How to Fix Your Unexpectedly Awful Google Nest Videos
Now that most of us are at home all day, we consume a ton more data, and while Comcast’s internet feeds haven’t burst yet, they are definitely fuller than ever before . In an effort to avoid potential disaster, some companies are taking steps to reduce the data load on their services, including Google.
If your videos on Google Nest suddenly look a lot worse than you’re used to, here’s why – and here’s how to fix it.
You will most likely soon receive a phone or email notification that Google is lowering your camera’s default recording quality. As a result, you have to use less bandwidth when you connect to your Nest camera (s) to see what’s going on – assuming you can see anything at all, depending on how much of a loss in quality Google plans to implement.
Before you start worrying about the fact that you can no longer read a car’s license plate from 60 feet away through the Nest camera on the garage door, know that this change is temporary and easily reversible. While Google uses your Nest camera by default for lower quality images, this does not cause an issue.
To return the Nest camera to high quality video:
- Bump up the Nest app
- Tap the settings icon in the upper right corner (gear)
- Click on your device
- Click Quality & Bandwidth.
- Jack that sucker
Now, I think it’s worth making the obvious: if you don’t want a high-quality video stream and can get by with whatever quality settings Google chooses, leave your settings alone. You will be doing your little bit to reduce internet congestion – which we probably don’t need to worry about too much right now, but we may have to look down at some point in the future.
If you really need high quality feed, don’t feel bad about using this. You don’t waste water, ignore recycling, or anything like that. It’s just a little extra bandwidth. The world will be okay. And once we’re back to work and using less internet, Google will undo its changes for everyone and revert your camera back to the higher quality settings it used to previously.