It’s a chilly moment for early adopters of smart home tech. Google has dropped a bombshell: it’s pulling the plug on software updates for the first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat (2011), the second-generation model (2012), and the European Nest Learning Thermostat (2014). As of October 25th, these devices will lose their connection to the Google Home and Nest apps, meaning no more remote control from your phone or voice commands via Google Assistant. You’ll still be able to tweak the temperature and schedules manually on the device itself, but let’s be real—losing the “smart” part of a smart thermostat stings.

This isn’t just a minor inconvenience. For many, the Nest Thermostat was a gateway into the smart home revolution, a sleek gadget that promised energy savings and futuristic convenience. Now, 14 years after the first model hit the market, Google’s decision raises big questions about the longevity of smart home devices and what happens when the tech giants behind them move on.

Google’s announcement, tucked into a Friday blog post, was blunt. “Starting October 25, 2025, Nest Learning Thermostat (1st gen, 2011), Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd gen, 2012), and Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd gen, Europe version, 2014) will no longer receive software updates. You will no longer be able to control them remotely from your phone or with Google Assistant, but can still adjust the temperature and modify schedules directly on the thermostat,” the company wrote. The affected models are among the earliest in Nest’s lineup, launched when Nest was still an independent company under the leadership of Tony Fadell, a former Apple executive often credited with helping design the iPod. Google snapped up Nest in 2014 for a cool $3.2 billion, and the brand became a cornerstone of its smart home ambitions.

The first- and second-gen Nest Learning Thermostats were groundbreaking at the time. With their minimalist design, machine-learning algorithms, and ability to “learn” your heating and cooling preferences, they turned heads and set the standard for what a smart thermostat could be. The European model, released in 2014, brought similar innovation to a region with more complex heating systems. But now, these devices are being left behind. While they’ll still function as basic thermostats—adjustable by twisting the dial—they’re losing the Wi-Fi-enabled features that made them special.

In a separate but equally surprising move, Google also declared it has no plans to release new Nest thermostats in Europe. “Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes,” the company explained. The third-gen Nest Learning Thermostat (2015) and Nest Thermostat E (2018) will remain on sale in Europe “while supplies last,” but after that, Nest’s thermostat lineup will effectively vanish from the region. For European customers, this feels like a double blow: not only are older devices losing support, but the brand’s future there is fading.

For owners of these early Nest models, the loss of app support is a gut punch. The ability to adjust your thermostat from anywhere—whether you’re at work, on vacation, or just too cozy on the couch to get up—was a key selling point. Integration with Google Assistant added another layer of convenience, letting you bark commands like “Hey Google, set the living room to 72 degrees.” Without these features, the Nest Thermostat feels like a shadow of its former self.

Fortunately, the early models have a saving grace: they can still operate without Wi-Fi, unlike some newer smart thermostats that are entirely cloud-dependent. You’ll be able to manually set temperatures and schedules, but it’s a far cry from the seamless experience Nest owners signed up for. This phase-out highlights a lingering fear in the smart home world: what happens when the company behind your device decides it’s no longer worth supporting? Unlike a traditional thermostat, which can chug along for decades, smart devices rely on software updates and server support to stay functional. When that support ends, you’re left with a pricey piece of hardware that’s only half as useful.

Google’s not breaking these devices entirely, but the move underscores a harsh reality: smart home gadgets have a shelf life, and it’s often dictated by the company’s priorities, not the hardware’s durability. At 14 years old, the first-gen Nest Thermostat has had a decent run, but many owners will argue it’s still too soon to pull the plug. After all, these devices weren’t cheap—retailing for around $250 at launch—and they were marketed as long-term investments in energy efficiency and convenience.

To soften the blow, Google is offering discounts on newer models. In the US, owners of the affected thermostats can score a $130 discount on the fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat, which retails for $279.99. In Canada, the discount is even steeper at $160 off. For European customers, where Nest thermostats are being phased out, Google is offering 50 percent off the Tado Smart Thermostat X, a competitor’s product that supports a wide range of European heating systems. These offers are a nice gesture, but they don’t fully address the frustration of having a once-cutting-edge device lose its core features.

On a brighter note, Google is rolling out a new feature for owners of newer Nest models. Later this year, the Google Home app will allow users to “create and adjust schedules” for recent Nest Thermostats, a capability that’s been missing since the app replaced the older Nest app. It’s a small win, but it does little to ease the sting for owners of the first- and second-gen models.

This isn’t the first time a smart home device has been left in the dust, and it won’t be the last. In 2020, Google ended support for the Nest Secure home security system, leaving users with pricey hardware that no longer received updates. Other companies have faced similar backlash: Amazon recently announced it’s discontinuing support for some older Kindle e-readers, and Logitech has been criticized for bricking its Harmony universal remotes. The pattern is clear: as tech evolves, older devices often get left behind, even if they’re still functional.

What makes the Nest situation particularly galling is Google’s decision not to open-source the hardware. If the company released the firmware or allowed third-party developers to keep the devices alive, owners might have a way to maintain their thermostats’ smart features. Instead, Google’s keeping the ecosystem closed, leaving users with no recourse but to upgrade or accept a dumbed-down device.

The situation also raises questions about the sustainability of smart home tech. As companies pack more screens, sensors, and connectivity into appliances, the risk of planned obsolescence grows. A traditional “dumb” thermostat might last 20 or 30 years with minimal maintenance, but a smart thermostat’s lifespan seems tied to the whims of its manufacturer. Is 14 years a fair run for a $250 device? That depends on your perspective, but it’s hard to argue that customers got what they paid for when the device’s marquee features are being stripped away.

If you own one of the affected Nest Thermostats, you’ve got a few options. First, you can keep using it as a manual thermostat. It’s not ideal, but it’ll still regulate your home’s temperature and follow any schedules you’ve programmed directly on the device. Second, you can take advantage of Google’s discount and upgrade to a newer model, though that comes with the cost of replacing a device that might still work fine. Finally, you could explore third-party alternatives like the Tado Smart Thermostat or Ecobee, which offer similar features and, in some cases, broader compatibility with complex heating systems.

For those in Europe, the phase-out of Nest thermostats is a bigger headache. With no new models on the horizon, you’ll need to look to competitors like Tado, Honeywell, or Netatmo for future-proof smart heating solutions. The 50 percent discount on the Tado Smart Thermostat X is a good deal, but it’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’re being forced to abandon a brand you’ve invested in.

Google’s decision to end support for early Nest Thermostats is a stark reminder that smart home devices come with an expiration date. While the company’s offering discounts and promising new features for newer models, the move leaves a sour taste for longtime Nest users who believed they were buying into a future-proof ecosystem. As smart homes become more common, incidents like this highlight the need for clearer commitments from manufacturers about how long their devices will stay “smart.”

For now, Nest owners are left to decide whether to stick with their soon-to-be-dumb thermostats, upgrade to a new model, or jump ship to another brand.