To turn off a Google Nest camera, open the Google Home app, tap the camera to open its live view, and tap the Turn off (power) button, or tap the camera, open Settings, and switch the camera off. When it’s off, the camera stops streaming, recording, and sending alerts. To turn it off automatically when you’re home, set up Home & Away Routines or a schedule, and unplug a wired camera if you want it fully powered down.
This guide covers every way to turn off a Nest camera or doorbell, including the Google Home app, the older Nest app, automatic schedules, presence-based routines, and physical power, plus what “off” actually means for privacy and what to do if the button is missing. Google changes its apps often, so labels may vary slightly by app version and camera model.
What happens when you turn off a Nest camera
- The camera stops streaming live video and stops recording video history.
- You won’t get motion, person, or sound alerts.
- The status light turns off, so it’s clear to people in the room that the camera isn’t watching.
- The camera stays connected to Wi-Fi, so you can turn it back on from the app at any time.
- Doorbells still ring your chime when someone presses the button on most models, but they don’t record while turned off.
Method 1: Turn off a Nest camera in the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the Devices tab (or find the camera on the Favorites tab) and tap your camera.
- In the live view, tap the Turn off or power button below the video. Some versions show a Camera off toggle instead.
- To turn it back on, open the camera again and tap Turn on.
You can also turn off several cameras at once: on the Devices or Favorites tab, tap the Cameras space or filter and use the on/off control shown there, if your app version has it.
Method 2: Turn off a camera in the Nest app
Older cameras that haven’t moved to the Google Home app are still controlled in the Nest app.
- Open the Nest app and tap the camera.
- Tap the camera on/off switch at the bottom of the live view, or tap Settings (gear icon) and turn off Camera on/off.
Method 3: Turn the camera off on a schedule
A schedule is handy if you only want indoor cameras on while you’re at work or asleep.
- In the Google Home app, open the camera and tap Settings.
- Look for Camera on/off, Scheduled on/off, or similar options under the camera or its video settings.
- Set the times the camera should turn off and on, and choose the days.
If your camera model or app version doesn’t offer a schedule, you can create a household routine in the Google Home app’s Automations tab with a time-based starter and a camera action, if the camera supports that action.
Method 4: Turn off automatically when you’re home
- In the Google Home app, tap Settings > Home & away routines (or open the Automations tab and choose the Home and Away presets).
- In the Home routine, set your cameras to turn off. In the Away routine, set them to turn on.
- Make sure presence sensing is on and everyone in the household has joined the home and allowed phone location, so the app knows when the last person leaves.
Method 5: Unplug the camera
For a wired indoor camera, unplugging the power adapter shuts it down completely. Keep in mind that the app may send you an “offline” alert, and some newer battery cameras keep running on battery when unplugged. Battery-powered cameras don’t have a power button; use the app to turn them off, or remove the battery-powered camera from its mount and store it.
Turn off just the microphone or notifications
- Microphone only – in the camera’s settings, open audio or Microphone and turn off audio recording, so the camera still records video without sound.
- Alerts only – in the camera’s settings, open Notifications and turn off the alert types you don’t want, while leaving recording on.
Need a clean start? See how to reset a Google Nest camera.
Related: charging a Nest Cam battery.
Troubleshooting
- No on/off button – update the Google Home app, and check whether you’re a member of the home with permission to control devices. Some home members may have limited access.
- Camera turns itself back on – check for a schedule, Home & Away routine, or another household member’s routine.
- Camera shows offline instead of off – it lost Wi-Fi or power. Check the power cable, restart your router, and move the router or camera closer if needed.
Related: turn on the camera on a Google Nest Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my voice to turn off a Nest camera?
On some setups, you can ask Google Assistant or Gemini on a smart display or speaker to turn a camera on or off by name. Support depends on your camera model and assistant.
Does turning off the camera stop my Nest Aware subscription?
No. Turning off a camera doesn’t pause billing. Manage your subscription in the Google Home app or on the Google Store website.
Can someone else turn my camera back on?
Anyone who’s a member of your home in the Google Home app with device control can turn cameras on. Review members in Settings > Household.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.