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Own: What happens after you buy · Tech & software

Smart devices that stop working: fair or not?

Many smart home devices depend on the maker's servers and app. When the company ends a product, gets bought, or goes out of business, the device can lose its smart features or stop working entirely. Some owners get refunds or discounts, and many get nothing. Is it fair to sell a device that the seller can switch off later?

Is it fair for a company to shut down servers and leave the smart devices you bought useless?

Be one of the first to vote.

What happens

Smart devices often send commands through the company's cloud. If those servers go away, the app and remote features go too. Google ended app support for first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats on October 25, 2025; they still run schedules and work by hand, but phone control stopped. Spotify said its Car Thing would stop working after December 9, 2024, and later offered refunds with proof of purchase.

Some shutdowns are total. Humane's AI Pin stopped connecting to its servers on February 28, 2025, after HP bought the company's assets, and refunds went only to recent buyers. Years earlier, Nest shut off Revolv smart home hubs in 2016 and then refunded buyers.

Why many people say it’s not fair

  • Owners paid full price for hardware the seller can disable from afar.
  • Few products say up front how long the servers will run.
  • Refunds, when offered, often cover only recent buyers or need proof of purchase.
  • People who built routines or home systems around a device must replace and reinstall.
  • Shut-off devices often become electronic waste.

The other side

Companies say running servers, apps, and security fixes costs money every year, and products that sold for a one-time price may not pay for that forever. Old devices can also become security risks if they cannot be updated. Some makers try to soften the blow with notice, discounts on newer models, refunds, or by leaving basic features working offline, as with the older Nest thermostats.

When a company fails or is sold, there may be no one left to pay for service.

Options you may not be told about

Ask the company for a refund or credit when it announces a shutdown. Spotify and Nest both refunded some owners.
Check for a replacement offer. Google emailed older Nest thermostat owners an offer and says to contact Google Support if you did not get one.
Download your photos, recordings, and data before the shutdown date, as Humane told AI Pin owners to do.
When buying, prefer devices that work locally. The Matter standard is designed as a local technology and can link a device to more than one platform.
If the device was bought recently, ask your card issuer about disputing the charge.

What you can do

  1. Register your devices and keep receipts so you get shutdown notices and can prove purchase.
  2. Read shutdown emails closely for refund deadlines and data download steps.
  3. Ask for a refund in writing, and note the date and any reply.
  4. Before buying, search the product name plus end of support or shutdown.
  5. Report shutdowns that leave you with nothing to the FTC and your state attorney general.

Rules and your rights

No US law says how long a company must keep a smart device working. In 2016, FTC staff closed a review of Nest's Revolv shutdown after refunds, but said disabling devices unilaterally could raise unfairness concerns under the FTC Act. In 2024, FTC staff said failing to disclose how long updates last may violate federal warranty law for products with written warranties. Report problems at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.

Has this happened to you? Share what happened so others know what to expect.

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Related

Common questions

What happens to smart home devices when the company shuts down?

It depends on how the device was built. Devices that rely on company servers can lose app control or stop working entirely, like the Revolv hub and Humane AI Pin. Devices with local controls may keep basic functions, like older Nest thermostats, which still run schedules and work by hand without the app.

Can I get a refund if my smart device is shut down?

Sometimes. Nest refunded Revolv buyers, Spotify offered Car Thing refunds with proof of purchase, and Humane refunded only recent buyers. Ask the company in writing, keep your receipt, and check refund deadlines in any shutdown notice. A recent purchase may also be disputed with your card issuer.

How can I avoid buying a smart device that stops working?

Look for a published support end date, devices that work locally without the company's cloud, and support for open standards like Matter. Big brands are no guarantee, so search the product name with shutdown or end of support before buying. Keep your receipt and register the device.

Sources: Google Nest Help: End of support for Nest Learning Thermostats (1st and 2nd gen) ↗ · TechCrunch: Spotify to shut off Car Thing for good (May 2024) ↗ · PhoneArena: Spotify to refund users for discontinued Car Thing ↗ · Android Authority: Humane AI Pin shutting down (Feb. 2025) ↗ · FTC staff closing letter to Nest Labs about Revolv hubs (July 2016) ↗ · FTC: Smart products surveyed fail to tell consumers how long software updates will last (Nov. 2024) ↗ · Connectivity Standards Alliance: Matter FAQs ↗ · FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov announcement ↗

General information, not legal, financial or real estate advice. Whether a practice is fair is a matter of opinion; votes and shared experiences are the views of site visitors, not AblePro, Inc. Rules and company policies change; check current terms and your state’s rules.