# ESPHome 2026.9.0: Faster builds and encrypted updates

DevFeed: [ESPHome 2026.9.0: Faster builds and encrypted updates](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/esphome-2026-9-0-faster-builds-and-encrypted-updates-31446.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://esphome.io/blog/2026/09/16/esphome-2026-9/>)

Author: Jesse Hills

Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00Z

Content type: release

Language: en

Sources: [ESPHome - Smart Home Made Simple - Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/esphome-smart-home-made-simple-blog.md>)

Topics: [esphome](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/esphome.md>), [PlatformIO](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/platformio.md>), [ESP8266](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/esp8266.md>), [Encryption](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/encryption.md>), [build performance](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/build-performance.md>), [ChaCha](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/chacha-cipher.md>), [toolchain](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/toolchain.md>), [Home Assistant](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/home-assistant.md>)

Tags: [2026](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2026.md>), [benchmarks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/benchmarks.md>), [builds](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/builds.md>), [ci](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ci.md>), [encryption](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/encryption.md>), [esp32](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp32.md>), [esp8266](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esp8266.md>), [esphome](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/esphome.md>), [ota](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ota.md>), [parallel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/parallel.md>), [releases](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/releases.md>), [toolchain](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/toolchain.md>), [updates](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/updates.md>)

## AI overview

ESPHome 2026.9.0 improves build performance by parallelizing PlatformIO setup, lays groundwork for a native ESP8266 toolchain, adds Noise-encrypted OTA updates, and reduces ESP8266 RAM usage. The release also includes component additions, platform updates, and fixes.

## Source excerpt

ESPHome 2026.9.0 parallelizes PlatformIO installs, lays the groundwork for a native ESP8266 toolchain, adds Noise-encrypted OTA updates, and frees ESP8266 RAM.