In summary
- First- and second-generation Google Nest Learning Thermostat support ended on 25 October
- All smart features removed, but devices safe to use
- Reddit user working on a method to restore all features
It’s the nightmare scenario that many of us dread. You’ve kitted out your smart home with loads of intelligent tech, only for a key component to stop being supported.
For owners of the first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats, that became a reality recently. As Google announced earlier this year, the company officially ended support for its smart thermostats from 2011 and 2012 on 25 October.
Despite well over a decade of updates, many people are understandably frustrated. Replacing a smart thermostat can be a long, tedious and time-consuming process, before you even get to the inevitable learning curve of a newer model.
But before you get your screwdriver out, there’s good news.
Unlike mobile devices and laptops, it’s perfectly safe to use a smart thermostat after support has ended. Sure, you’ll have to make do without any remote features via the Nest or Home apps, including remote controls, notifications and other cloud-based features. Essentially, it turns your smart thermostat into a ‘dumb’ one, but also one which can’t succumb to bugs or other malware.
Of course, this isn’t what you bought it for, but the Nest community might soon have a workaround. On 31 October, Reddit user ‘ckociemba’ posted to say that they would restore all the features that have been removed “in the next few days”. The only difference is that it will be via a website instead of the Nest or Google apps, but they say that a mobile app could be on the horizon “if there is enough traction”.
Ckociemba has also put a call out to anyone with an existing Nest with Home Assistant setup who would be willing to help with the testing process. If that’s you, you can contact them via Discord.
There’s no guarantee that a project from a single Reddit user with no track record will come to fruition. But if it does materialise, it could turn your expired, dumb Nest Thermostat into a fully functioning one once again.
