settings, because some routers filter devices or run mixed bands; Google's setup article on not finding the wifi network covers 2.4 GHz and hidden network problems.
To change network, use the Google Home app's change wifi network option, which needs the device to be online or to be reset. Restart the modem and router, and restart the camera. If the network changed name or password, reconnect through the app. Factory reset only if nothing else works. Test the signal at the camera's position with a phone before you move it, since a strong reading in the hall says nothing about the porch. Avoid placing a camera right beside metal, since a metal bracket or gutter can reflect and weaken its signal.
If you change internet provider, reconnect each camera through the app the same day rather than waiting for it to fail. A camera close to a router can still perform badly if it picked the 5 GHz band through a wall, so check which band it joined and try the other in the router settings if the option exists. If you use a mesh system, make sure the camera has joined the node nearest to it and not one across the house, and if your router offers band steering, try giving the camera its own network name on the band it prefers.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest cameras and doorbells will not stay connected to Wi-Fi”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Distance or obstacles
What separates it The wifi is weak or drops because of distance or obstacles between the router and the device
How to confirm Move the camera or the router, so that fewer walls or objects lie in the signal's path
- 2
A weak extender
What separates it The connection is poor because the device is joined to a weak wifi extender
How to confirm Turn extenders off for a test, and see whether the device is steadier on the main router
- 3
Low upload speed
What separates it The video quality is lower because the upload speed of the connection is low
How to confirm Raise your internet plan, or lower the video quality setting so that it needs less speed
- 4
A router filter or band
What separates it The device cannot join the network because a router filter or the wrong band blocks it
How to confirm Check the router settings, including the wifi band and any filters, and allow the device to join
- 5
A changed password
What separates it The device went offline after you changed the wifi password
How to confirm Reconnect it through the Google Home app, using the new network name and password
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The signal strength shown for the device in the app
- Whether any extenders are in use on the network
- Which wifi band the router offers the device
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedMove the camera or router
ReversibleMove the camera or the router, to reduce the obstacles that weaken the signal between them.
Turn off extenders
ReversibleTurn off extenders for a test, to see whether the camera is steadier on the main router.
Test upload speed
ReversibleTest the upload speed and compare it with what the camera needs to stream video smoothly.
Check router settings
ReversibleCheck the router settings, especially the wifi band and any filters that might block the device.
Restart modem and router
ReversibleRestart the modem and the router by unplugging them, and wait for the lights to settle.
Change network in the app
ReversibleChange the network in the app if the wifi details have changed, so the device joins the new one.
Factory reset
ReversibleFactory reset the device as a last resort, and then set it up again from the beginning.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bandwidth
- The camera lowers resolution on slow connections.
- Extenders
- A camera may join a weaker extender.
- 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 to find the network, use the setup article
- !If the speed is low, contact your internet provider about the connection
- !If nothing helps, contact Google Nest support with the details of what you tried
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Wifi, bandwidth, restart, power and reset steps.
Setup wifi.
Speed needs.
Changing network.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What upload speed does a camera need?+
A camera needs about 5 Mbps of upload speed for 1080p video, so test yours.
Can an extender hurt?+
Yes, an extender can hurt if the camera joins a weak one instead of the main router.
Does the camera adjust quality?+
Yes, it lowers its video quality when the bandwidth drops, to keep the stream going.
Can walls block wifi?+
Yes, walls and other obstacles can block wifi, so keep the camera and router close.
How do I change network?+
You change the network in the Google Home app, in the settings for the device.
Can the router filter it?+
Yes, a router filter can block the camera, so check the router settings if it will not join.
What are Activity Zones?+
Activity Zones are areas of the view that you choose, so that alerts come only from movement in those spots.
What is Home and Away mode?+
It is a setting that changes what alerts you get, depending on whether someone is at home or the home is empty.
Where do I find the doorbell's model number?+
In the Google Home app under the device settings, and also on the label on the doorbell itself.
Who can share access to the doorbell?+
A home Admin can invite Members and other Admins, and each person then uses their own Google account.
What is familiar face detection?+
It is a subscription feature that recognizes people you have named, so alerts can say who is at the door.