Google announced last year that it would be ending support for the Dropcam, Dropcam Pro, and Nest Secure security devices on April 8, 2024. This means that users of these devices will need to figure out their next steps as device support is coming to an end. Once the date hits, the affected devices will no longer record video and users will have access to their prior video histories for the remainder of their subscriptions. However, once the subscription end date passes, the video history will become inaccessible, so users are advised to save anything they want to keep as soon as possible.
For Dropcam owners, Google is offering two different options. Users who are not subscribed to Nest Aware can receive a 50% discount toward the purchase of an indoor wired Nest Cam, while those who are subscribed to Nest Aware can get the Nest Cam for free. Nest Cam is Google’s least expensive camera and offers features such as three hours of cloud storage for free and smart alerts that detect people, pets, and objects moving around the room. This should serve as a solid upgrade for users transitioning from the outgoing Dropcam.
Nest Secure users also have two options for migration. They can either opt for a free Self Setup System from ADT to transition into ADT’s service or receive a $200 voucher that can be used on the Google Store to purchase newer Nest products. Users with Nest x Yale Locks will need to ensure they have a Nest Connect to avoid being locked out once the support ends. Google is providing a free Nest Connect to Nest Secure owners, and users should have received emails regarding this, but if not, they should contact Google support.
Affected users will also need to cancel their Nest Aware subscription if they no longer need it. Google will not cancel the subscription automatically, so users will need to do so themselves through the home.nest.com website or the Google Home app. The decision to end support for Dropcam and Nest Secure was made by Google as part of the unification of its smart home ecosystem under the Google Home and Google Assistant umbrella. The older devices were deemed incompatible with the new system, leading to the discontinuation of support.
Google began its migration process last year, encouraging Nest users to migrate their accounts to Google Home and releasing a script editor for continued home automation use. Nest account holders were also advised to migrate their accounts to Google to avoid losing functionality when Works with Nest was shut down. The rest of the Google Nest hardware family is still supported, and users are urged to migrate their accounts before the end of support to ensure continued use of their devices after April 8.
