Google ended smart features on old Nest thermostats, and the smart home dream took a hit

Google ended support for the first three generations of its Nest Thermostat in April 2025. The old units still heat and cool, but the app and the smart features are gone. An Android Police column now argues this shows why the dream of a fully connected home was never on solid ground.

What changed

The first Nest Thermostat arrived in 2011 and helped start the modern smart home. When Google ended support for the first three generations, it removed their smart features and app connection. They can still run as ordinary thermostats. The youngest of them was 11 years old at the time.

Separately, Google Assistant has been replaced by Gemini. According to the column, Gemini either cannot do what Assistant did, or older devices were never updated to work with it. Some skills people relied on disappeared. Google has also acknowledged that Assistant had been getting worse.

Why it stings

The author's point is about ownership. Phones get replaced every few years. A thermostat is bolted to a wall. A boiler that loses manufacturer support still boils water. These thermostats stopped being the product people bought because Google could switch off their smart side remotely, with no say from the owner. That is the author's opinion, not a ruling on what Google owed customers.

Who it affects

Anyone whose home gadgets depend on a company's app or voice assistant. The hardware may last a decade or more. The software support may not. The material does not say how many people were affected or whether Google offered owners any help.

What to do

• Ask how long the maker will support a device before buying it.
• Ask what still works if support ends, such as basic heating or lighting.
• Expect voice assistant changes to break some features over time.