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The 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat now supports four additional Farsight faces—new visual layouts meant for the way the thermostat looks at a distance. If your home is already using Farsight, this update is mostly about giving you more clock-and-information styles to choose from.
This guide explains what Farsight faces are, how the new styles typically roll out, and the exact steps to check for the update and switch faces. If the new faces don’t show up right away, you’ll also get a practical troubleshooting checklist.
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What are Farsight faces on the 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat?
Farsight is the thermostat’s “look-from-across-the-room” display mode. When Farsight is active, the screen shows a larger, readable layout (often a clock-style face plus contextual information) designed to be visible without walking up to the thermostat.
A Farsight face is the specific visual layout/theme used while Farsight is on. Think of faces as selectable “skins” for the same function: showing time and relevant status from a distance.
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- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills[2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
What the new four Farsight faces change
With this update, Google adds four new face options to the pool you can select from. In practical terms, you should expect changes in one or more of these areas:
- Layout style (how information is arranged on-screen).
- Time presentation (clock formatting and emphasis).
- Visual density (how much secondary info appears alongside the main time readout).
- Theme behavior (how the face looks under different lighting/display conditions).
Because Farsight is designed for readability, the main benefit is personalization: you can pick the face that matches your room lighting, wall color, and the style you prefer.
Prerequisites before you expect to see new faces
Before troubleshooting, confirm the basics. Farsight face options typically depend on both your thermostat model and your thermostat’s software build.
- Correct model: the changes are for the 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat (not older Nest Learning Thermostat generations).
- Connected to Wi‑Fi: the thermostat must be able to reach Google services for staged feature rollouts.
- App access: the Google Home app provides status, and sometimes surfaces updates faster than waiting on-device.
- Software version: older builds may not receive the new faces until an incremental update lands.
If you’re in a home with multiple thermostats, also confirm you’re looking at the correct device within your Google Home account.
How to check if your thermostat has the update
Rollouts are commonly staged, meaning not every thermostat gets the new faces on the same day. The safest approach is to check software status first.
On the thermostat
- Wake the thermostat screen and go to Settings.
- Open About (or Device info, depending on your UI wording).
- Locate Software version.
Write the version down. If your version is older, the new faces may arrive after the next software update.
In the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app.
- Select your Nest Learning Thermostat from the home screen.
- Look for a device status area showing Update / Software / Device information.
- If an update is available, follow the app prompts to install it.
If there’s no update prompt, it doesn’t always mean the feature isn’t coming—it may be waiting on a server-side rollout flag.
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- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills [2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
How to switch between Farsight faces
Once the new faces are present, switching is usually quick. The goal is to keep Farsight enabled and then pick the face you want.
Using the thermostat screen
- On the thermostat, open Settings.
- Go to Display or Farsight (the exact menu name can vary slightly).
- Confirm Farsight is turned On.
- Select Farsight faces / Face / Clock face.
- Choose one of the available faces and return to the main screen to see it apply.
If the display doesn’t change immediately, give it a minute—some display updates apply on the next idle/Farsight cycle.
Using the Google Home app
- Open Google Home.
- Select your Nest Learning Thermostat.
- Go to the device settings area for Display or Farsight.
- Pick Farsight face from the list.
- Confirm the selection and allow the thermostat a short time to update.
Not all app views are identical—if you don’t see face selection in the app, the thermostat screen often has the most complete control.
If you don’t see the new faces: troubleshooting checklist
If your UI still only shows the older Farsight face set, work through the list in order. Most issues fall into one of four buckets: connectivity, pending software updates, staged rollout timing, or account/app sync.
Confirm Wi‑Fi connectivity and internet access
- On the thermostat, check the Wi‑Fi status in Settings > Network (or similar).
- Make sure it shows Connected.
- Reboot your router if your entire network is having issues (for example, intermittent connectivity for multiple devices).
Even when Wi‑Fi says connected, captive portals, DNS blocks, or firewall rules can prevent update fetching.
Verify your thermostat software version
- Go to Settings > About on the thermostat.
- Confirm the Software version.
- In the Google Home app, check whether any system update is queued.
If there’s an update pending, install it first—new face options won’t appear until the required software baseline is in place.
Reboot the thermostat
- Open Settings.
- Find Restart (or Reboot).
- Confirm and let it power back up fully.
A reboot won’t force an update by itself, but it can help the thermostat re-check for recently released configuration flags.
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- Nest’s smartest, most advanced thermostat yet, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is a beautiful, brilliant way to save energy, keep your home comfortable, and help make sure your heating and cooling systems are running smoothly[4]
- Savings you can count on: The Nest Learning Thermostat can help save up to 31% on heating and cooling bills[2]
- Improved compatibility: It works with most 24V systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, heat pump, and radiant, and no C wire is required for installation in most homes; visit the Nest Compatibility Checker for more info[5]
- Easy control in the Google Home app: Adjust on your phone from anywhere[1] or by using your voice with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant smart speaker[3], it’s easy to install yourself and it’s Matter compatible for simple integration into your smart home[5]
- Beautiful design: With a 60% larger display[11] and Dynamic Farsight, you can see info from across the room[1]; choose the design, like a clock or the weather; it automatically adjusts brightness for the best readability or you can adjust manually
Let the rollout finish (staged releases are common)
Google often rolls out new features gradually. If your thermostat has a current software version, it may simply be waiting for the next entitlement window.
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- Check again after 24–72 hours.
- If you still don’t see the new faces after several days, proceed to the account sync checks.
Check for app or account sync issues
- Confirm you’re signed into the same Google account that owns the thermostat.
- Update the Google Home app on your phone.
- In the app, ensure the thermostat shows recent status (temperature, connectivity).
- Force close and reopen the app, then check for any device messages.
If you recently changed phones or removed/re-added the thermostat, give it time to sync again.
Common mistakes that prevent face updates
- Expecting immediate appearance: staged rollouts aren’t always synchronized across devices.
- Checking the wrong device: homes with multiple thermostats can lead to selecting the wrong thermostat in the app.
- Skipping software updates: the face list is typically tied to a software capability baseline.
- Using a partial connectivity setup: routers with restrictive settings (blocked NTP, strict DNS filtering, or segmented IoT networks) can delay feature delivery.
- Confusing Farsight with scheduling: faces are a display feature; they don’t affect heating/cooling schedules, even if your thermostat learns behavior.
Comparisons: Farsight vs. schedule and temperature display options
It helps to separate display customization from thermostat automation.
Farsight faces are about what you see from a distance
Choosing a new face changes the on-screen presentation for the Farsight mode. It doesn’t inherently change learning behavior, temperature targets, or schedule logic.
Schedules and learning are still governed by usage patterns
On the 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat, learning-based schedules and comfort behavior are based on occupancy and temperature history. Farsight faces are a cosmetic/presentation layer on top of that.
Why you might still see the old face after updating
If the new faces arrive but you don’t switch them, you’ll keep seeing your previously selected face. Also, some displays apply changes only when the thermostat enters the Farsight/idle display state.
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How long does it take for the four new Farsight faces to show up?
There’s no guaranteed exact timing. Staged rollouts often mean anywhere from a day to several days. If you’ve got the latest software and the list still doesn’t include the new faces, re-check after 24–72 hours and confirm Wi‑Fi connectivity.
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- The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory
- Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home. Lock feature: No
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- Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
Will the new faces affect heating or cooling performance?
No. Farsight faces change what the thermostat displays in Farsight mode. Heating/cooling behavior is driven by sensing, settings, and schedule/learning logic—not by the face theme.
Can I revert to an older Farsight face?
Usually, yes. When new faces are added, they expand the selectable set rather than replacing everything. If you don’t see an older face you remember, check whether your thermostat software version is fully up to date.
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Farsight is typically conditional—it may activate based on time, motion/proximity behavior, lighting, or idle state. If you switch faces, wait for the next time Farsight activates to confirm the change.
Does Farsight face selection sync across multiple devices or phones?
The face selection is stored on the thermostat itself. Your phone (via the Google Home app) is mainly a controller. As long as you’re using the correct Google account that owns the thermostat, you should see consistent results.
Bottom Line
The 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat adding four new Farsight faces is a straightforward quality-of-life update: more ways to make the thermostat’s always-on glance match your room and your preferences.
If the new faces don’t appear immediately, focus on connectivity, confirm you’re on a current software version, and remember that staged rollouts are normal. Once the update lands, switching faces is quick from the thermostat settings or the Google Home app.
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