Users of Google Home are currently facing significant issues with certain voice commands intended for Nest Thermostats. A common challenge arises with commands like “turn off the thermostat,” which the system struggles to recognize. Ironically, the system often prompts users to repeat the very command they just issued. Furthermore, alternatives that are less intuitive, such as “set the thermostat to off,” have become the only reliable options for users.
This inconsistency poses a threat to existing smart home automations, particularly those that depend on these commands. In April 2023, Google announced it would discontinue support for the first and second generations of the Nest Learning Thermostat by the end of the fourth quarter of this year. As of October 25, 2025, these thermostats will no longer receive software updates. After this date, owners of the first (2011) and second generations (2012, 2014) will still be able to manually adjust their home temperatures, but remote control via the Google Home app or Google Assistant will cease to function.
This change effectively renders well-functioning hardware less capable and limited in functionality. Although this deprecation has not yet taken effect, a recent shift in Nest Thermostat voice commands has already stirred concern among users. One Reddit user, NSuave, reported that their Nest thermostat fails to register typical conversational commands like “turn off the nest.” A similar experience was noted on their third-generation thermostat, as the command issued to a Nest Hub yielded an error message instructing them to restate the command they had just spoken.
Additional feedback from users indicates a broader issue. Some have found that they must refer to their thermostat by its specific name in the app to elicit a response. This problem could disrupt automations tied to the command “turn off the thermostat,” such as those that close smart blinds to mitigate unwanted heat. If Google Home is unable to comprehend this preliminary command, such automations may not trigger as intended.
Are you encountering similar challenges with your smart home commands? We invite you to share your experiences in the comments.
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