Skip to content

How to use Matter devices with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

Having a smart home without compatibility barriers is becoming more and more a reality, thanks to the Matter protocol supported by Amazon, Google, Apple and also Home Assistant.

So today we are going to find out how to use Matter smart devices with Home Assistant and also with Amazon Alexa additionally.

Index

    Tutorial on using Matter with Home Assistant

    To begin with, when choosing smart devices that use the Matter standard, you should be very careful.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    They usually use Wi-Fi or Thread technology.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    You can easily identify it on the packaging of the device, indicating Matter and Wi-Fi.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    O indicating Matter and Thread.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Prerequisites for using Matter with Home Assistant

    Let’s see how to integrate 2 types of Matter devices with Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    A Matter Wi-Fi smart plug from NEO.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    For this plug, we only need our Home Assistant Green home automation hub.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    A door/window sensor Matter by Thread from Aqara.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    For this sensor, which communicates with Thread technology that can be compared in many respects to Zigbee technology, in addition to our Home Assistant Green home automation hub, we need a “Thread Border Router”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And, for this, we will use our Home Assistant ZBT-1 dongle.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    In my example, I am going to consider that I am starting a fresh installation of Matter devices with Home Assistant, so you can follow these steps if this is also the case for you.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    To make sure everything is going to work, the first thing to do is to update Home Assistant Core and Home Assistant OS to enjoy the latest features and optimisations of Matter. And before doing so, I recommend you always create a backup copy in case you have any kind of usage failure in your installation.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We must go to “Settings” and we can see available updates.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So we are going to update the Core.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we will also update the OS.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    You must also have iOS version 16 or higher on your phone if you have an iPhone or Android version 8.1 or higher if you have an Android phone.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And you must have the latest version of the Home Assistant app on your phone.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    In order to connect Matter devices with Home Assistant, it is necessary to activate Bluetooth on your phone, as these devices often use this technology when pairing.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And once linked, they will communicate via Wi-Fi or Thread.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We must also be connected to the same Wi-Fi network on our phone to successfully pair Matter devices with Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now that we have everything updated and ready to set up Matter devices with Home Assistant, let’s add our smart devices.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    How to set up Matter over Wi-Fi

    We are going to configure a Matter WIFI socket.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We are going to access the interface of our Home Assistant Green home automation hub and go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now go to “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Add integration”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we search for “Matter”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, leave the checkbox “Use the official Matter Server supervisor add-on” ticked and click “Submit”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we must click on “Finish”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, from your phone, go to the Home Assistant application and go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Go to “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Add integration”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Add Matter device”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we select the option “No. It’s new” if we don’t use our Matter device in another controller.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, let’s scan the QR code on our Matter smart plug.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    This QR code is usually found on the device.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Also in the instruction manual or a sheet that comes in the packaging.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    At this point, we must have our Matter device in partnership mode, so in the case of my plug, I must have it plugged into the mains and, if necessary, hit its physical button for a few seconds to put it into partnership mode.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Done, after a few seconds, I have my Matter Wi-Fi device available in Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So now I can control it from my phone, anywhere in the world.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    How to configure Matter by Thread

    To use a Matter device with Thread technology, as I mentioned, we will need a Thread Border Router that we have to use with Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    In my example, I will use the Home Assistant dongle ZBT-1, as it is the official dongle of the company Nabu Casa, creator of the Home Assistant project, so I will surely enjoy the best compatibilities over time.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    I am going to insert my ZBT-1 dongle into the USB port of my Home Assistant Green home automation hub.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, in the Home Assistant interface, go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We can see the ZBT-1 dongle, so we click on “Add”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And in the popup that appears, click on “Thread”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    This will have the effect of installing OpenThread Border Router. We can hit “Submit”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And now, we can click on “Finish”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, under “Settings” and “Devices and services”, we have the option “Thread” and we can click on “Add”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, we must click on “Send”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And “Finish”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    From our phone, we go to the Home Assistant application and go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We must go to “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We must click on “Thread”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And click on “Configure”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Now, click on “Send credentials to Phone”. This will allow you to share identification information with your phone.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We can now add Matter devices on Thread.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Go to “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Add integration”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Add Matter device”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We select the option “No. It’s new” if we do not use our Matter device in another controller.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And, this time, we scan the QR code of our Aqara sensor found in the instruction manual.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Done, it now appears in the Home Assistant interface.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So we will be able to know the status of our door or window, open or closed, from anywhere in the world on our phone.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    How to use Matter devices with other platforms (Multi-Fabric)

    Once we have our Matter smart devices linked to Home Assistant, the interest of Matter is to be able to unify our smart home with other ecosystems without complications thanks to the Multi-Fabric function.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So, in my example, we will enjoy the Multi-Fabric function with Amazon Alexa voice assistants.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    In order to link Matter devices with other compatible ecosystems, from the Home Assistant interface, go to “Settings”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    “Devices and services”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And under “Matter” we click on “Devices”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We access a device.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Click on the “Share device” option.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Click again on “Share device”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we have a QR code and a code with numbers.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So we will be able to access it in the Amazon Alexa app. We click on “More” and “Add Device”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    We click on “Other”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Select “Matter”.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And now we can try scanning the QR code.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    Or enter the code with numbers that appears in Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    That’s it, we have our Matter device available and controllable on Amazon Alexa.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And we follow the same process with our second Matter device.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    As you can see, whether it is a Matter Wi-Fi or Matter Thread device, it makes no difference to link them to other platforms as we already have everything configured in Home Assistant and have our Thread Border Router in Home Assistant with our ZBT-1 dongle.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So now I have control of my smart devices in Home Assistant.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    And also in Amazon Alexa, and could continue to link these Matter devices with other compatible ecosystems and thus definitely have a unified smart home experience.

    How to use Matter with Home Assistant (WIFI and Thread)

    So Matter is likely to become an increasingly important player in the smart home market.

    Start your Matter project with Home Assistant