How to Transfer Nest to a New Owner

Smart home devices like the Nest thermostat work best when they are paired to work with a Google Home / Nest Home account. But what happens when you move houses, can you leave the Nest for the new owner?

Yes, you can transfer the Nest to the new homeowner. I’ll go through how you can transfer the Nest from the original owner to the new device owner.

Although the Nest thermostat range can work on its own being linked to an account, most product owners utilize this feature because of the added functionality an account offers.

Setting up an account and linking your Google Nest thermostat to it allows Nest Home owners to access enhanced functions like:

Home/Away Assist
Notifications on your phone through the Nest app

Remotely control your HVAC system

So there’s plenty of reasons why the new homeowner will want the full Nest smart home experience, but will also need their own personal settings.

If you need to pass your thermostat to a new owner or want to change the registration details for any other reason, then you will need to remove the existing account from the Nest first.

This can be done by removing the device from your account. Depending on the circumstances you may also want to reset the thermostat back to its default settings.

These steps cover the Nest thermostat range: Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen), Google Nest Thermostat E, and the Google Nest Thermostat.

Read more about Nest smart thermostats: ecobee vs Nest

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Remove a Nest Thermostat From Nest Account

In this section, I will detail the steps required to remove a Nest thermostat from an account.

Step 1 – Log on to your Nest account, this can be either using the app or the Nest Web Portal.
Step 2 – If you have one or more homes with Nest Products, you will be prompted to select a home in the App Home Screen. Select the one that contains the Nest you want to deregister.

Step 3 – Select the Settings option
Step 4 – Select the Nest you want to deregister
Step 5 – Select the option Remove Nest Thermostat

Step 6 – When prompted, confirm that you want to remove the Nest Thermostat

The device will now be removed from your account. When deregistered, it will still function, but you will no longer be able to access features like remote access. In some cases, this may be all you have to do.

One instance where this may apply is if you are setting up a new Nest account for yourself and want to transfer the thermostat to this account. Simply deregistering your account in these circumstances means your thermostat will still be able to:

Maintain the temperature in your home
Allow you to heat the home using existing schedules or manually
Use its motion sensors to determine whether to switch to eco-mode

Connect to your wi-fi network.

Full functionality will be available once you pair the thermostat with your new Nest account.

If you prefer to leave the thermostat in this state, then it will still be able to receive software updates and communicate with Nest’s servers.

If you prefer to disable updates, then you should disconnect your thermostat from your Wi-Fi network.

However, in instances where you are not going to use your thermostat again, for example, if it is going to a new home or owner, then resetting the Nest and device settings to factory default is recommended.

How to Factory Reset a Nest Thermostat

Performing such a reset will remove all user settings and schedules. That includes any learned behaviors and habits from you. This will allow a new owner to reconfigure the thermostat from scratch, including registration details and scheduling.

To reset the Nest thermostat to factory defaults, follow the steps detailed below.

Step 1 – Access the Quick View menu on the thermostat by pressing the thermostat ring.
Step 2 – Select the Settings option

Step 3 – Using the ring navigate to the Reset option
Step 4 – Select All Settings

Once you have confirmed the steps, the Nest thermostat will reset itself back to its original factory basic settings. You can now safely pass it on to a new owner without worrying about your information being on it.

Registering your Nest Thermostat

Registering or re-registering a deregistered thermostat to a Google account is a simple process. Follow the steps below to accomplish this.

1. Connect your Nest to the Wi-Fi network

The first step is to get your thermostat online by connecting it to your Wi-Fi network.

Step 1 – Press the thermostat ring to bring up the Quick View menu.

Step 2 – Select the Settings option (it is a gear-shaped icon)
Step 3 – Select the Network option and wait for the thermostat to scan for networks
Step 4 – Select your home Wi-Fi network from the list and enter the password if required

Your Nest thermostat should now be connected to your Wi-Fi network.

2. Download and install the Nest app

Once your thermostat is connected to your Wi-Fi network, the next step is to install the Nest app on a smartphone or tablet. The app is available from either the Android or Apple app stores.

Alternatively, you can access the same features from the Nest Web Portal.

3. Create a Google account in the app or browser

If you don’t already have a Google account, then you will need to set one up at this stage. This can be done by following the Sign-Up link in the app or by following the sign-in with Google link on the web portal and following the instructions to create an account.

To set up an account, you will need to provide a valid email address and set a password. Once you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to verify that the email address is valid.

4. Add the thermostat to your Nest account

To add a thermostat to your Nest account, you will need to get an entry key from the thermostat. To get the key use the following steps.

Step 1 – Press the Thermostat ring to access the Quick View menu
Step 2 – Select Settings
Step 3 – Use the ring to navigate to Nest App and press the ring to select it

Step 4 – Choose Get Entry Key an entry key will now be displayed on the screen

The next step is to use this key to add the thermostat to your Nest account. This can be done from either the app or the web portal, and can be achieved using the following steps.