To fix a frozen or unresponsive Nest thermostat, try Restart first. It keeps your settings. A factory reset erases personal settings and requires setup again, so save it for a transfer of ownership or a specific troubleshooting step. The menu differs by model: newer thermostats list Restart directly under Settings; older Learning models and Thermostat E use Settings, then Reset.
Find the right restart menu
- Nest Thermostat or Learning Thermostat, 4th generation: open Settings, choose Restart, and confirm.
- Thermostat E or Learning Thermostat, 3rd generation or earlier: open Settings, choose Reset, then Restart.
Wait for it to finish before testing the original problem again. If the screen is blank or shows a power error, use Google's troubleshooting for that error rather than assuming a reset will fix it.
If the screen is frozen
Use a manual restart only when you can't use the menu. Google's method depends on the model:
- Learning Thermostat or Thermostat E: press and hold the display until it turns off, about 10 seconds. Then press and release the ring to restart.
- Nest Thermostat: follow Google's battery removal and restart instructions for this model.
A manual restart can lose unsaved changes. It isn't the same procedure on every Nest, so check the model before following a button sequence from another guide.
Before a factory reset
Save the equipment settings, wire setup information, schedules, and safety temperatures shown in the menus. Make sure you can sign into the account you'll use for setup. If you're handing the thermostat to someone else, follow Google's account removal instructions too.
A forgotten PIN or a heating fault isn't a reason to erase everything blindly. Use the relevant Google troubleshooter or contact support first.
Factory reset by model
- Nest Thermostat or Learning Thermostat, 4th generation: Settings, then Factory Reset.
- Thermostat E or Learning Thermostat, 3rd generation or earlier: Settings, then Reset, then All Settings. Follow Google's account removal steps before resetting.
Confirm only when you're ready to set it up again. Follow the prompts for your model and its app. Once setup is complete, check the heating or cooling mode, schedule, and safety temperatures.