Open-source ‘No Longer Evil’ firmware revives legacy Nest thermostats after Google cloud sunset
As Google cuts online support for first- and second-generation Learning Thermostats, independent developers restore smart controls via local Home Assistant.
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Google's formal termination of cloud connectivity and software support for first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats has reignited consumer debate regarding the planned obsolescence of household infrastructure. While homeowners can still manually twist the physical dial to adjust temperatures on-device, Google's server sunset effectively severed all remote smartphone scheduling, voice assistant integration, and eco-mode automations for devices installed over the past 14 years.
Rather than accepting Google's recommendation to scrap operational hardware or purchase a discounted fourth-generation model, a grassroots open-source movement is successfully breathing new life into orphaned units. A community project titled 'No Longer Evil' has released custom open-source firmware that replaces Google's proprietary operating system with a privacy-respecting local control stack.
By flashing their thermostats via a guided USB installer, users can re-enable smart heating curves and link their devices directly to private local Home Assistant servers or independent community cloud bridges. The custom firmware entirely bypasses Google's deprecated cloud servers, insulating homeowners from corporate service shutdowns while retaining the Nest's iconic rotating dial interface and digital display.
Independent repair advocates caution that flashing custom firmware carries a small risk of bricking the unit, which could leave homes without active climate controls during winter freezes. For users unwilling to attempt firmware modifications, Google maintains a prepaid e-waste mail-in recycling program with factory-reset instructions. Nonetheless, the success of the 'No Longer Evil' firmware highlights a growing consumer demand for sovereign, locally controlled smart home hardware that outlives corporate product lifecycles.