Those of you who own a Nest smart device can control it with your voice through Google Assistant - unsurprisingly given Nest is owned by Google - but also via Amazon's Alexa.

That's right. The Google Nest skill allows Nest devices to work with Alexa's voice controls. For instance, you can ask Alexa to change the temperature of your home if you have the Nest Learning Thermostat, or ask her to show video from your Nest Hello doorbell if you have an Echo Show.

Here's how to connect your Nest devices and control them with Alexa.

What do you need?

You, of course, need a Nest device that supports Alexa, as well as the Amazon Alexa app and a mobile device to run the Amazon Alexa app.

You also need an Alexa-enabled device, such as an Amazon Echo speaker or third-party Alexa speaker for processing your voice commands.

You can also use the Amazon shopping app or Amazon Alexa app to process voice commands, as both have built-in Alexa and can work over LTE and not just Wi-Fi.

Which Nest devices work with Alexa?

The following Nest devices support Alexa's voice controls:

  • Nest Thermostat E
  • Nest Learning Thermostat (all generations)
  • Nest Cam Outdoor
  • Nest Cam Indoor
  • Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
  • Nest Cam IQ Indoor
  • Nest Hello
  • Nest Hub Max

How to connect your Next devices to Alexa

To get you properly started, we recommend reading our "How to set-up an Alexa smart home" guide. It has everything you need to know about Amazon's Alexa platform and how it is able to control smart home devices, including Nest's devices. However, to keep things simple, we'll summarise all the specifics you need to know about Nest devices and how to connect them and control them with Alexa.

So, because of Google Nest's Alexa skill and integration, there's no need to go to your Nest thermostat or find your phone to control a Nest device. All you have to do is speak a supported command, which we've listed below, and tell Alexa what you want your Nest device to do.

First though, you need to connect your Nest devices to the Amazon Alexa app. You can do this by enabling the Google Nest skill.

Enable the Google Nest Alexa skill

  1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
  2. Scroll down to 'Browse Skills' and tap on it
  3. Use the search icon in the top right corner to search for Google Nest
  4. Tap on the Google Nest skill and select 'Enable to Use'
  5. Enter your Google Nest account credentials to link your account.
  6. Toggle on the 'Turn on access to your home's information'
  7. Select all the Nest devices you have that you want to control with Alexa from the list
  8. Tap on 'Next'
  9. Choose the account you want to use
  10. Tap on 'Allow'
  11. Tap 'Close'
  12. Then tap on 'Discover Devices'.

Note: You need to be the owner of the Nest device (which you designate in your Nest account) to set up the Alexa-Nest connection. Those who have shared access, via Nest Family Accounts, cannot set up Alexa-enabled products to work with Nest.

Check your Nest device's name

There's a catch to the whole Alexa-Nest voice command thing to be aware of. Wherever you see "[thermostat name]" or "[camera name]" in the voice command examples below, you need to say the location assigned to your Nest device in the Nest app. If the location is "kitchen", for instance, you need to say that.

To check which location you assigned to your device, open the Nest app or Google Home app on your mobile device. Look for your Nest device in the list and check which room it has been assigned to. The room will appear above the section in which your Nest device is in.

Note: You choose a name for a Nest device when you first get the device and set it up with the Nest app or Google Home app. If you need to know more about how to change the name of your Nest device after the fact, see this Nest guide.

How to control your Nest devices using Alexa

With Google Nest's support for Alexa, you can control your Nest devices while you're out or at home. Again, there's no need to go to your Nest device or find your phone.

You just need to ensure your Nest device is powered on and connected to Alexa, and that you are within hearing range of an Alexa-enabled device.

If so, just speak one of these commands:

Nest thermostat commands

  • Alexa, what's the temperature in [thermostat name]?
  • Alexa, what's the temperature in the house?
  • Alexa, what temperature is my [thermostat name] set to?
  • Alexa, set the [thermostat name] temperature to _ degrees.
  • Alexa, change the [thermostat name] to _ degrees.
  • Alexa, turn my [thermostat name] temperature to _ degree.
  • Alexa, decrease the [thermostat name] temperature.
  • Alexa, increase the [thermostat name] by _ degrees.
  • Alexa, make my [thermostat name] warmer by _ degrees.

Note: If you ask Alexa to change the temperature without saying by how much, it will change by 2F degrees (1C degree).

Nest camera commands

  • Alexa, show the [camera name].
  • Alexa, show feed from the [camera name].
  • Alexa, show [camera name] feed.
  • Alexa, hide the [camera name].
  • Alexa, hide feed from the [camera name].
  • Alexa, hide the [camera name] feed.

Note: You need an Alexa-enabled device with a screen, such as the Echo Show, to view your Nest camera's feed.

Want to know more?

We have more detailed instructions in our guide, but you can also go to the Amazon help hub for more information. Lastly, if you want to know more about the Amazon Alexa app itself, including what all the different screens mean and all their buried features, go here.