Google Home bug leaves Nest camera notifications without video previews

Nest camera users are reporting a frustrating bug that’s causing video previews and thumbnails on Android to disappear from notifications. This is leaving users who have gotten in the habit of quickly glancing over their camera feeds through previews with no choice but to open the Google Home app.

For those unaware, Google Home’s camera notifications include a thumbnail or a short video preview to highlight what triggered the alert. This makes it easier to determine whether the alert was triggered by something routine or something that needs more attention via the Google Home app. With previews now missing, users are being forced to default to the latter option.

Reports about the issue started surfacing last week, with users on Reddit and Google’s Support forum indicating persistent problems since. The issue doesn’t seem to be limited to certain models either. Reports mention devices like the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 11 Pro, and even Samsung’s S23 line, alongside second-generation Nest Cams, the battery-powered Nest Cam, the Nest Cam Outdoor, and the Nest Doorbell.

Interestingly, the issue isn’t affecting all device types. Some of those affected say previews still show up for them on other devices. One user wrote:

I still get the video previews on my smartwatch and tablet though.

Similarly, a different user indicated that previews work fine on one of their phones and not on the other:

Cleared cache and storage, rebooted and toggled on/off a few things but no luck. Thumbnails work fine on my old Samsung S20 FE but nada on the Pixel 10 Pro.

One user also reported a discrepancy between devices:

I have a Google Nest doorbell camera and an outdoor wired Google Nest camera. The doorbell gives the previews, but the wired outdoor camera no longer gives previews. However, all previews will show on my Pixel Watch 4 but not my Google Pixel.

It’s unclear how widespread the problem is, though it is certain that it isn’t isolated to just a few users. The cause also remains unclear, though some speculate it could be connected to a recent Google Home update.

The good news is that your cameras are still recording everything just fine. It’s just that previews aren’t appearing within notifications like they normally would.

We’ve reached out to Google to confirm whether it’s aware of the issue and if a fix is in the works.