When to replace your Nest Protect

• Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms expire because their sensors have a limited lifespan. To meet certification standards, the Nest Protect (2nd gen) requires replacement 10 years after the manufacture date, while the 1st gen needs replacement 7 years after the manufacture date.
• Because CO sensors have a limited lifespan, certification standards require Protect to chirp when the sensors expire or fail. To help you remember to replace your Protect before it expires, you’ll receive reminders before the expiration date.
• To ensure continuous protection from smoke and carbon monoxide, make sure to replace your Nest Protect when it expires.

Important:

• You need to connect your Protect to your Wi-Fi and set it up in the Nest or Google Home app to get app notifications and emails about its expiration.
• Your Protect will still chirp after expiration, even if it’s not connected to the Nest or Home app.

Protect notifies you in several ways when it needs to be replaced.

The Nest and Home app will notify you ahead of time

You'll receive a push notification on your phone 3 months, 1 month, and 7 days before your Protect expires. You’ll also get a message in the Nest and Home app on those same days.

• Nest app: Tap on the notification, or go to the Nest app tap Menu Messages.
• Google Home: Tap on the notification, or go to the Home app tap Favorites Inbox .

Each notification reminds you that your Protect will stop working soon and shows you when it needs to be replaced.

In the app, your Protect displays a yellow ring instead of a green one and shows the message "Expiring soon." Tap your Protect in the Nest or Home app for more information.

How Nest Protect lets you know it’s working

Starting 3 months before your Protect’s expiration date, days in your Protect’s history turn yellow to indicate that it’s expiring soon. This continues until the Protect expires or is removed from the app.

You'll receive emails on your account address

Nest sends you a reminder email 3 months and 1 month before your Protect expires.

Your Monthly Home Report also notifies you that your Protect is expiring soon and needs to be replaced.

Protect will tell you

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press the Protect button, it will say, “Heads-up. Nest Protect will expire in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect soon.” Learn more about Nest Protect lights and sounds.

The Nest app will notify you

When your Protect’s sensors expire, you’ll receive a notification on your phone and a message in the app. To check the message, tap on the notification, or go to the Nest app tap Menu Messages.

The Google Home app will notify you

You’ll receive a push notification on your phone with the Protect’s name and expiration date. To check the message in the Google Home app, go to the Home app tap Favorites Inbox .

A yellow ring appears on your Protect and in the app. When you press the button on your Protect, it also says "Expired." Tap your Protect in the app for more information.

How Nest Protect lets you know it’s working

In Protect’s history, the expiration date appears gray. This continues until Protect is removed from the app.

You'll receive emails on your account address

Nest sends you an email the day your Protect expires.

Your Monthly Home Report also tells you that Protect has expired.

Protect will tell you

Your Protect chirps continuously after it expires.

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). When you press the Protect button, it will say, “Heads-up. Nest Protect has expired in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect now.” Learn more about Nest Protect lights and sounds.

Check the status of your Nest Protect and its expiration date.

In the Nest app:

1. On the app home screen, choose your Protect.

2. Select Settings .

3. Tap Technical info. You’ll find the expiration date next to "Replace by."

In the Google Home app:

1. On the home app screen, choose your Protect.

2. Select Settings .
3. Tap Device information. You’ll find the expiration date under Technical information, next to "Replace by."

You can also check the replacement date on the back of your Protect:

• Disconnect your Protect from the backplate.
• To remove a battery powered Protect, turn it counterclockwise until it disconnects from the backplate.
• To remove a wired Protect, first turn off the power at the breaker box. Then, turn Protect counterclockwise until it disconnects from the backplate.

Like other electronic devices, Protect’s sensors can be damaged by:

• A significant incident, such as a building fire or flood
• Detergent or cleaning solvents (like glass cleaner)
• Other chemicals including paint, air fresheners, hair spray, other aerosols, or vehicle exhaust
• Open flames

The Nest and Home app will notify you

When your Protect’s sensor has been damaged, you’ll receive a notification from the Nest or Home app that says the smoke sensor or CO sensor has failed, and that you need to replace Nest Protect. Tap your Protect in the app for more information.

How Nest Protect lets you know it’s working

In Protect’s history, days when the smoke sensor or CO sensor fails appear as yellow.

Protect will show you

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press the Protect button, it will say, “The sensors have failed in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect now.”

If there hasn’t been a major incident like a fire, Protect’s smoke chamber may simply have excessive dust in it. Try to clean it. If the notifications stop, you can continue to use your Protect as usual.

If the notifications continue, you’ll need to replace Protect.

Wired	Battery powered
Turn off the power at the breaker box. Turn Protect counterclockwise to disconnect it from its backplate. Unplug the 120V connector from the back of Protect. Unscrew the backplate.	Turn Protect counterclockwise to disconnect it from its backplate. Unscrew the backplate.

After you uninstall your Protect, follow your new smoke or CO alarm's manual to install it. You can find instructions to install Nest Protect in our help center.

You can also learn how to properly dispose of Nest Protect and remove Nest Protect from your account in the Nest app in our help center.