How To Turn Off a Nest Thermostat Motion Sensor (step-by-step)

There are several reasons you may need to turn off your Nest Thermostat motion sensor.

However, no matter why you need to turn it off, you can do so without even having to get up off the couch. 

Here’s how you can turn off a Nest Thermostat motion sensor:

1. Connect your Nest Thermostat to the Google Home app.
2. Modify the motion sensor’s settings in the Google Home app.
3. Connect Using the Nest App.
4. Modify the motion sensor’s settings in the Nest app.
5. Migrate your Nest app to Google.
6. Remove account or reset your Nest to factory defaults.

In this article, I’ll explain these steps in further detail. I’ll also offer some other ways you can use to have complete control over your Nest Thermostat. 

1. Connect Your Nest Thermostat to the Google Home App

The Google Home app will be the easiest and quickest way to modify any settings or features for your Nest.

First, you’ll need to add your Nest Thermostat to your Google Home app if you haven’t already.

The steps are as follows:

1. Install the Nest onto the wall and power it up.
2. Use the ring around the outside of the Nest device to rotate through options.
3. Select your preferred language by depressing or clicking the Nest unit itself.
4. Select the name of your internet connection and put in the details.
5. Open the Google Home App and click Add.
6. Your Nest device should be listed, so click it to save it to your device list.

Watch this YouTube video to get a visual guide to this: 

If this was unsuccessful, you can try using the QR code that comes on your Nest device’s rear panel.

Use a QR code-compatible scanner such as a phone camera, and this will activate the installation and setup process in the Google Home app.

If this fails, you can enter the code manually.

The code is listed next to the QR code on the rear of the device.

2. Modify the Motion Sensor’s Settings in the Google Home App

Once you’ve successfully connected your device to the Google Home app, turning off the motion sensor via the app is pretty straightforward.

Open up the Google Home app and follow these steps:

1. Select your Nest device from the list of devices. 
2. Click on the gear or on the Settings icon.
3. Select Notifications, turn all to off.

Once these notifications have been set, you can leave the app and finish the configuration.

3. Connect Using the Nest App

The alternative to the Google Home app is to use the Nest app.

The Google Home app has a lot more functionality, but that’ll also work if you want to use the Nest app.

Follow these steps to connect your Nest device to the Nest app:

1. Press your thermostat’s ring to open the Quick View menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Nest App.
4. Select Get Entry Key.
5. At this point, you will be given a unique entry key that should be seven characters long.
6. Open the Nest app and select Add Product.
7. When prompted, enter your unique key, and it should be connected.

You can check out this guide from How-To Geek if you want some more information, including pictures of the various steps.

4. Modify the Motion Sensor’s Settings in the Nest App

Once you’ve added the Nest device to your Nest app, open up the app, and the configuration process is similar to the Google Home app:

1. Find the gear icon up the top right and then click on settings.
2. Click on Security.
3. Find your Nest Thermostat device and tap on it
4. Tap on Motion Detection.
5. Swipe the toggle switch off (gray is off, blue is on).

You may find that the Nest app doesn’t work with all versions of the Nest devices.

5. Migrate Your Nest App to Google

If you were previously using the Nest app, you may find some functionality has stopped due to Google wanting to phase out the Nest app as of 2019.

However, regaining this functionality is pretty simple, and all you need to do is move over to the Google Home app.

Open up the Nest app and go into Settings, then you can click Migrate to a Google Account.

Follow the onscreen prompts, and then you’ll be done.

6. Remove Account or Reset Your Nest to Factory Defaults

If you’re having issues connecting to your Nest, or you’re taking over someone else’s installed Nest, you can try a factory reset to gain access to all the functions.

You should always try powering down the Nest and then reinitializing it if it’s not functioning correctly.

If you’re still in contact with the previous occupant, contact them and have them remove the thermostat from the Google Home or Nest app.

First, open up the Google Home app and then follow these steps:

1. Tap your device and then go into Settings.
2. Select Remove device, and then confirm the removal.

Keep in mind that these steps will disconnect the device from all members in your Google Home app and unlink the device from your Google account.

This also means that associated data will be deleted, such as video history, doorbell camera footage, and other presets.

If this still won’t give you access to the Nest device, then perform a physical factory reset on the Nest:

1. Open up the settings menu on the Nest by turning the outside ring.
2. Tap to select Settings by pushing on the button of the Nest itself.
3. Select Factory Reset and confirm your choice.

The device will run through its reset procedure and then should come back to default.

From here, you can follow the above-listed steps per steps one and two to connect to your device using the Google Home app.

Final Thoughts

Connecting to your Nest Thermostat and modifying settings is best done via the Google Home app.

This not only offers the convenience of remote adjustments but offers the total convenience of all features from devices like your phone or computer.