Save and download video clips

You can use the Google Home app, Nest app, or the Nest web app on a computer to create, download, and share video clips from your camera or doorbell's video history.

If you have a newer camera or doorbell like the Google Nest Cam (wired), Google Nest Cam (battery), or Google Nest Doorbell (battery), you can easily save events as video clips on your phone with the Home app.

For all other camera and doorbell models, you need a Nest Aware subscription to save and download video clips and timelapses with the Nest app or Nest web app.

Video clips in the Home app, Nest app, and on a computer

The table below shows some differences between creating video clips in the Home app, Nest app, or on a computer.

Home app Nest app On a computer (only available for cameras and doorbells in the Nest app)

Create clips

Yes1

Yes2

(Up to 2 minutes and 30 seconds per clip)

Yes

(Up to 1 hour per clip)

Create timelapses

No

No

Yes

(Up to 24 hours worth of footage per timelapse)

1You can only create video clips from detected events in the video history. You can't create video clips from footage with no activity. The maximum clip length setting for your camera or doorbell will affect how long video clips can be.

2You can only use the Nest app to download video clips that are created in the Nest app. You can't download video clips created on a computer with the Nest app.

Create, save, and share video clips

Home app

Download a video clip

Note: You can only download video clips from detected events in the video history. You cannot download video clips from footage with no activity. The maximum clip length setting for your camera or doorbell will affect how long video clips can be.

Follow the steps below to create and download a video clip:

  1. Open the Home app.
  2. Select your camera.
  3. Tap History near the bottom of the screen.
  4. Scroll to an event in your camera's video history timeline. You can also tap Full history for a list of events.
  5. Choose the event you want, then tap Event details.

Near the top of the screen, tap Downloaddownload nest app icon  to save the video clip to your phone. From there, you can share the video clip via email or social media app.

Nest app

You can save up to 3 hours of video clips in the Nest app. If a clip is too big to be saved in the remaining storage, the app will tell you that you're out of storage space. You'll have to download and delete clips to make room before you can save a new clip.

Note: If you want to share the clip from the app, you need to share it when you make the clip. Otherwise if you want to share the clip at a later time, you'll need to use a computer to share it from your account at home.nest.com.

Create an instant clip

When you make an instant video clip, the app will search for the beginning and the end of activity near the time you've selected,create a clip of that activity, and save it in the app.

  1. Open the Nest app.
  2. On the home screen, select your camera.

    Video history in the Nest app

  3. In your camera's video history timeline, rewind to where you want the clip to begin.Note: You can either scroll through the timeline or tap on an activity mark on the timeline.
  4. Tap New clip  to automatically create an instant clip. It will take a short time to create your clip and save your clip in the Nest app.
  5. Choose what you want to do with your clip:
    • Tap Save to photos to download the clip to your phone or tablet.
    • Tap Share link for options for how to share the clip.
    • Tap Cancel to delete the clip.

Create a custom clip

Create custom clips while watching the live video stream or after rewinding your video history.

  1. Open the Nest app.
  2. On the home screen, select your camera.

    Video history in the Nest app

  3. In your camera's video history timeline, rewind to where you want the clip to begin.Note: You can either scroll through the timeline or tap on the activity mark in your camera's activity track.
  4. Press and holdNew clip  when you would like the clip to start, then release to mark the end. It will take a short time to create your clip and save your clip in the Nest app.
  5. Choose what you want to do with your clip:
    • Tap Save to photos to download the clip to your phone or tablet.
    • Tap Share link for options for how to share the clip.
    • Tap Cancel to delete the clip.

On a computer

Note: This section applies only to cameras and doorbells that are controlled by the Nest app.

Create a video clip

Create a quick event clip

Make a timelapse

You can create a timelapse in much the same way you make regular video clips. You can condense up to 24 hours of video into a timelapse.

  1. Go to home.nest.com and sign in.
  2. Select the camera that recorded the video you want to use.

  3. SelectClips in the lower right corner of the screen.

  4. ChooseCreate Timelapse.
  5. Sliders will appear on your timeline. Drag them forward or backwards to select the start and end times for your clip.

  6. SelectLength to choose how long you want to make your timelapse.
    Note: Changing the length of the timelapse won't move its start and end times

  7. Name your new clip, and selectSave.

Note: If the timelapse you created is missing video, you might not have selected enough video history to fill the entire duration of the timelapse. In this case, you should select a longer video clip to completely fill the timelapse. For more help with this, go to our Troubleshoot creating a video clip article.

View clips

Share or download clips

  1. Go to home.nest.com and sign in.
  2. Select the camera you want to view.

  3. SelectClips in the lower right corner of the screen.

  4. ChooseView clips.
  5. Select the clip you want to share or download.

  6. Choose one of the icons at the bottom of the video window to share your clip. Choose the Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or Nextdoor icon to quickly post your clip to one of these social media sites.

    1. Click LinkLink icon to create a link for your clip.
    2. Select Copy and paste the link where you want to share it. Anyone who has the link can watch your clip

      Important: A shared link can only be viewed on a computer, it can't be viewed with a phone or tablet. If you want people to be able to view your video with their phone or tablet, we recommend sharing via Youtube, Twitter, Facebook or Nextdoor.

    3. Select Downloaddownload nest app icon  to save the clip to your computer.

Delete clips

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