Nest Thermostat Gaining Apple HomeKit Support Starting Today via Matter

[MacRumors]

Google today announced it will begin rolling out Matter support for the Nest Thermostat model released in 2020. Notably, this means the smart thermostat can now be controlled with Apple's Home app and Siri on the iPhone and other devices.

In a blog post, Google said Matter support will be rolling out to the Nest Thermostat with an automatic over-the-air software update starting today, and the rollout will be completed over the next few weeks. Matter is a universal smart home standard that supports Apple's HomeKit, Google's Home, Amazon's Alexa, Samsung's SmartThings, and other smart home platforms all in one, meaning the Nest finally supports HomeKit.

In the Home app, users can adjust the Nest Thermostat's temperature, change the thermostat's mode, and more, according to Google. The Verge notes that iPhone users will need to be updated to iOS 16.4 or later in order to take advantage of this functionality.

Google is "exploring" adding Matter support to older Nest thermostats, according to The Verge, but they remain incompatible with HomeKit for now.

Article Link: Nest Thermostat Gaining Apple HomeKit Support Starting Today via Matter

 

[jayhawk2112]

Anyone have any idea how to tell if your Nest is new enough to be compatible?
Mine says Display 3.7/Backplate 5.26

 

[matttarantino]

Took long enough!

 

[jicon]

Not an end of the world thing if it doesn't come to older Nest thermostats, but this is a nice to have. May have a way to set temperature from a watch I'd figure.

 

[uller6]

Whelp, I'm running my original Nest learning thermostat with HomeKit through Homebridge. It works great!

 

[WilliApple]

I hope the one that got installed in my house in 2016 can get HomeKit support with a software update. I think it is the learning one or something. Any chance for that?

 

[k1121j]

Just the cheap one!! What gives i have all learning thermostats. :-\

 

[PeteBurgh]

Whelp, I'm running my original Nest learning thermostat with HomeKit through Homebridge. It works great!

Yes, I'm doing the same. I've been surprised how stable it's been.

Using Homebridge to connect different ecosystems feels like a convoluted Rube Goldberg set up, where I always expect it to break randomly one day! For that reason, I will definitely try to get something that's directly HomeKit compatible in future. But it's been an unexpectedly reliable interim solution.

 

[BrentT]

I have had a Nest thermostat since 2012. I think it was the original model. Still working fine. I use the Nest app without problems. I’m not I have much to gain by going through the Home app.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Took long enough!

6 months after Matter release is pretty good. Faster than most everyone else.

 

[kylelerner]

We’ve been asking for this for years. I guess they finally decided they … Matter.

 

[Gherkin]

I pretty much never go into the app to control my Nest, but this will be nice to do from my phone or watch if needed.

 

[Seeds]

Whelp, I'm running my original Nest learning thermostat with HomeKit through Homebridge. It works great!

I have a google battery doorbell and it works great better than some of my other stuff. I hope they do some cameras. Excited to see this, this is what’s going to make matter awesome!

 

[bozzykid]

Took long enough!

Given the slow rollout of matter, this is actually pretty fast. Very few companies are upgrading their devices to support matter even though they have committed to it.

 

[Stromos]

I decided long ago the if Google chooses to not activate Matter on the learning thermostat 3 (even though it has the thread radio) that I will rip out everything Nest in my house. I do not want the cheap toy/spy device Google put out with the Nest logo. I will remove the smoke detectors, doorbell, and Thermostats going into 2024. I hope they upgrade the Gen3 learning thermostat.

 

[glitch44]

Can someone tell me if any Nest thermostat has a "dumb" mode where it just lets a human set the temperature? I want the connectivity (check and change the temperature from my ipad) but not the smart features (it uses an algorithm to change the temperature on its own.)

 

[RodThePlod]

This is good news - hopefully Ring will do the same. They talked about supporting HomeKit years ago but it never happened, and frustrates me that I can't control my Ring cameras in the Home app like my other smart things...

 

[DotCom2]

Wished I could remember when I installed my 2 Nests. Or know how to check what version I have. Oh well, not a biggie but nice to see this.

 

[oofio2461]

Considering how much Google opposes Apple on everything, I'm surprised this actually happened.

 

[DotCom2]

Can someone tell me if any Nest thermostat has a "dumb" mode where it just lets a human set the temperature? I want the connectivity (check and change the temperature from my ipad) but not the smart features (it uses an algorithm to change the temperature on its own.)

You walk up to it and turn the dial.

 

[uller6]

This is good news - hopefully Ring will do the same. They talked about supporting HomeKit years ago but it never happened, and frustrates me that I can't control my Ring cameras in the Home app like my other smart things...

I have my Ring doorbell integrated into HomeKit through Homebridge too! That also works surprisingly well. Homebridge is really awesome if you have a computer that stays on 24/7.

 

[Verified Whiskey]

Hell is looking a little cold this morning!

Does this mean we able to lock it down with a HomeKit router? Silo it off so it can’t communicate with Google? If so this is an instant buy for me.

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Whelp, I'm running my original Nest learning thermostat with HomeKit through Homebridge. It works great!

Does HomeBridge eliminate the need to allow the Learning Thermostat to phone home? That concern is the main reason I have not replaced my builder-grade thermostat with a Nest. I just don’t want to share my comings and goings and other private information they can glean with Google.

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Considering how much Google opposes Apple on everything, I'm surprised this actually happened.

They probably would let it happen, if Matter were an Apple-only initiative.

 

[Stromos]

Does HomeBridge eliminate the need to allow the Learning Thermostat to phone home? That concern is the main reason I have not replaced my builder-grade thermostat with a Nest. I just don’t want to share my comings and goings and other private information they can glean with Google.

No HomeBridge uses the Nest API.