Google and your Wi-Fi
8 Google products in the Compatibility Index, averaging 77/100 for how well they cope with ordinary home Wi-Fi. Checked September 2026.
- Google Nest Cam76/100
Reliable once connected, but constant video upload punishes a weak signal more than most devices.
Most common complaint: Recordings go choppy or the camera drops out at busy times of day.
- Chromecast / Google TV64/100
Simple to use, but it sits behind the TV where the signal is weakest and depends on your phone finding it.
Most common complaint: The cast button vanishes from the phone even though the TV is switched on and online.
- Google Nest Doorbell73/100
Uploads video constantly, so it punishes a weak front-door signal harder than most devices.
Most common complaint: "Camera offline" notifications, or the doorbell clip only appears after the visitor has left.
- Nest Learning Thermostat80/100
Uses your Wi-Fi directly, so a weak signal in the hall shows up as a thermostat that won't respond from your phone.
Most common complaint: Heating still works, but the app says it can't reach the thermostat.
Fine on its own, but casting from a phone depends on local chatter that some routers quietly block.
Most common complaint: The cast button disappears, or the speaker answers but won't play from your phone.
- Google Nest Audio81/100
Plays fine on its own; the trouble starts when your phone tries to cast to it across a split network.
Most common complaint: The cast button disappears from Spotify or YouTube even though the speaker answers you.
The one people put in the back bedroom, which is exactly where the signal runs out.
Most common complaint: "Something went wrong" when setting it up in a far room, or it drops out of a speaker group.
A speaker with a screen, so it wants the faster band and steady video as well as local discovery.
Most common complaint: Camera feeds and video calls stutter while music from the same speaker is fine.
Google problem guides
- Why won't my Google Nest Audio work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Google Nest Doorbell work on the guest network?
- Why does my Chromecast / Google TV disappear from the app?
- Why won't my Chromecast / Google TV work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Google Nest Cam work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Google Nest speaker & display work on the guest network?
- Why won't my Nest Learning Thermostat work on the guest network?
- Will cameras work properly in a garden office or outbuilding?
- Will cameras work properly in a new build?
- Will cameras work properly in a stone cottage or thick stone walls?
- Will cameras work properly in a victorian terrace or semi?
- Will doorbells work properly in a new build?
- Will doorbells work properly in a stone cottage or thick stone walls?
- Will doorbells work properly in a victorian terrace or semi?
- Why does my Google Nest Audio disappear from the app?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest Audio?
- Does the TalkTalk router cause problems with a Google Nest Cam?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest Doorbell?
- Why does my Google Nest Doorbell keep needing setting up again?
- Why won't my Google Nest Doorbell join my 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
- Will thermostats work properly in a new build?
- Will thermostats work properly in a stone cottage or thick stone walls?
- Will thermostats work properly in a three-storey house?
- Why does my Chromecast / Google TV keep needing setting up again?
- Does the EE router cause problems with a Google Nest Audio?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest Cam?
- Why does my Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) disappear from the app?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?
- Why does my Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) disappear from the app?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)?
- Why does my Google Nest speaker & display disappear from the app?
- Is my extender breaking my Google Nest speaker & display?
- Is my extender breaking my Nest Learning Thermostat?
- Why does my Nest Learning Thermostat keep needing setting up again?
- Why won't my Nest Learning Thermostat join my 5 GHz Wi-Fi?