A wired Nest Doorbell whose automations do not run, such as a light that should come on when someone is at the door or a speaker announcement that never plays, has a chain of conditions to check, and the doorbell is one link. The 2nd-generation wired Nest Doorbell connects to the existing doorbell wiring and a compatible transformer, with no battery, giving 24-hour operation. It identifies people, packages, animals and vehicles on the device, with some alerts and the event history requiring a Nest Aware subscription,
The checks in more detail
and it is managed in the Google Home app on 2.4 or 5 gigahertz Wi-Fi. Start with the doorbell's own state. In the Google Home app check that it is online and that live view works. A wired doorbell that drops offline is often a power or a Wi-Fi problem: check that the transformer supplies enough power, since a weak transformer or a missing chime kit leads to resets, and move the router or add a Wi-Fi extender if the signal at the door is weak.
Check the doorbell's notification and detection settings, so that the events you want, such as a doorbell press, a person or a package, are on, and that no Home and Away routine is turning the camera off. Then look at the automation. In Automations, check the starter: a doorbell press is basic and free, but starters such as a familiar face or a package detection may need Nest Aware. Check that the conditions, such as time of day or who is home, are met.
Check the action: that the light, the speaker or the thermostat that it controls is online and linked in the Home app, and that the action is one the device supports. Test with a doorbell press, watching the app's history. Make sure that the routine is created in the right home and that members have permission, since a routine made by another member may run only for them. If the routine ran only once, delete and recreate it. Update the Home app and the doorbell's software. Contact Google support with the doorbell model if the problem persists.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nest Doorbell routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The doorbell offline or underpowered
What separates it Resets or a dead doorbell
How to confirm Check the transformer, the chime and the Wi-Fi
- 2
Detection or notifications off
What separates it The starter never fires
How to confirm Turn on the event types
- 3
A starter that needs Nest Aware
What separates it A familiar-face or package starter does nothing
How to confirm Subscribe or use a doorbell press starter
- 4
Conditions not met
What separates it The routine runs at the wrong time or never
How to confirm Check time, members and home status
- 5
An action device offline
What separates it The routine starts but nothing happens
How to confirm Check the devices the action uses
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- What the routine should do
- Whether live view works
- Whether Nest Aware is active
- The Wi-Fi signal at the door
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCheck live view
ReversibleThe doorbell is online.
Check power
ReversibleTransformer and chime.
Check detection
ReversibleEvent types on.
Check the starter
ReversiblePress, person or package.
Check the action
ReversibleDevice online.
Recreate and update
ReversibleThe routine and the app.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Wired power
- The doorbell relies on its transformer.
- Event types
- Doorbell press, person and package differ.
- Nest Aware
- History and some alerts need it.
- Routines
- Starters, conditions and actions.
- Members
- Permissions limit routines.
- Google help
- Quote the doorbell model.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Switch off the doorbell breaker before touching wires
- !Do not remove the chime kit without advice
- !Contact an electrician for transformer problems
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my doorbell automation not run?+
The doorbell is offline, a setting is off or the starter needs Nest Aware.
Does the wired doorbell need a transformer?+
Yes, a compatible one.
Does the history need a subscription?+
Yes, Nest Aware.
Is a doorbell press a basic starter?+
Yes.
Can another member's routine fail?+
It may run only for them.