The Nest thermostat smartly adjusts itself to your preferred temperatures, your home’s insulation, and the weather outside. Uses your phone’s location and built-in activity sensors to automatically avoid heating an empty home. Compatible with almost all individual heating systems (gas boilers, oil boilers, condensing boilers, heat pumps, underfloor heating, OpenTherm systems). Find more in Google Nest Learning Thermostat installation compatibility checker.
In the box for Google Nest Learning Thermostat installation compatibility checker
- Nest Thermostat display
- Nest Thermostat base
- Trim plate
- Steel plate
- Mounting screws and wire labels
- Nest screwdriver
- Installation Guide
- Welcome Guide
- Pro Installation Card
Nest Thermostat E
- Nest Thermostat display
- Nest Thermostat base
- Trim plate
- Mounting screws and wire labels
- Installation Guide
DIY 30 min project – Google Nest Learning Thermostat installation compatibility checker
What you will need:
A Philips head screwdriver. Nest thoughtfully provides one with the thermostat, though you may need a smaller screwdriver to remove the wires from your old thermostat.
Total project time: About 30 minutes.
Step 1 : Turn off power to your thermostat
Locate the appropriate circuit breaker, and switch it to the Off position.
Step 2 : Mark the wires with label
If your thermostat is labeled 120 or 240v, or has thick wires, you have a high-voltage system—do not connect these wires to the Nest.
Each wire coming out of the wall should go into a specific labeled port on your old thermostat (R, Y, W or G, for example). Attach the blue stickers in the Nest installation guide to the corresponding wire. If you’re lucky, the wires themselves will be color-coded.
Step 3: Old thermostat removal
Carefully remove the wires leading from the wall into the thermostat, and then unscrew the device from the wall.
Step 4: Nest position marking
Use a pencil to mark the two screw holes. Thread the wires through the center of the Nest base plate and, using the tiny bubble level, make sure the Nest is level.
Step 5: Trim plate installation (optional).
If you want to cover over the screw holes from the old thermostat, attach the trim plate in the bottom of the Nest box to the base plate.
Step 6: Nest Base attachment to the wall
Use the included screws and screwdriver to secure the base to the wall. Screw in the top screw first, but before tightening it, use the level to make sure the base is even.
Step 7 : Connect the wires to the Nest
A small tab will depress once the wire has been properly inserted. Insert the labeled wires into the corresponding ports on the Nest.
Step 8: Add the Nest display
With the port on the base plate, line up the small rectangular connector on the back of the display.
Step 9: Get back power on
Switch the circuit breaker to the On position.
Step 10: Establish Connection – Nest & Wi-Fi network
Be guided on the Nest’s display to find your wireless network and enter the password to connect. Follow on-screen setup instructions. These additional steps will make sure that the Nest’s firmware is up to date, you connected the wires properly, and lets the Nest know the type of power used for your heating system, and where in your house the Nest is located.
Step 11: Fix the temperature
Turn the Nest to set your desired temperature for when you’re home and away.
Step 12: Download the Nest mobile app
This smartphone app, available for Android and iOS devices, will let you monitor and control the Nest remotely. After a week or so, the Nest will learn your behavior – when you’re home and when you’re not–and should automatically adjust the temperature in your home. However, you can still turn it on and off remotely using a smartphone, or locally by turning the Nest’s dial.
Step 13: Integration with Smart Home devices
The Nest will work with a wide range of smart home products and systems, from smart hubs such as the Wink and Samsung SmartThings, to the Logitech Harmony remote control, to Amazon Alexa and Google Home, even to smart locks. Here’s a link to all of the Nest-compatible devices and services.
How to use Google Nest Learning Thermostat installation compatibility checker?
Google Nest thermostats are designed to work with most 24V systems, even older systems. They work with all common fuel types including natural gas, oil, and electricity.
Check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Compatibility Checker. Your system may work with either the Nest Thermostat E or the Nest Learning Thermostat, or only one of them.
The online Compatibility Checker has full instructions to see if your heating and cooling systems are compatible with Nest thermostats, but here is some additional information to help you as you use it.
How to turn your system’s power off
This protects you and avoids blowing a fuse in your equipment.
There may be a switch on your system or near your system that looks like a regular light switch. If your system doesn’t have a switch, turn off power to it at the breaker or fuse box.
Turn off power through breaker box or switch
How to test that system power is off
Change the temperature on your thermostat by at least 5 degrees.
If it’s winter, turn up the temperature to turn on heating.
If it’s summer and you have system cooling, turn down the temperature.
Wait at least 5 minutes to see if your system turns on (you’ll need to wait because many systems have a built-in delay).
Tip: You can listen for your system to turn on, or put your hand near a vent to feel if there’s warm or cool air coming through.
How to remove your thermostat’s cover
Some covers simply pull off, while others need to be unscrewed.
If you have an older thermostat there may be a mid-plate that also needs to be removed to expose the wires.
How to setup Thermostat?
Your Nest thermostat will guide you through a series of simple questions about your home, what temperatures you like, and your heating and cooling system. It will use this information to help keep you comfortable and help save you energy.
Turn your thermostat like a dial to highlight different options and press it like a button to choose one.
| Below are the things your thermostat will ask you about during setup. |
Homeowner or Pro
- If you installed your Nest thermostat yourself, select homeowner to answer a few questions about your heating and cooling system.
- Nest Pro has options that only trained professional installers should use for complex systems.
WARNING: Incorrect settings in Pro Setup can cause your HVAC system to malfunction and may damage it.
Dual fuel
If your system is a heat pump with an additional heat wire, you’ll be asked if your system is dual fuel or single fuel. If you have a dual fuel system, you will need to have a trained professional set up your thermostat. You can find a trained Nest Pro installer in your area with our online Pro finder.
Equipment detected
| Your thermostat will show you the wires it detects in its connectors. If there’s a wire missing, pull off the thermostat display and check that each wire is fully inserted into their connector, and that the connector button stays down. If you see a wiring error on your thermostat you’ll need to fix it before continuing. For specific troubleshooting steps, follow the link below and enter the code. Once you’ve confirmed the wiring is correct, your thermostat will ask some questions about your system, such as what kind of fuel it uses and what type of heating you have. |
Fuel Source
If you have a conventional system installed, your thermostat will ask about the fuel source for your heat and how that heat is delivered. The Nest thermostat uses this information to determine how to control your heating and cooling system.
If you know your fuel source, select it from the list. You can also choose I don’t know if you’re not sure. You can always go back later to change your fuel source in the Settings 
Equipment menu.
Type of heating
You may also be asked whether you have a forced air, in-floor radiant, or radiator system for heating.
Heat pump
If you have a heat pump, and there’s a wire in your thermostat’s O/B connector, your thermostat will ask if you have an O or B wire. Here’s how to choose, test and change your selection if needed.
- Choose O or B
- The only way to tell for sure if the wire is O or B is to check your heat pump’s manual. Look it up online or contact the manufacturer.
- Most systems have an O wire, so O is a good choice if you can’t tell.
Note: If you choose I Don’t Know, your thermostat will automatically select O.
- Test your system
Don’t worry if you make the wrong selection. Your Nest thermostat will ask you to run a system test at the end of setup. Don’t skip this important step and follow the instructions closely.- You’ll know that you’ve chosen the right O or B wire if your system behaves normally during the test.
- You’ve chosen the wrong wire if your system heats during the cooling test, or cools during the heating test. If you have only heat or only cooling, and you’ve chosen the wrong wire, then your system won’t heat or cool during the test.
- Change the setting if needed
- If you need to change the O/B wire setting, go back and change the O/B wire setting with your thermostat in Settings
EquipmentHeat Pump.
- If you need to change the O/B wire setting, go back and change the O/B wire setting with your thermostat in Settings
Your Account
Important things to know
- Add your thermostat to your account so you can finish setup with the app. When you’re done, you can control it with your phone, change settings remotely, get important notifications, and more.
- You’ll need to be at home near your thermostat to add it to your account. You can’t add it remotely.
- You’ll also need the latest version of the Nest app.The app will walk you through each step.
Get an entry key from your thermostat or scan the QR code
Simply follow the Nest app’s instructions to add your thermostat to your account.
If the app asks you to scan the QR code, use your phone’s camera.
Troubleshoot QR code scanning
How to add your thermostat after installation
Follow these instructions if:
- You want to connect your thermostat to your account after you’ve completed installation and setup.
- You needed to remove your thermostat from your account for some reason and want to add it back.
- Tap Settings on the Nest app home screen.
- Tap Add product. The app will switch to a camera view to scan the thermostat’s QR code.
- To get the QR code, go to your thermostat and press it to open the Quick View menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Turn the ring to select Nest app and press to open it.
- Select QR code. Your thermostat will show you a unique QR code to scan with the app.
on the Nest app home screen.Finish setup with the app
Once your thermostat is connected to your account, the Nest app will ask you a few more questions about setting a temperature schedule, and choosing your Eco Temperature.
Complete all the steps below to get started using your thermostat.