Nest Cam Outdoor (Wired, 2nd Gen) Night Vision Not Working
Is the night vision on your Nest Cam Outdoor (Wired, 2nd Gen) failing to activate or producing dark, unclear footage after dark? Here are the checks you can carry out before contacting support.
What This Problem Means
The infrared night vision is not engaging correctly — most commonly caused by an incorrect Night Vision setting, a bright external light source preventing the switch to night mode, or a camera restart being needed.
Common Symptoms
- Outdoor footage is very dark or unusable after dark
- Camera does not switch to night vision mode as light levels drop
- Video has a pink, purple or blue tint rather than the expected black-and-white night image
- Night vision worked previously but stopped after a firmware update
Safe Checks You Can Try
1. Check Night Vision Is Set to Auto
Open the Google Home app, tap your camera, then tap More → Settings → Video. Under Night Vision, confirm it is set to Auto. When set to Always On, the camera uses night vision in daylight which causes a purple or pink tint. When set to Off, the camera will not switch to night mode in the dark.
2. Check for External Light Sources
Street lighting, neighbouring security lights, flood lights or other bright external sources shining toward the camera lens can prevent the camera from detecting that it is dark enough to engage night vision. Per Google’s support guidance, repositioning the camera to avoid direct light on the lens resolves this in most cases.
3. Turn Night Vision Off Then Back On
In the Google Home app, go to Camera → Settings → Video → Night Vision. Set it to Off, wait a few seconds, then set it back to Auto. This resets the night vision sensor and clears most cases where the camera’s switching logic has become stuck.
4. Clean the Camera Lens
A dirty outdoor lens can interfere with the camera’s ability to accurately detect ambient light levels. Use a dry lint-free cloth to clean the lens. Outdoor grime, condensation and insect residue can all affect night vision performance over time.
5. Restart the Camera
Unplug the power cable from the outdoor socket for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Per Google’s official guidance, a camera restart resets the night vision state. Allow two minutes for the camera to fully restart before testing night vision again.
When To Contact Support
If none of the checks above have resolved the issue, contact Google Nest support at support.google.com/googlenest. Your device serial number is available in Device Info in the Google Home app.
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