Video history in the Google Home app
For secure and accessible video recordings, your Google Nest camera or doorbell automatically saves footage to a cloud-based video history service. For more information, refer to How Nest cameras store recorded video.
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The Google Home app provides the video history for Nest cameras and doorbells launched in 2021 or later, and older models migrated to the app. Learn how to transfer your devices to the Google Home app.
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For Nest devices that were launched before 2021 that haven't been migrated to the Google Home app, the video history is located in the Nest app.
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For any Nest camera or doorbell model, you can always access a list of recorded events in the "Activity" section of the Google Home app. Learn how to use your Home app Activity.
If you want to access video history through your computer or a browser, learn how to use Google Home for web.
Find your camera's video history
To access your camera's video history:
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Open the Google Home app 👁 Image
. -
Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Cameras 👁 Image
👁 and then
your camera. -
You can check video history under the camera’s live mode, either through a timeline or list of events. To switch between modes, tap Timeline 👁 Sightline button
or Events list 👁 Event history button
.
You can also check your camera’s history or multiple cameras’ video history by tapping on Activity 👁 Activity icon
.
Video History Filters
This feature makes it more convenient to find the events you care about most as it allows you to filter your recorded events. When filters are active, some recorded events are hidden. Different cameras support different filter types, which are automatically shown or hidden based on your camera model.
Tip: Your filter selections remain even if you close and reopen the application.
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Access Event filters: Tap the filter 👁 Image
to open Event filters. -
Apply Filters: Choose the desired filters, and tap Save.
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Clear All Filters: To remove all active filters, tap Clear all, and then Save.
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Select All Filters: To select all available filters, tap Select all, and then Save.
Tip: Clear or select all filters to show all events in the event list.
Video history controls
Use quick seek to rapidly move through your camera history.
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Fast forward or rewind:
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To fast forward 10 seconds, double tap the right side of the video playback window.
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To rewind 10 seconds, double tap the left side of the video playback window.
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Scroll through history: Scroll to browse through your camera's recorded video history.
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Play an event: Tap an event in the list to begin playing the recorded video. To return to the live camera feed, tap Live 👁 Image
. -
Skip between events: On the timeline, use Forward 👁 Image
or Reverse 👁 Image
to jump to the next or previous recorded event. -
Replay current event: If you tap Reverse 👁 Image
while an event clip plays, the video will restart from the beginning. -
Pause playback: Tap Pause 👁 Image
to temporarily stop the video from playing. -
Change screen mode:
What your camera's timeline means
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On the timeline, white markers indicate recorded events.
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For event video history, the time between recorded events when there's no activity appears as gaps in the timeline.
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For 24/7 video history, gray areas on the timeline represent times when there was no activity. Any breaks or gaps indicate the camera was either turned off or went offline.
Get more information about recorded events
On the events list, you'll find the event type, its date and time, and its duration.
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Details: Tap Info 👁 Info Icon
for comprehensive event information. -
Download: Tap Controls 👁 Menu
👁 and then
Save clip to save the event. -
Full History: Tap Controls 👁 Menu
👁 and then
History to access all recorded events for this camera.
Important: Your Google Home Premium subscription plan determines how far back you can access your video history. Learn what features and services you can get with a Google Home Premium subscription.
Disable video recording
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Open the Google Home app 👁 Image
. -
Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Cameras 👁 Image
👁 and then
your camera. -
Tap More 👁 More menu
👁 and then
Settings 👁 Image
👁 and then
Video History. -
Tap No video history.
To clear up some space in your video cloud storage, learn how to delete your entire video history and snapshots.
Navigate your camera with gesture
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Dismiss camera: Swipe down on the camera player to return to the previous screen.
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Switch to Immersive mode:
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Portrait: Swipe down on the middle control bar to switch to Immersive mode, where the focus is on live stream, video playback, and camera controls.
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Landscape: Swipe up on any open area of the screen to switch to Immersive mode.
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Switch to Browse mode:
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Portrait: Swipe up or down on any open area of the screen to switch between Immersive mode and Browse mode.
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Landscape: Swipe down on any open area of the screen to switch from Immersive mode to Browse mode.
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Switch to Timeline: While in the Events list, swipe left or right within the event list section to access the Timeline.
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Switch to Events list: While in the Timeline, swipe left or right to return to the Events list.