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Nest Doorbell Not Ringing or Keeps Ringing

Upgrading from a standard doorbell to a Nest Hello doorbell is a good investment for those who want the added security of a video camera and a doorbell’s convenience that can talk to other devices. But at the end of the day, a doorbell’s main job is to alert when someone is at the door and when the ringing functionality stops working as intended, that’s a pretty big problem! So, why might a Nest doorbell not ring or ring constantly? 

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing or Keeps Ringing

A Nest doorbell may not ring because of miswiring, a weak or malfunctioning doorbell transformer, or settings have been changed by someone in the household. On the other hand, a Nest doorbell may keep ringing due to miswiring during installation.

Dropping almost $200 on a doorbell and it not functioning well at its main job is undoubtedly frustrating, but we will try to help you troubleshoot the issue as well as the various other chime related problems. Keep reading if you’d like to solve your Nest Hello related issues.

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Both Inside and Outside: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Both Inside and Outside: Causes/How to Fix

Aside from the HQ camera, Nest doorbells are meant to alert the home person that someone is at the door. You can use the doorbell either on its own, or you can connect it to your phone and smart speakers. Whatever the case, when the chime button is pressed, both the person outside and the person inside get audio feedback.

The doorbell’s basic functionality should work fine; however, there are cases when either the doorbell was installed improperly or isn’t getting enough power.

First, check to see if the breaker is supplying power to the doorbell. During installation, you are supposed to leave the power breaker off for safety purposes. It can be easy to forget to switch it back on, and so if you are a new Nest user, it’s worth a check!

But if you have confirmed that the Nest Hello is receiving power and it still isn’t chiming, it’s time to move on to other troubleshooting methods. 

Is Your Doorbell Transformer Compatible?

Before acquiring a Nest Hello, the first rule of thumb is to ensure that your doorbell’s transformer meets the minimum amount of power but isn’t too powerful. Your transformer needs to be between 16v – 24v and at least 10 VA. Most doorbell systems meet this requirement, but there are outliers, such as old homes that have not had their doorbell systems updates for a while. 

If you need to upgrade your doorbell’s transformer, you can pick up one on Amazon for cheap and do it yourself if you are confident in doing it. This 24V Thermostat and Doorbell Transformer is more than powerful enough to handle the Nest Hello. On top of it, you can also use multiple thermostats with it. Remember to do this job safely. 

We have linked a video below to show you how to upgrade your doorbell system’s transformer:

Front Gate Control and Intercom Systems Are Generally Not Compatible With Nest Hello

If you already have an advanced doorbell system with gate control, built-in intercom, or a doorbell that’s outside of a gate, Nest Hello is likely not to be compatible with these systems. However, you can use an indoor power adapter to get around this limitation. 

Check the Doorbell Wires

Sometimes the doorbell wires may not be secured properly and can come loose. You can examine the wires by removing the Nest with the release tool (or a thumbtack) and re-tightening the screws. 

Check Your Chime Settings in the App

Suppose you live in a multi-person household where multiple people have access to the Nest doorbell via the app. Someone might have changed the settings if your Nest was previously working fine beforehand. 

In the app, navigate Settings > Nest Hello > Check the quiet time setting > Check chime duration.

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Inside: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Inside: Causes/How to Fix

If you are not hearing your Nest doorbell ring inside but can hear it outside, check the Nest app settings. Navigate  Settings > Nest Hello > Check the quiet time setting > Check chime duration.

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing on Google Home: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing on Google Home: Causes/How to Fix

One of the best features about the Nest Hello doorbell is that you can connect it to smart speakers, or in this case, Google home to alert you when someone is at the door. This is useful if you are in another room and/or there is a lot of noise that would otherwise obstruct the chime sound. 

If your Google Home speaker and Nest Hello are working fine but just aren’t talking to each other, the issue is likely that the system needs to be set up properly.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 30, 2020.

  1. Install both the Nest App and Google Home App on Your Phone.
  2. Add the Nest Doorbell to the Home App.
  3. Turn on visitor announcements in the Nest app navigate: Settings > Visitor Announcements.

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing on Phone: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing on Phone: Causes/How to Fix

If your Nest doorbell isn’t ringing on your phone, but otherwise works. The issue is probably settings that have been changed, or you still need to set it up. On the Nest app, Navigate Settings > Visitor Announcements and enable the feature on your phone. 

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Chime: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Ringing Chime: Causes/How to Fix

Suppose your Nest doorbell is not emitting a chime. Ensure your doorbell’s transformer is powerful to support the Nest hello. It needs to be between 16v – 24v and at least 10 VA. It’s also possible that the wiring isn’t secure. If they are loose, you can tighten them by removing the Nest Hello with the included release tool and re-tighten the screws.

Nest Doorbell Won’t Stop Ringing: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Won’t Stop Ringing: Causes/How to Fix

If your Nest doorbell doesn’t stop ringing, it could be due to Mis-wiring of the chime during installation. If you are unsure how to rewire the system properly (it can differ depending on your doorbell system), contact a local pro. 

Nest Doorbell Not Announcing: Causes/How to Fix

Nest Doorbell Not Announcing: Causes/How to Fix

If the Nest doorbell isn’t announcing who is at the door, you can try to unlink and relink your nest account in the Google Assistant app. To do this in the Google Assistant App, navigate: Settings > Home control > Manage accounts > Unlink and then relink.

Remember that you have to have Google Assistant downloaded on your phone for the announce feature to work. Additionally, this feature requires a subscription to Nest Aware, which costs $6 a month. If you haven’t subscribed yet, it is recommended to do so. It may seem silly to keep paying for a product that you already bought, but you aren’t getting the most out of the product without Nest Aware. 

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 30, 2020.

There are two tiers of Nest aware; the first is the standard service, which is $6 a month; you’ll get 30 days of event video history; the other is Nest Aware Plus, which is $12 a month and includes 60 days of video event history + 10 days of 24/7 video history.

The standard subscription is going to be fine for most people, so don’t feel too pressured to go a tier up if you don’t want to swing the cash for it. 

Nest Doorbell Keeps Ringing

If your Nest doorbell keeps ringing, it could be due to a wiring issue, such as a short circuit or loose connection. Check the wiring connections at both the doorbell and the chime. Ensure that all wires are securely connected and that there is no visible damage to the wires. If you find a loose wire, tighten it, and if there’s visible damage, the wire may need to be replaced.

Another reason for continuous ringing could be a malfunctioning chime connector, which is part of the doorbell setup. The chime connector ensures the doorbell and existing chime communicate correctly. If it’s incorrectly installed or faulty, it can cause the doorbell to ring continuously. Double-check the installation of the chime connector against the Nest’s installation guide, and if it seems defective, it may need to be replaced.

In some cases, the issue may be related to the voltage being supplied to the doorbell. If the voltage is too high or too low, it can cause the doorbell to behave erratically. Use a multimeter to check the voltage at the doorbell’s wiring to ensure it aligns with the Nest doorbell’s requirements. Adjustments to the transformer or wiring may be necessary to provide the correct voltage.

Final Thoughts

Suppose your nest doorbell is having problems with its ringing and alerts. It could come down to many things, although it is easier to narrow down the cause depending on the specific case. If you continue to have problems with your Nest Hello, we recommend calling a professional to look at your doorbell setup or contact Google if you are still within your two-year warranty.

Related Articles

Nest Doorbell Won’t Power On

Nest Doorbell Won’t Connect to WiFi/Bluetooth

Nest Doorbell Microphone / Sound / Voice / Speaker Not Working

Nest Doorbell Does Not Play / Show / Record Video

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 30, 2020.

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