To edit temperature presets on a Nest thermostat, open the Google Home app, select your thermostat, tap Presets, and choose Edit. Change the Comfort, Eco, or Sleep temperatures, or create your own preset, then select Done. Presets work only on the Nest Thermostat and the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen).
This guide covers editing and creating presets, using them in your schedule, and holding a preset temperature. All steps come from Google Home and Nest Help: Temperature schedules for the Nest thermostat, Nest thermostat temperature modes, and Hold the temperature on your thermostat.
Which Nest Thermostats Have Presets?
Google says only the Nest Thermostat and Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) use temperature presets. They aren’t available on the Nest Thermostat E or the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen and earlier). Those models use Eco Temperatures and their own schedule in the Nest app instead.
Google describes presets as saved temperatures for when you’re home, away, sleeping, and more. Comfort, Eco, and Sleep are ready to use as soon as you add your thermostat to the Home app.
How to Edit Nest Temperature Presets
- Open the Google Home app.
- Select your thermostat. You can find it under Favorites or Devices > Climate.
- Tap Presets.
- Choose Edit.
- Select a preset, such as Comfort, Eco, or Sleep, and set the temperature you want.
- Select Done.
Result: The preset saves your new temperature. Google notes that editing a preset updates it everywhere it’s used in your thermostat schedule, so you don’t need to change each time slot.
Google’s temperature modes article lists a second path to the same screen: open your thermostat’s Settings, then Temperature preferences > Temperature presets.
Create a custom preset
Google says custom presets help when you want a temperature in your schedule that none of your existing presets has, such as a warmer setting for a home office. Create one from the same Presets > Edit screen, then add it to your schedule.
How to Use Presets in Your Nest Schedule
On the Nest Thermostat, Google says you must pick a temperature preset whenever you add or change a temperature in the schedule.
- In the Google Home app, select your thermostat and tap Schedules.
- Choose a day of the week.
- Tap Add or Add event.
- Select the temperature preset you want.
- Drag the numbers to set the time. Google says adjacent temperatures must be at least 60 minutes apart.
- Optionally, choose other days and which temperature sensors to use.
- Tap Done or Save.
Result: Your thermostat switches to that preset at the time you chose. Heat, Cool, and Heat • Cool modes each have their own schedule, so Google recommends checking that you’re editing the right one.
How to Hold a Preset Temperature
A hold keeps your thermostat at one preset and ignores the schedule for a while, which is useful when you have guests or leave on vacation.
- In the Google Home app, open your thermostat.
- Make sure it’s in Heat, Cool, or Heat • Cool mode.
- Tap Hold temperature.
- Pick the current temperature or the preset you want to hold.
- Pick an end time, then tap Start.
Result: The thermostat stays at that temperature until the hold ends. Google says most presets can be held for up to 24 hours, while the Eco preset can be held with no end time (choose None) until you end the hold.
To change a hold, tap Hold temperature > End hold, then start a new one. Google says you must end an active hold before you can change the temperature.
Troubleshooting
- No Presets option: your thermostat is probably a Nest Thermostat E or a Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen or earlier), which don’t support presets. Adjust Eco Temperatures and the schedule instead.
- A preset change affected the whole week: that’s expected. Editing a preset updates every schedule entry that uses it. Create a custom preset if you want one time slot to differ.
- Can’t change the temperature: a hold may be active. End the hold first.
- Eco preset was replaced by the next schedule entry: Google says a manually set Eco preset is overridden by the next scheduled temperature. Hold the Eco preset to keep it longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit presets on the thermostat itself?
Google’s instructions for editing presets use the Google Home app. On the thermostat, you can start a hold of the current temperature or Eco from the menu.
What is the Eco preset for?
Google says the Eco preset is for energy-saving temperatures. On the Nest Thermostat, which has no separate Eco mode, you use the Eco preset manually or in the schedule. Look for the Nest Leaf while you adjust your schedule; Google says it shows you’ve picked a temperature that can help save energy.
More Google Guides
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- How to turn off Google Assistant on a Pixel
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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