How to Restart or Reset a Nest Thermostat (and Which One You Actually Need)
By Kanika Modi · Part of the Nest guides · Last verified 29 Oct 2026 against Google’s official Nest support documentation · 3 sources
Restart versus reset is the whole game on a Nest thermostat, because the reset menu is powerful enough to destroy your schedule in two taps. Google documents both procedures in the same article, and this guide separates them so the frozen thermostat gets a restart and nothing else.
Restart: The Safe First Move
Two Ways ~1 min
- By hardware: press the thermostat ring down and keep pressing until the screen turns off (about 10 seconds). Then press and release the ring to turn it back on.
- By menu: press the ring, open Settings, and choose Restart. The thermostat reboots itself.
A restart keeps every setting, schedule, and account connection. It is the documented fix for sluggish behavior, a frozen screen, and odd sensor readings, and it is where Nest’s own troubleshooting starts.
The Reset Menu: Four Different Resets
| Reset Option | What It Erases | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Reset schedule | Your temperature schedule only | Scheduling misbehaves; you plan to re-enter it |
| Reset network | Wi-Fi connection info | Router changed or the thermostat will not reconnect (see after a network reset) |
| Reset account and connection | Link to your Google account and the app | Selling the thermostat or app pairing is broken beyond repair |
| Reset all settings | Everything: factory state | Last resort before replacement or a handover to a new owner |
All four live under Settings, then Reset on the thermostat. Nothing in this menu touches your home’s wiring or the HVAC system; a reset never fixes a physical power problem, which lives in the battery and wiring world (see the battery guide).
If the Thermostat is Stuck During Startup
Startup Rescue ~2 min
- Press and hold the ring until the display turns off completely.
- Release, then press the ring once to restart.
- If it reaches the same stuck point again, note what is on screen: a blinking green light during startup is normal update behavior (covered in the green light guide), while repeated failure to finish startup points at power, not software.
After a Network Reset
Resetting the network means the thermostat has forgotten your Wi-Fi, so it reconnects through the Google Home app: open the app, select the thermostat, and run the device settings to rejoin the network. Have the Wi-Fi password ready; the thermostat itself does not take a password through its own menu.
Selling or Moving a Nest Thermostat
The documented path for a handover is the account and connection reset (so the thermostat detaches from your Google account), followed by a full reset of all settings if you want it factory-clean for the next owner. A new owner then sets it up fresh in their own Home app. Skipping the account reset is the mistake that leaves thermostats locked to ghosts.
Questions People Ask
How Do I Restart a Nest Thermostat?
Press the outer ring down until the screen turns off (about 10 seconds), then press and release it to turn the display back on. Or use Settings, then Restart, in the thermostat menu. A restart keeps all settings.
Does Resetting a Nest Thermostat Delete Everything?
Only if you choose Reset All Settings. The reset menu is tiered: schedule only, network only, account and connection only, or everything. Pick the level that matches the problem.
How Do I Factory Reset a Nest Thermostat for a New Owner?
Settings, then Reset, then Reset account and connection (to detach it from your Google account), then Reset all settings for a clean factory state. The new owner sets it up in their own Home app.
Sources
Retrieved 12 Oct 2026:
- Restart or Reset a Nest Thermostat (Google Support)
- Nest Thermostat Stuck During Startup (Google Support)
- Troubleshoot Nest Thermostat Help Codes (Google Support)