If you’re looking for how to reset Nest thermostats, start with one question: do you want a restart or a factory reset? A restart keeps all your settings and fixes most small problems. A factory reset erases everything and is meant for when you move out, sell the thermostat or need to start the setup again.
Nest thermostats don’t have a reset button. You restart or reset them from the Settings menu on the thermostat, and the menu changes from one model to another. This guide covers every model, with the steps from Google’s own support pages.
Quick Answer
- Restart (every model): open Settings on the thermostat and choose Restart. Your settings stay.
- Nest Thermostat (2020) and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen): go to Settings, then Factory Reset, and confirm.
- Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) and Nest Thermostat E: go to Settings, then Reset, then All Settings.
- Frozen screen: take the Nest Thermostat off its base and take out its batteries, or press a ring model in until the screen turns off (about 10 seconds).
- Before a factory reset: write down your wiring and remove the thermostat from the app.
Which Nest Thermostat Do You Have
How to reset Nest thermostats depends on the model, so check which one is on your wall first. Google describes the differences like this:
| Model | How to recognize it | How you use the menu | App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Thermostat (2020) | Mirrored screen, touch bar on the right side | Tap the touch bar, swipe, tap | Google Home |
| Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) | Ring in polished silver, gold or obsidian; green bubble level on the base | Press the thermostat toward the wall, turn the dial | Google Home |
| Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen) | Large screen, stainless steel ring; blue bubble level on the base | Press the ring, turn it, press again | Nest |
| Nest Thermostat E | Translucent white screen, white plastic ring | Press the ring, turn it, press again | Nest |
| Nest Learning Thermostat (1st and 2nd gen) | Small screen, stainless steel ring; yellow bubble level on the base | Press the ring, turn it, press again | None since 2025 |
If you’re still not sure, pull the display off the wall and look at the base: the color of the bubble level and the number of wire connectors are different on each Learning Thermostat.
The 1st and 2nd gen Learning Thermostats stopped working in the Nest and Google Home apps on October 25, 2025. They still heat and cool, and you can still restart and reset them from the menu on the thermostat.
How to Restart a Nest Thermostat
A restart is like restarting a phone: the thermostat turns off and on again, and it keeps all your information and settings. Google recommends it when the thermostat is frozen, can’t connect to the internet or doesn’t work properly. This is how to restart Nest thermostats from the menu:
- Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen): press the display, turn the dial to Settings and press the thermostat toward the wall to select it. Select Restart and confirm.
- Nest Thermostat (2020): tap the touch bar on the right side to open the menu. Open Settings, select Restart and choose Yes.
- Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) and Nest Thermostat E: press the ring, turn it to Settings and press to select. Choose Reset, then Restart.
All of these steps are done on the thermostat itself. Google’s support pages don’t describe a way to restart a Nest thermostat from the app.
If the Screen Is Frozen
If you can’t open the menu, you need a manual restart. Google says to use it only when the thermostat is stuck, because you could lose information that the thermostat hasn’t saved yet.
- Nest Thermostat (2020): take the thermostat off its base and take out both AAA batteries. Put them back in, then press the thermostat onto the base until it clicks into place.
- Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E: press the thermostat down (toward the wall) until the screen turns off, which takes about 10 seconds. Then press and release the ring to turn it back on.
Restart vs Factory Reset: Which One You Need
The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) and the Nest Thermostat E have a Reset menu with several options. Each one erases something different, so choose the smallest one that solves your problem:
- Schedule: it clears your whole temperature schedule, including the temperatures the thermostat learned. Use it when your routine has changed and you want the thermostat to learn a new schedule.
- Home/Away: the thermostat forgets what it learned about when you’re home or away. Google suggests it after you move the thermostat to another wall or remodel your home.
- Network: it erases the Wi-Fi network and password. Use it when you change your router, then connect again under Settings and Network.
- Account connection: it unlinks the thermostat from your account. It’s still listed in the app, but as offline.
- All Settings: this is the full Nest thermostat reset. It returns the thermostat to its factory settings.
Network and Account connection aren’t available on every model.
The Nest Thermostat (2020) and the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) are simpler. Their Settings menu only has Restart and Factory Reset. To unlink one from your account without erasing it, go to Settings, then Account, then Disconnect. If you aren’t sure which model you own, here’s how to tell which Nest thermostat you have.
If you use Nest Temperature Sensors, Google says they stay linked to your account after a reset. For setup, placement and battery replacement, see our Nest Temperature Sensor guide.
How to Factory Reset a Nest Thermostat
If you’re wondering how to factory reset Nest thermostats, the reset itself only takes a minute. Most of the work is before and after it.
Before You Reset
- Write down your wiring. On the thermostat, go to Settings, then Equipment, and take a photo of the screen. You can also pull the display off the base and take a photo of the wires. After the reset, the thermostat asks again how your system is wired, and our thermostat wiring guide explains what each wire does.
- Note your other settings. Google mentions the heating type and the safety temperatures (the limits at which the thermostat turns on the heating or cooling even when it’s set to Off, to protect your pipes).
- Have your Wi-Fi password ready if you plan to keep using the thermostat.
Remove It From the App First
Google says to remove the thermostat from your account before a factory reset, using the app you first set it up in:
- Google Home app: tap Home, then All devices, and touch and hold the thermostat. Select Settings, then Remove device and Remove.
- Nest app: tap Settings, select the thermostat and choose to remove it.
If you also added the thermostat to Apple Home or another app through Matter, remove it there too. Our guide on whether Nest works with HomeKit explains which models connect that way.
Run the Factory Reset
- Nest Thermostat (2020) and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen): open Settings, select Factory Reset and confirm.
- Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) and Nest Thermostat E: open Settings, select Reset, then All Settings, and confirm.
The thermostat restarts with its factory settings, as if it were new. Google also keeps its own restart and reset page with these steps for each model.
If the thermostat is locked, you’ll need the 4-digit PIN to open its menu. If you don’t know the PIN, you can unlock it from the Nest or Google Home app, as long as the thermostat is online. If it’s locked, offline and you don’t have the PIN, Google says to contact its support team.
After a Factory Reset
A factory reset means you have to set up the thermostat again, just like on the day it was installed:
- Add it to the app. The Nest Thermostat and the Learning Thermostat (4th gen) can only be set up in the Google Home app, and you need to be at the thermostat to add it. The Learning Thermostat (3rd gen) and the Thermostat E are added in the Nest app.
- Answer the setup questions about your heating and cooling system, using your notes and the photo of the wires. Our guide on how to install a smart thermostat explains this part.
- Set your schedule or let a Learning Thermostat learn a new one, which takes a few days.
If you’re moving out and leaving the thermostat behind, the reset and the removal from your account are what let the next owner add it to their own app.
If a Reset Doesn’t Fix It
A reset solves software problems, not power or wiring problems. If the screen stays blank, the thermostat keeps going offline or the heating doesn’t start, our Nest thermostat troubleshooting guide covers the usual causes, including a low battery on the Learning Thermostat and the Thermostat E. For low battery warnings on any model, see our Nest thermostat battery guide.
If you have a 1st or 2nd gen Learning Thermostat, a reset won’t bring back the app features, because Google ended support for them in 2025. Our guide to the best smart thermostats covers the current models.
The Bottom Line
That’s how to reset Nest thermostats without losing more than you need to. Start with a restart: it works on every model and keeps your settings. On a Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier) or a Thermostat E, use the smallest reset that solves the problem (Schedule, Home/Away or Network) before you choose All Settings. And before any factory reset, write down your wiring and remove the thermostat from your account first. If you’re moving it to a new wall, our guide to Nest thermostat installation covers the setup again.
Is there a reset button on a Nest thermostat?
No. Nest thermostats don’t have a reset button. You restart or reset them from the Settings menu on the thermostat. If the screen is frozen, you can do a manual restart: take the batteries out of the Nest Thermostat (2020), or press a ring model toward the wall until the screen turns off.
Will restarting my Nest thermostat erase my settings?
No. A restart keeps all your information and settings, like restarting a phone. Only a reset erases information, and how much depends on the option you choose.
How do I factory reset a Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen)?
Remove it from your account in the app first. Then press the ring, go to Settings, select Reset and choose All Settings. The Nest Thermostat E uses the same steps.
Should I remove my Nest thermostat from the app before a factory reset?
Yes. Google says to remove the thermostat from your account in the app you first set it up in before you reset it. This matters most when you move out or sell it, because the next owner needs to add it to their own account.
How do I reset a Nest thermostat that’s frozen?
Do a manual restart. On a Nest Thermostat (2020), take it off its base, take out both AAA batteries and put them back in. On a Nest Learning Thermostat or Thermostat E, press the thermostat toward the wall until the screen turns off (about 10 seconds), then press the ring to turn it back on.
Written by Evan Mercer
Founder & Lead Researcher, Smart Home Matrix
Evan digs through spec sheets, firmware changelogs, and thousands of owner reviews so you don’t have to. Every guide starts with a compatibility check and ends with picks he would install in his own home. Read more about Evan and this site, or see exactly how we choose products.