Google is finally rolling out a much-anticipated feature: temperature scheduling for the 3rd Generation and E models of Nest thermostats within the Google Home app. This update addresses the last significant reason many users continued to rely on the old Nest app, which was previously necessary for scheduling functionalities.
Although the new scheduling feature is live for some users, it’s important to note that the functionality is somewhat glitchy at the moment. Users experiencing issues can resolve many problems simply by clearing the cache of the Google Home app, allowing for a smoother user experience.
In April, Google made a controversial decision to discontinue support for several older Nest Thermostat models, ultimately encouraging users to upgrade to the latest 4th generation model. Fortunately, the popular Gen 3 and E models were exempt from this change, sparing many users from a forced upgrade. In a move to further enhance user experience, Google announced it would add scheduling support for these existing models to the Google Home app, addressing a significant concern for many.
Although Google did not provide a specific timeline for the rollout of these scheduling functions, users have recently noted that the feature is now available. As a user of the Gen 3 Nest Thermostat, I discovered that the Google Home app now allows me to set specific temperatures for various times throughout the day. Additionally, users can choose which sensors to use for temperature readings and configure a minimum runtime for the fan each hour. The main page even provides an at-a-glance view of the day's schedule.
Despite the excitement surrounding this new functionality, there are some downsides. For instance, the schedule created in the old Nest app did not transfer over to the Google Home app. When I tried to add a new temperature setting and then backed out, my previous schedule from the Nest app momentarily reappeared before disappearing again, while the new temperature setting vanished as well. Thankfully, these glitches are generally easy to fix—clearing the cache of the Home app and relaunching it typically resolves these issues, allowing users to see their old schedule restored.
If you own a Gen 3 or E Nest thermostat, it’s worth checking your Google Home app to see if the new scheduling functions are available for your device. We encourage you to share your experience in the comments section and let us know if you are enjoying the new features!
This article has been updated to reflect that the scheduling functionality is currently experiencing some glitches and that clearing the app cache appears to rectify most of these issues.
