Don’t Transfer Your Nest Account to Google If You Like IFTTT
Earlier this year, Google announced that its Nest line of smart home devices will be included in the Useful Home program. A side effect of this move is that IFTTT fans will no longer be able to create triggers and automation using their Nest devices starting August 31, 2019.
In response to user protests, the company has created a half-hearted measure that will allow Nest users to continue to use IFTTT even after Google ends its official support. However, there are some important caveats. As IFTTT describes :
- Don’t transfer your Nest account to Google account. Migrating your Nest account will disable IFTTT and other Works integrations with Nest. This process is irreversible.
- Do not disconnect the Nest from IFTTT after August 31st, as you will not be able to reconnect it. This affects users who do not transfer their Nest accounts to a Google account.
In other words, don’t change anything on your Nest account or IFTTT connection if you want these shortcuts to stay functional. Of course, the question is what happens if you do migrate your Nest account to your Google account.
In part, this change has spurred Google’s desire to better consolidate its smart home devices within its own ecosystem – for better or for worse. Google wants users to rely on its own technologies and applications, not third-party solutions . This way, not migrating your Nest account to Google blocks you from any new Google benefits you will receive.
You can lose IFTTT support by transferring your Nest account, but it will also improve the network integration of your Nest devices into the network of other Google-powered devices and apps you already use, such as controlling or accessing the Nest security camera from your Google Home. Hub, for example. In addition, privacy-focused Google Account features such as two-step verification, suspicious activity detection, and security checks will also cover your Nest devices.
It could be argued that combining all of your data and devices into one company or one service is questionable – we argue this regularly – but on paper, moving your Nest account to a Google account has its advantages, despite the loss of IFTTT support. On the other hand, IFTTT is a flexible tool that allows you to connect Nest devices to products other than those in the Google directory. However, if you choose the former, there is no turning back.