How to Set Up Matter With Home Assistant

What is Matter with Home Assistant?

Matter is a smart home standard that lets devices from different makers talk to each other naturally, whatever brand or platform they use. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), previously called the Zigbee Alliance, launched it in October 2022. Tech giants Amazon, Apple, and Google were among its founding contributors.

Matter works differently from other systems. It uses standard IP-based (IPv6) communication on your existing local network. This open standard runs locally and gives you full control without needing internet or cloud services. You can use Matter-compatible devices with Home Assistant without connecting to brand-specific clouds. Some makers might ask you to set up an account before you can use Matter features on their products.

Home Assistant acts as a “controller” in the Matter ecosystem to manage Matter-based devices. Each home automation controller that runs Matter devices has its own “fabric” – a separate Matter network. You can add devices straight to Home Assistant’s fabric or share them from other fabrics like Google or Apple.

Matter brings many important benefits:

• Multi-admin capability – You can share one Matter device with Home Assistant, Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa at the same time
• Local operation – Matter works locally after pairing with Home Assistant without cloud dependency
• Improved interoperability – Devices work together whatever their maker
• Simple development – Makers can build once and their devices work with all Matter-certified systems

Matter supports Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Thread as connection options. Many Matter devices use Thread (a wireless mesh network protocol). Some products like SONOFF’s MINIR4M and M5 connect through Wi-Fi, so you don’t need a Thread Border Router.

Home Assistant Operating System works as a complete Matter Controller out of the box without extra hardware. Your Matter devices and Home Assistant communicate through encrypted channels for security. The Matter integration in Home Assistant runs its controller in a separate process as an add-on. It connects the Matter network to Home Assistant through a WebSocket connection.

Matter is a great step forward to create eco-friendly and hassle-free smart home products. Home Assistant’s Matter certification means it works with all products that have the Matter logo.

How does Matter work in Home Assistant?

Home Assistant uses Matter through a dedicated controller that runs as a separate process. The original system uses the Matter Server as an add-on to connect your Matter network (technically called a “Fabric”) with Home Assistant. This server links to Home Assistant through a WebSocket connection and creates a strong foundation to manage devices.

The system creates its own Matter fabric as you set up Matter in Home Assistant. This secure network lets your devices operate while Home Assistant controls the ecosystem and manages device communication. The Matter Server add-on handles everything in the Matter protocol, which allows Home Assistant to focus on the interface and automation features.

Your devices and Home Assistant’s Matter controller use full encryption for communication. All communication stays local on your network without cloud services, so you retain control and reliability even during internet outages.

Home Assistant implements multi-fabric support as one of Matter’s best features. This feature lets you:

• Add devices directly to Home Assistant’s fabric
• Share devices from other controllers (like Google or Apple) to Home Assistant
• Control the same device from multiple platforms simultaneously

The companion app on your smartphone handles device setup (commissioning). Your phone connects to the Matter device through Bluetooth and sends your network credentials securely. The device then switches to Wi-Fi or Thread for regular operation.

Home Assistant connects to Wi-Fi Matter devices without extra hardware. Thread-based Matter devices need a Thread border router. You can use an Apple HomePod Mini, Google Nest Hub, or possibly Home Assistant’s own hardware like the Yellow or Green.

Matter in Home Assistant stays in beta status while developers work toward official certification from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). Many Matter implementations work well despite this status, especially Wi-Fi devices and Matter bridges that connect to Home Assistant.

Home Assistant works only as a Matter controller and cannot bridge non-Matter devices into the Matter ecosystem. It controls Matter devices but cannot convert existing non-Matter devices into Matter-compatible ones.

What do you need to set up Matter smart home devices?

Setting up Matter smart home devices needs several components that work together. A functioning Matter ecosystem requires specific hardware and network elements that allow smooth communication between devices.

Matter controller

The Matter controller acts as the brain of your Matter ecosystem and helps you manage all your Matter devices. Devices running Home Assistant Operating System work as Matter controllers without extra hardware. Smart speakers, displays, and hubs from major platforms can also control Matter devices:

• Amazon Echo (4th Gen), Echo Show models, and Echo Hub
• Apple HomePod (2nd Gen), HomePod Mini, and Apple TV 4K
• Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen), Nest Hub Max, and Google TV Streamer 4K
• Samsung SmartThings Station and Hub v3

Each controller creates its own “fabric” (a secure Matter network) that lets devices communicate through it. Your home can have multiple controllers that provide backup options and convenient control.

Thread border router

Matter devices using Thread communication protocol need a Thread border router instead of Wi-Fi. This component links Thread devices to your local IP network so they can communicate with other devices. Many smart speakers and displays that work as Matter controllers also serve as Thread border routers:

• Apple HomePod Mini or Apple TV 4K
• Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) or Nest Hub Max
• Amazon Echo (4th Gen) or Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Thread border routers should come from the same manufacturer. Different brands might create separate Thread networks instead of a unified mesh.

Compatible platform app

You need a platform app that supports Matter for the setup process. These apps handle device setup, network credentials, and device management. Popular apps include:

• Google Home app (version 2.62.1.15 or later)
• Apple Home app (iOS 16.2 or later)
• Amazon Alexa app (version 2.491118.0 or later)
• Samsung SmartThings app

These apps use your smartphone to scan the Matter setup code and send network credentials through Bluetooth.

Wi-Fi or Ethernet network

Matter devices connect to a standard home network through Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The network should have:

• All devices on the same network
• IPv6 enabled – this is vital for Matter to work
• A modern mesh Wi-Fi router if you have many Matter devices
• One SSID across all frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) that improves reliability

How to set up Matter with Home Assistant step-by-step

Setting up Matter in Home Assistant is a simple process that links your smart home devices to a unified ecosystem. This guide will help you add Matter-compatible devices to your Home Assistant installation.

1. Add the Matter integration

Start by opening your Home Assistant interface and go to Settings > Devices & services. Click Add Integration and look for Matter. Select the Matter integration to start setup. Choose “Submit” if you run Home Assistant OS in a standard configuration.

2. Install the Matter add-on

The official Matter server add-on installs automatically after you add the integration. This creates a Matter controller that talks to Home Assistant through WebSocket connection. Users with custom setups can link to an existing Matter server by entering its URL (typically ws://localhost:5580/ws).

3. Connect your Matter devices

The Home Assistant app on your smartphone makes device addition simple. Go to Settings > Devices & services and click the Add device button in the Devices tab. Pick Add Matter device and tell the system if your device is new or already set up on another platform. New devices need preparation based on the manufacturer’s instructions, usually by entering pairing mode.

4. Use QR code or NFC for pairing

Matter’s protocol gives you different ways to pair devices. Your smartphone camera can scan the device’s QR code, or with Matter version 1.4.1, you can use tap-to-pair NFC on supported devices. NFC pairing works great for devices with QR codes that are hard to reach, like installed bulbs or switches. Recent Matter versions let you set up multiple devices with just one QR code scan if they came in the same package.

5. Assign devices to rooms

The final step asks you to name your device and pick a room for it. This organization makes device management and automation easier. Home Assistant then learns what your device can do and sets it up for control within your smart home system.

What devices work with Matter in Home Assistant?

Home Assistant provides detailed support for Matter-compatible smart home devices of all types. The platform supports every Matter device type through Matter 1.3 specifications. Smart home enthusiasts can use sensors (door/window, motion, illuminance, temperature), climate controllers, covers, lights, locks, and switches.

Home Assistant’s Matter Python Server add-on has evolved with version 8.0.0 to support device types from Matter 1.4 specifications. This latest update brings mounted device types such as Mounted On/Off Control and Mounted Dimmable Load Control. We added these features to support wall-mounted or hardwired load controllers, which differ from the On/Off Plug-in Units meant for devices you can unplug.

Smart home users should keep these key points in mind while choosing Matter devices for Home Assistant:

• Functionality limitations – Matter-controlled devices might have fewer features compared to their native integrations. To name just one example, Philips Hue lights with Matter give you simple controls, while the dedicated Hue integration lets you use advanced features like dynamic scenes and entertainment mode.
• Certification status – You’ll get the best compatibility with devices that display the official Matter logo or have clear manufacturer confirmation of Matter support.
• Communication protocol – Matter devices connect through Wi-Fi/Ethernet or Thread. Your choice of communication method determines what extra hardware you might need.

The market now features Matter-certified products from many manufacturers, including smart plugs, lightstrips, LED lamps, locks, thermostats, dimmers, fans, and sensors. The Works With Home Assistant program tests specific Matter devices to ensure they work perfectly with the platform.

How to share Matter devices across platforms

The Matter protocol’s life-blood feature lets multiple platforms control smart home devices at the same time. Your household can blend a single device with different ecosystems without the hassle of resetting or reconfiguring it.

Enable pairing mode

The device sharing process starts from the platform app where you first set up the device. You must use the original platform app rather than resetting the hardware. Hardware button resets will break your original connection because the controller creates a new certificate during the original pairing. Bridged accessories need special handling – activate pairing mode on the bridge device instead of individual sensors for items like Zigbee sensors connected through a hub.

Generate new setup code

The platform app creates a temporary setup code once pairing mode activates. This code shows up as a numeric sequence or QR code that stays valid briefly – Alexa gives you 15 minutes, Google Home allows 3 minutes, and Apple Home provides 5 minutes. Each code works just once, so you’ll need new codes for additional sharing. Different ecosystems handle this slightly differently. The general path leads through device settings to options like “Turn On Pairing Mode” in Apple, “Link apps & services” in Google, or “Other Assistants and Apps” in Amazon.

Add device to another platform

After copying the temporary code, open your secondary platform’s app. Select the option to add a new Matter device and specify that another system already uses it. The setup code goes in when asked. A successful addition means you can control the device from both platforms while it keeps its original settings.

Conclusion

Home Assistant’s embrace of the Matter protocol marks a true turning point in smart home technology. With Matter gaining momentum across the industry, Home Assistant is positioning itself as a leader in bringing reliable, unified standards into everyday homes. While certification is still in progress, the foundation is strong and backed by dedicated funding that ensures development, testing, and long-term support.

For users, this means more than just compatibility — it means privacy, reliability, and simplicity. Matter reduces cloud dependence, improves security, and makes device setup far less intimidating, addressing one of the biggest pain points in smart home adoption.

As the protocol matures, Matter is shaping a future of greener, more dependable smart homes. For Home Assistant users, that translates into a platform that not only grows with new features and device support but also reinforces the values of local control and user trust. The result is a smarter, more reliable ecosystem that everyday households can finally count on.

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