Google’s smart displays have changed significantly since their early years, and one of the more subtle shifts has now become hard to ignore. The app-style shortcuts that once lived on the home screen of the Google Nest Hub are largely gone.
Back in 2021, Google rolled out an update that introduced a grid of touch-friendly “apps” on Nest Hub devices. The idea was simple and sensible. Instead of relying entirely on voice commands, users could tap icons to jump straight into common actions like checking the weather, starting a timer, or opening YouTube. For a product with a touchscreen, it felt like a step towards making the display more self-sufficient.
Fast forward to today, and that interface has almost completely disappeared. Reports over the past year, first spotted by users on Reddit, suggest that the app grid is no longer available on Nest Hub devices. What remains is a very slim list, including Search, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Stories. Everything else has quietly vanished.
This is not limited to one model or generation. Checks across the Nest Hub Max, the original Nest Hub, and the second-generation Nest Hub all show the same outcome. The team at Android Authority has also confirmed identical behaviour across their own devices, suggesting this is a platform-wide change rather than a regional bug or temporary glitch.
What makes the situation more puzzling is the scope of what has been removed. In 2021, the app grid included Broadcast, Calendar, Contacts, Duo, Games, Netflix, Meet, News, Pandora, Podcasts, Reminders, Shopping, Timer, Weather, YouTube Music, YouTube, and Zoom. Some removals make sense on paper. Duo and Podcasts, for instance, no longer exist as standalone Google products. But others, such as Calendar, Reminders, Weather, and YouTube Music, remain core parts of the Google ecosystem and are still heavily used via voice commands.
Importantly, this does not appear to be a sudden decision. Over the past couple of years, there have been sporadic reports of apps disappearing from the grid. In some cases, Assistant was still visible while the rest of the list had already been stripped back. What users are seeing now looks more like the final stage of a long-running wind-down rather than a brand-new removal.
The last confirmed sighting of the full app grid dates back to early 2024. Since then, the feature has faded away without any official announcement or explanation from Google. That silence is telling. If the app grid had been widely used or strongly valued, its disappearance would likely have triggered a louder reaction.
In reality, most Nest Hub owners probably defaulted to voice commands and glanceable cards, barely touching the app interface. Its quiet removal reinforces a familiar pattern with Google hardware. Features are introduced with good intentions, left to languish without meaningful updates, and eventually removed once they no longer fit the company’s broader strategy.
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