Google appears to be rolling out the updated Thread 1.4 smart home standard to several Nest devices right now. According to user reports, the devices affected include the Nest Hub, the Nest Hub Max, and the Nest WiFi Pro, which will make it easier to share access credentials with devices from other manufacturers in the future. There has been no official announcement from Google yet: The information comes from the community and a report by Android Authority.
Key Points at a Glance
- Google appears to be rolling out Thread 1.4 to the Nest Hub, Nest Hub (2nd generation), Nest Hub Max, and Nest WiFi Pro.
- The Google TV streamer already received the update in June 2026.
- The key feature is Credential Sharing: Border routers from different manufacturers will be able to share a Thread network in the future, rather than each setting up their own.
- Google has not yet issued an official statement. Sources include user reports and a report from Android Authority.
- The update is being delivered via regular system updates; older Thread devices will continue to function as usual.
What is Thread 1.4, and why is this update important?
Thread is an energy-efficient wireless standard for smart home devices supported by Google, Apple, and Amazon, among others, and is typically used in conjunction with Matter. The Thread Group unveiled version 1.4 back in September 2024, and manufacturers have been gradually implementing the new features since then. According to the official announcement, these include a unified mesh network that spans manufacturer and platform boundaries, as well as a standardized path for border routers to connect to the internet. Additionally, the update expands the Thread network via Wi-Fi and Ethernet and enables secure, wireless onboarding of new devices using TLS encryption.
For users, this means one thing above all: less frustration during setup. Anyone who has ever discovered a second Thread network in their own home because a new device wouldn’t connect to the existing one knows just how annoying that can be.
These Nest devices are getting the update
Users are reporting on forums and Reddit that the following devices have already received or are currently receiving Thread 1.4:
| Device | Status |
|---|---|
| Nest Hub | Rollout in progress |
| Nest Hub (2nd generation) | Rollout in progress |
| Nest Hub Max | Rollout in progress |
| Nest WiFi Pro | Rollout in progress |
| Google TV Streamer | Available since June 2026 |
The order is noteworthy: The Google TV Streamer, as the newest Nest product, received the update first, followed now by older Border Router-compatible devices such as the Nest Hub Max. This is typical for firmware updates on Nest devices, which Google has always rolled out in stages.
Rollout Without Announcement: Why Is Google Staying Silent?
It’s noteworthy that Google hasn’t officially mentioned the update at all so far. Thread 1.4 doesn’t appear in either the Google Home changelog or a press release. The only sources are user reports, such as on Reddit, and the report from Android Authority. One user commented there, essentially saying that one would expect Google to announce something like this somewhere. After all, the change directly affects how well devices from different manufacturers work together in the same household.
This pattern isn’t entirely new: Even minor feature and security updates for Nest hardware regularly land on devices without much fanfare, while major updates—such as those for the Google TV Streamer—usually get their own blog post.
Here’s what Thread 1.4 brings to everyday use
The key new feature is called Credential Sharing. Border routers from different manufacturers automatically recognize each other on the same local network and within the same Matter fabric. Instead of setting up their own isolated network, they then adopt the credentials of the existing Thread network. For households with multiple Thread border routers (such as a Nest Hub and a smart speaker from another manufacturer), this means that both devices join the same mesh instead of creating two parallel networks that interfere with each other. According to the Thread Group, this is intended to reduce connection drops and make the onboarding of new devices more reliable, since users are less likely to be presented with a second network to choose from.
Here’s how to find out if your device already supports Thread 1.4
There is currently no official display of the Thread version in the Google Home app. The best way to check is to look at the device information for your Nest device (Google Home app → Select device → Gear icon → Device information), where you can at least see the current firmware version. However, Google doesn’t directly specify whether this version already includes Thread 1.4. The only more reliable method at the moment is to compare your device with others that have already been reported as updated in user forums. If you want to be absolutely sure, you’ll have to be patient for now until Google officially provides the relevant information.
Conclusion
At Google, Thread 1.4 appears to be rolling out just like many minor Nest updates: quietly and without announcement. For households with multiple Thread-enabled devices from different manufacturers, the update is still worth it because it solves the very problem that’s most annoying in multi-ecosystem setups: competing networks. If you own a Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, or Nest WiFi Pro, you should check in the coming weeks to see if the update has arrived yet.
Sources: Android Authority, Thread Group
