Google Nest End Date: Support Has Ended for Dropcam & Nest Secure – What Owners Need to Know

The smart home landscape is constantly evolving, and sometimes, that means saying goodbye to older technology. Google has been consolidating its smart home efforts under the Google Home umbrella, leading to the discontinuation of support for some legacy Nest products. If you own an older Dropcam or the Nest Secure system, their time has officially come to an end.

As Google announced previously, April 8, 2024, marked the official end-of-support date for Dropcam, Dropcam Pro, and the entire Nest Secure ecosystem.

What Does “End of Support” Mean for These Devices?

Since April 8, 2024:

1. Non-Functional: Dropcam, Dropcam Pro, and Nest Secure devices (including Nest Guard, Nest Detect sensors, and Nest Tags) no longer connect to the internet or Google’s cloud services.
2. No Nest App Access: You can no longer use the Google Nest app to view camera streams, check the status of your Nest Secure system, arm/disarm the alarm, or receive notifications from these specific devices.
3. No Video Recording: Dropcam and Dropcam Pro stopped recording video history. Any previously recorded history should have been downloaded before this date, as access is no longer available.
4. No Updates: The devices will not receive any further software or security updates. Google explicitly does not recommend attempting to use Nest Secure going forward, even in any potential offline state, due to potential performance degradation.

Which Devices Were Affected?

• Dropcam (Original)
• Dropcam Pro
• Nest Secure System (Including Nest Guard hub/keypad, Nest Detect sensors, and Nest Tag key fobs)

Important Note for Nest x Yale Lock Owners:

If you were using the Nest Guard (part of the Nest Secure system) to connect your Nest x Yale Lock to Wi-Fi, that connection stopped working on April 8, 2024. To keep your lock connected to Wi-Fi and controllable via the app, you needed to replace the Nest Guard bridge functionality with a Nest Connect device before the deadline.

• Without a Nest Connect, the Nest x Yale Lock went offline and cannot be controlled via the app.
• The lock can still be operated using the physical keypad.
• Google sent emails to eligible users in January 2024 with instructions on how to receive a free Nest Connect. If you missed this and your lock is offline, you’ll need to acquire and set up a Nest Connect (potentially requiring a factory reset of the lock if done after the deadline).

What Did Google Offer Affected Users?

Leading up to the shutdown, Google reached out to eligible users with offers to ease the transition (Note: The redemption deadline for these offers was May 7, 2024):

• Dropcam/Dropcam Pro Users: An offer for a free new-generation Nest Cam (indoor, wired).
• Nest Secure Users: An offer for either a Self Setup System from ADT (valued up to $485) or a $200 credit for the Google Store.
• Nest Secure + Nest x Yale Lock Users: An offer for a free Nest Connect to maintain lock connectivity.

Check Your Nest Aware Subscription

If Dropcam or Nest Secure were the only devices linked to your Nest Aware subscription, the subscription was likely not cancelled automatically. You should review your subscriptions via home.nest.com or the Google Home app (if applicable) and cancel if it’s no longer needed to avoid unnecessary charges.

Why Did Google End Support?

Google cited the age of the Dropcam and Nest Secure hardware, making it challenging to integrate them securely and effectively into the modern Google Home ecosystem and provide ongoing updates. The move aligns with their strategy to unify smart home control under the Google Home app and platform, often involving partnerships like the one with ADT for security.

What To Do With Your Old Devices?

Don’t just toss them in the trash! Google offers a recycling program for its devices. You can visit their recycling page to get a free, postage-paid shipping label from their third-party partner to send your old Dropcam or Nest Secure components back responsibly.

The Future is Google Home

This move is part of a larger trend: Google is steadily migrating features and device support from the legacy Nest app to the unified Google Home app. While the Nest app still functions for many other devices currently, expect this transition to continue.

The era for Dropcam and Nest Secure has officially ended. As of April 8, 2024, these devices are no longer functional or supported. Owners should ensure they’ve explored alternatives, managed their Nest Aware subscriptions appropriately, and taken advantage of Google’s recycling program for their deactivated hardware.

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