How to Turn Off Eco Mode on Nest In Seconds [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated June 29, 2023

The eco mode has been on Nest devices for a long time and has been a subject of annoyance for many, with users turning it off as soon as they set up the device.

This feature, despite being brought on with good intentions has been ridiculed for how strictly it tries to manage temperatures, often leading to discomfort.

So with this article, I tell you the best method that I personally found that you can use to completely turn off eco mode on your Nest devices.

To turn off eco mode on Nest, turn off the main eco-mode option on the Google Nest app settings. Then, turn off the Home/Away Assist option and the Auto-Schedule option. Turning off the master toggle isn't enough to turn off eco mode on Nest.

How to Turn Off Eco Mode on Nest Devices

Eco-mode can seem like a restrictive set of rules and it can even prove to be a discomfort for some users.

The most irritating factor is that the eco mode will turn on its own even if the master toggle is turned off.

What most don't realize is that this is not a bug, but rather an overlap of multiple features that the Nest devices have turned on by default.

In order to properly turn off the eco mode for good on Nest devices, simply follow these exact steps:

On the Google Nest app, navigate to your Nest thermostat device option.
From the lower left of the resultant screen, tap on the Mode option.
Set the mode to heat or cool depending on your needs.
From the lower center of the screen, tap on the Eco option.
Turn off the eco temperatures.
From the upper right corner of the screen, select the settings gear icon.
Tap on the Home/Away Assist option and turn it off.
Tap on the Auto-Schedule option and turn it off.

This will completely stop the eco mode from jumping back online.

Why does Eco Mode Turn On Automatically?

Eco mode on paper, is a fantastic feature that focuses on conserving energy by switching to preset eco temperatures when no one is home.

In theory, this is a no-brainer of a feature as it would be a waste of energy to keep your rooms cool or warm when nobody is home.

This also potentially saves a ton of money in the long haul, as the preset eco temperatures can save energy as well as help in making the hardware of the HVAC systems last longer.

But as explained above, an AI managing the temperatures based on the presence or absence of someone in a room can have enough scope of the error to prove to be a detriment for some.

People's thermal needs change with respect to ambient temperatures, and it isn't always pleasant for someone to enter a warm room after a hectic day in the summer.

The sheer volume of features implemented to safeguard this mode is the key reason why the eco mode turns on automatically after some time.

Google has implemented multiple checks by which one can trigger the eco mode on Nest devices, and users don't realize that these enabled features are the ones causing havoc.

Home/Away Assist

This feature is implemented as a part of Google Assistant's Routines feature, where one can set up certain tasks to run when one leaves your house.

In this case, the routine will enable eco mode as soon as the Google Assistant detects that you have left your house, even if you have turned off the eco-mode option.

This can be misinterpreted as a bug by some, and hence people stay annoyed with Google for not fixing the issue.

To turn off the Home/Away Assist option, simply follow the following steps:

On the Google Nest app, navigate to your Nest thermostat device option.
From the upper right corner of the screen, select the settings gear icon.
Tap on the Home/Away Assist option and turn it off.

This safely turns off the Home/Away Assist option and deletes the entry from your Home and Away Google Assistant routine.

Auto-Schedule

Auto-Schedule, just like the name suggests is the automatic scheduling of the Eco mode to trigger at a particular time for maximum power savings.

Although this is a manually adjusted value, sometimes it can be the root cause of the automatic triggering of eco mode on your Nest devices.

It is possible that the automatic scheduling of eco mode has been enabled as a preset, usually around the 18:00 to 22:00 time frame for maximum energy savings.

To turn off the auto-scheduling feature, simply follow these exact steps:

On the Google Nest app, navigate to your Nest thermostat device option.
From the upper right corner of the screen, select the settings gear icon.
Tap on the Auto-Schedule option and turn it off.

This will safely turn off the auto-schedule option.

Is Eco Mode Still Broken? How To Fix

If the eco mode stays broken even after following the above-mentioned steps, then the issue could be a hardware or software fault.

Check Your HVAC Systems

Before putting the blame completely on the Nest device, it is best to first check if there is an issue with the HVAC(Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems.

It is possible that a minor malfunction of your HVAC system can be a cause for the irregular heating and performance of the thermal solution for your home in general.

Check the HVAC system control board for any visible disconnections or short circuits. Try disconnecting the Nest device and check if the HVAC system works fine.

If you notice any red flags, it is best to call a Google Nest-certified professional to help you fix the issue.

Reboot Your Nest Device

A reboot can usually fix any temporary issues that the Nest device encounters during its usual operation.

This can include potential bugs that might have accumulated in the system from a faulty software patch or just daily functioning in general.

In order to do a soft restart of your Nest device, simply follow these exact steps:

Press the Nest device's ring to open the menu.
Navigate to the settings gear option.
Navigate to the Reset option and press to select the option.
Choose Restart to begin the soft restart process.

In order to do a hardware restart of your Nest device, follow these steps:

Unplug the Nest device from power.

Unplug the Nest Thermostat from the power

Let it sit idle for a minute powered off.
Plug the Nest device back into power.

Let it sit idle for a minute powered on.

Factory Reset Your Nest Device

If all else fails, then the only way to fix this issue is to perform a factory reset on your Nest device.

A factory reset will completely wipe out all data on your Nest device, including user data and linked accounts.

But along with the data, any potential bug that might have been causing the eco mode to be constantly triggered will also be wiped away.

In order to perform a factory reset on your Nest device, simply follow these steps:

On the Nest device, tap on the settings gear option.
Tap on Factory Restart.
Confirm your selection to begin the factory reset process.

This will reset your Nest device to its factory defaults, just like how it was when you bought the device.

Final Thoughts

Similar to Wyze, Google's Nest devices have been a pioneer when it comes to smart home solutions for thermal management. See my article on Wyze Thermostat vs Nest Thermostat.

The Eco mode has been one of the plethoras of features introduced by Nest for their devices, and it has been a hugely popular asset for the company.

It is a generally well-regarded feature that has helped many users to manage the temperatures of their smart homes while saving a lot of energy and money in the long run.

Despite its success, there have been issues popping up with eco mode like the one explained in this article.

But fortunately, in this case, it wasn't a bug nor was it an intentional effect, but rather an overlap of multiple features which can be easily disabled that many interpreted as a bug.

I hope my troubleshooting article on properly turning off the eco mode on your Nest device has been a good read and helped you with the same.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much energy can the eco mode on Nest devices potentially save per year?

According to user reports, enabling the eco mode on Nest devices can result in up to 15% in energy cost savings.

How much money can the eco mode on Nest devices potentially save per year?

According to user reports, enabling the eco mode on Nest devices can save users anywhere between $131 to $145 per year in gas or electricity costs.

Do Nest devices need a C wire connection to enable Eco mode?

C wire is an optional accessory for Nest devices and is not required to run eco mode on Nest devices, but it is recommended to connect a C wire for maximum efficiency.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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