# Home Assistant Open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a... This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## Home Assistant 2026.9 adds Modbus device integrations, Cloud voice processing, and Matter network mapping DevFeed: [Home Assistant 2026.9 adds Modbus device integrations, Cloud voice processing, and Matter network mapping]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Franck Nijhof Published: 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Release notes](), [Modbus](), [Cloud](), [Matter](), [asr]() Tags: [cloud](), [core](), [home-assistant](), [matter](), [modbus](), [release](), [release-notes](), [security](), [speech](), [ui]() ### AI overview Home Assistant 2026.9 introduces Modbus integrations that can share a connection, new Cloud voice processing focused on speech-to-text, Security dashboard alerts and favorites, shared sources for History and Activity, a Matter network map, keyboard and sound navigation for charts, and 13 new integrations. ### Source excerpt Home Assistant 2026.9! πŸŽ‰ I'll be honest: Modbus has never been the flashiest part of Home Assistant. It quietly powers solar inverters, heat pumps, and energy meters, but only if you're comfortable hand-writing your own register map in YAML, a real wall that's kept a huge category of devices out of reach. This release finally makes room on the bus: integrations that already know how a device talks over Modbus, sharing a single connection instead of fighting over it, so you simply pick your device in the UI like anything else in Home Assistant. It won't show up in a screenshot, but modernizing Modbus is hands-down my favorite change this release. πŸ”§ I'm also really looking forward to jumping on the new Cloud voice processing myself and putting it through its paces. We're a household with a non-English main language, and if you've ever run a private voice assistant in one, you know exactly how fast accents and background noise trip things up. This new speech-to-text engine specifically targets those pain points, so I'm very curious to see how it holds up against my own accent. πŸ˜‰ And there's plenty more: active alerts and favorites for the Security dashboard, a shared Sources panel for History and Activity, Activity that finally explains why something changed, a brand new network map for Matter, charts you can now navigate by keyboard and sound, and 13 new integrations! πŸš€ One more thing before you dive in: we're at IFA Berlin this weekend! It's one of the largest consumer electronics expos out there, running September 4 to 8, 2026, and the Open Home Foundation has its own booth in the Smart Home hall: Hall 1.2, stand 1.2-153. If you're around, come find us and say hi. πŸ‘‹ Enjoy the release! ../Frenck Home Assistant Cloud Seeing through the Cloud Test the new voice processing Float in to be a Cloud subscriber Active alerts and favorites for the Security dashboard A new Sources pane for History and Activity From what changed to why it changed Insights into your Matter world ## Anonymous and open to all: The Home Assistant survey dataset DevFeed: [Anonymous and open to all: The Home Assistant survey dataset]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Annika Schulz; Idil Bostan Published: 2026-08-26T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [dataset](), [data](), [Open Source](), [GitHub]() Tags: [customization](), [data](), [devices](), [open-source](), [privacy](), [research](), [smart-home](), [survey]() ### AI overview This article announces the free publication of anonymized results from Home Assistant's first community survey, conducted in December 2024 and completed by 8,616 respondents. It describes the survey's purpose, anonymization and privacy safeguards, findings about smart-home users, and how the data will support product work and further research. ### Source excerpt Our why as an organization is clear: to fight for privacy, choice, and sustainability for smart homes, and for every person who lives in one. But who does live in them? In December 2024, we launched the first Home Assistant survey to find out. Our goal was simple: to make Home Assistant more inclusive and approachable by listening directly to the diverse community of people who use it. In the spirit of building in the open, today we're thrilled to announce the anonymized results of that survey are now freely available. In this post, we'll run you through what the survey covered, why and how we're publishing this data, what the data is not (read: identifiable), how we're using this information to improve what we do, and opportunities for further understanding and research. ## Community Day 2026: Save the date! DevFeed: [Community Day 2026: Save the date!]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Missy Quarry Published: 2026-08-13T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [hosting](), [Discord]() Tags: [2026](), [blog](), [community](), [discord](), [events](), [hosting](), [sustainability]() ### AI overview The article announces that Home Assistant Community Day 2026 will take place on Saturday, November 7. It describes changes based on the first event, including more planning time, broader participation from Open Home Foundation projects such as ESPHome and Music Assistant, updated branding centered on sustainability, and additional support for meetup hosts through Discord and a planned dynamic website. ### Source excerpt You've been asking all year, and the wait is over... Mark your calendars, because Community Day 2026 will be held on Saturday, November 7! πŸŽ‰ ## ESPHome launches a Starter Kit with four modules and an ESP32-C6 microcontroller DevFeed: [ESPHome launches a Starter Kit with four modules and an ESP32-C6 microcontroller]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Paulus Schoutsen Published: 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [ESPHome - Smart Home Made Simple - Blog](), [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [ESP32](), [Microcontroller](), [Hardware](), [Automation]() Tags: [announcements](), [automation](), [electronics](), [esp32](), [esp32-c6](), [esphome](), [home-assistant](), [product](), [sensor](), [smart-home](), [usb]() ### AI overview ESPHome has launched its first official product, a Starter Kit produced by Apollo Automation. It includes four modules--motion, temperature and humidity, notification, and button--built around an ESP32-C6 microcontroller and designed to work with Home Assistant. ### Source excerpt Back in April during State of the Open Home 2026, we gave you a sneak peek of ESPHome's very first official product... And after months of hard work alongside the community, the ESPHome Starter Kit is here! πŸŽ‰ ## 2026.8: Approachable by design DevFeed: [2026.8: Approachable by design]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ashley Abbott Published: 2026-08-05T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [releases](), [Operating system](), [YAML](), [Cloud](), [Template]() Tags: [2026](), [core](), [esphome](), [live-stream](), [os](), [release-notes](), [releases](), [smart-home](), [youtube]() ### AI overview Home Assistant 2026.8 is a release focused on making the platform more approachable for users without technical expertise. It introduces improvements to installation, configuration, device handling, cloud exploration, entity IDs, templates, triggers, conditions, media search, and integrations. ### Source excerpt Tip Don't forget to join our release party live stream on YouTube on August 5, 2026, at 20:00 GMT / 12:00 PT / 21:00 CET! Tip There's more to look forward to next week: the ESPHome Starter Kit is launching, and you're invited to the official launch party! πŸš€ Join the ESPHome team and their partners at Apollo Automation on the ESPHome YouTube channel on August 12 at 21:00 CEST. Familiar faces are dropping by to celebrate lift-off, too: Reed from Smart Home Solver, Simon from Simon Says Home Assistant, and Gavin from HomeTech.fm. Home Assistant 2026.8! πŸŽ‰ Hi, I'm Ashley, the Technical Program Manager at the Open Home Foundation. With Frenck taking a well-deserved break, Bram and I are teaming up to handle things this time around. We have been working on a lot over the past few weeks, and I'm excited to share some of what we have done for this release! If there's one thread tying this release together, it's a direction we care about: making Home Assistant something you don't need to be technical to use. This release is another step along that path. Enjoy the release! - Ashley Making Home Assistant more approachable The same Home Assistant, minus the magic number Your current setup keeps working Want to change the port? We've got you covered What this means for YAML Less "advanced", more approachable Describing the feature, not the user Just Tools, no developer required Home Assistant Cloud, now easier to explore Your entity IDs, your choice A cleaner way to handle your devices We can't stop adding triggers and conditions Integrations New integrations Noteworthy improvements to existing integrations Integration quality scale achievements Now available to set up from the UI Farewell to the following Other noteworthy changes Tell us how setup went A roomier template editor Taps that land where you mean them A combined battery level you can trust Search your media Find your favorite cards faster Z-Wave lock credentials, properly managed And a few more Patch releases 2026.8.1 ## A big win for Android interoperability DevFeed: [A big win for Android interoperability]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Timothy Nibeaudeau Published: 2026-07-31T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Android](), [interoperability](), [Home Assistant](), [Automation](), [Google]() Tags: [2026](), [android](), [automation](), [developer](), [eu](), [gemini](), [google](), [interoperability](), [news](), [privacy](), [self-hosted](), [voice]() ### AI overview The article describes the European Commission's July 16, 2026 decision under the Digital Markets Act requiring Alphabet to open eleven Android features to all assistants on equal terms. It presents the decision as a result of advocacy by the Open Home Foundation and a significant step toward Android interoperability, enabling capabilities such as always-on wake word detection, ambient sensor access, and screen automation for Home Assistant and other assistants. ### Source excerpt Something big just happened. As the Open Home Foundation's Android developer for Home Assistant, I was invited by the European Commission to consult on Android interoperability. On July 16, 2026, the Commission adopted a decision requiring Alphabet to open up eleven Android features -- including always-on wake word detection, ambient sensor access, and screen automation -- to all assistants, on equal terms. ## Making our web analytics open source with Plausible DevFeed: [Making our web analytics open source with Plausible]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Darren Griffin Published: 2026-07-29T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Web](), [online privacy](), [Open Source](), [hosting]() Tags: [analytics](), [hosting](), [infrastructure](), [open-source](), [privacy](), [web]() ### AI overview The Open Home Foundation explains its plan to use Plausible for privacy-focused web analytics. The approach collects aggregated and anonymized website statistics, avoids individual tracking and cookies, publishes the analytics dashboard, and hosts the system on infrastructure maintained in-house. ### Source excerpt The Open Home Foundation fights for privacy, choice, and sustainability. These principles are at the heart of everything we do, including how we handle website analytics. Our position is clear: we reject tools that track individuals across the web to monetize their data. Instead, we want aggregated, anonymized analytics that show how our websites are performing overall -- without identifying who our visitors are, or compromising their privacy. ## FireAvert joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [FireAvert joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-07-28T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Protocol (disambiguation)](), [Network]() Tags: [community](), [devices](), [ecosystem](), [heat](), [homes](), [innovation](), [launch](), [local](), [mesh](), [network](), [open](), [partner](), [product](), [smart-home](), [works-with-home-assistant]() ### AI overview FireAvert has joined the Works with Home Assistant program with fire-safety devices that automatically shut off electric and gas stoves and other small appliances when a smoke alarm sounds. Its Z-Wave models support local Home Assistant integration through an open smart home protocol and mesh network. ### Source excerpt Sound the alarm, because Works with Home Assistant just welcomed our newest partner to the program: FireAvert! πŸŽ‰ Specialists in fire safety, FireAvert are on a mission to keep you and your home out of harm's way. They bring the very first gas and electric appliance shutoff devices to the program, and with them, a whole lot of peace of mind. Where there's smoke, there's FireAvert As ex-firefighter Peter Thorpe knows too well, a moment of forgetfulness is all it takes for a kitchen to end up in flames. And after close to twenty years of service witnessing the same devastating scenario repeat itself, he knew something had to be done. So he founded FireAvert, launching with the Auto Stove Shutoff for electric stovetops. The device was already gaining momentum before FireAvert's pitch caught the attention of Shark Tank, and for good reason. They say there's no smoke without fire, but years on the job taught Thorpe that in the kitchen, that isn't always the case. Smoke can build well before a flame takes hold - and that's the window FireAvert's shutoff works in. By listening for your standard smoke alarm, the device automatically shuts off your stove when the alarm sounds - cutting the heat at the source before a fire can catch. "Excited to see FireAvert join the Home Assistant community. Smart homes shouldn't just be convenient - they should help keep families safer too. This is exactly the kind of innovation the ecosystem needs." - Chasen Tolbert, FireAvert Since their launch, FireAvert's range has expanded to include gas stove and small appliance shutoffs (think microwaves, air fryers, hot plates), so whatever's most likely to be left on in your kitchen, there's a shutoff for it. And with Z-Wave units now among them, it's easier than ever to bring that protection straight into your Home Assistant setup. On the same frequency The FireAvert shutoffs joining the program run on Z-Wave. For anyone unfamiliar, here's a quick rundown: Z-Wave is an open smart home protocol tha ## Building the device database together: Public preview now live DevFeed: [Building the device database together: Public preview now live]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Matthias Kerstner Published: 2026-07-23T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Database](), [data](), [Discord](), [Internet]() Tags: [2025](), [bugs](), [building](), [community](), [data](), [database](), [devices](), [discord](), [integrations](), [launch](), [open](), [smart](), [smart-home]() ### AI overview The Open Home Foundation has launched a public preview of a community-powered device database for Home Assistant. It presents anonymous, aggregated data contributed voluntarily by users and supports browsing, searching, and filtering devices by characteristics such as internet requirements, protocols, and integrations. The preview is intentionally limited and unpolished, with community feedback helping shape its later official launch. ### Source excerpt Ever since we introduced the idea of a community-powered device database at State of the Open Home 2025, our goal has been clear: create a "Wikipedia of smart home devices" based on real-world usage. In February, we took the first step by inviting Home Assistant users to voluntarily share anonymized device data to help us build it. ## IoTorero joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [IoTorero joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-07-09T00:00:01Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Internet of things](), [Hardware](), [Open Source](), [Code](), [GitHub]() Tags: [community](), [customers](), [devices](), [firmware](), [github](), [hardware](), [internet-of-things](), [iot](), [manufacturing](), [open-source](), [products](), [remote-access](), [research-development](), [smart-home](), [works-with-home-assistant]() ### AI overview IoTorero joins the Works with Home Assistant program with seven certified devices pre-flashed with ESPHome. The company focuses on open source smart home hardware, including smart plugs and relays, and publishes device configuration files on GitHub. ### Source excerpt The Works with Home Assistant program powers up this month as we welcome our new partner, IoTorero! πŸŽ‰ Experts in pre-flashed smart home hardware, IoTorero bring the very first ESPHome-ready smart plugs and relays to the program (and that's not all). IoTorero enters the ring If you've spent any time browsing pre-flashed smart home tech online, there's a good chance you've come across IoTorero. And if you haven't, let us introduce you! Founded in 2020, the company (formerly Athom Technology) was tinkering with ESPHome right out of the gate. Their new name is a nod to the Internet of Things (IoT), but unlike standard IoT gadgets that stop working if your internet drops or a company closes its servers, IoTorero champion open source firmware. Other smart devices run manufacturer-written software, which is tuned to work well with Home Assistant for certification to the program. IoTorero go a step further to make sure their tech is accessible for all: all seven of their certified devices are pre-flashed with ESPHome, meaning there's no installation required - the devices will integrate into your Home Assistant setup straight out of the box. And because their devices are genuinely open, you can always tweak and customize them if you want to. "Since inception in 2020, IoTorero (Athom Technology) has been dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of open source smart home hardware products. We provide Home Assistant users with high-quality devices pre-flashed with ESPHome firmware. By joining the Works with Home Assistant program, we ensure that customers can select and purchase our products with complete confidence." - Aiden Tang, CTO and Co-Founder, IoTorero That same spirit of openness carried over to last year's Community Day, where IoTorero donated a stack of samples for attendees to try - a gesture we loved to see, and one that speaks to how seriously they take supporting our community πŸ’ͺ. It shows up in their approach to code, too: IoTorero maintain a pu ## Companion app: Changing support for Apple platforms DevFeed: [Companion app: Changing support for Apple platforms]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Bruno PantaleΓ£o Published: 2026-07-07T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [iOS](), [macOS](), [watchOS](), [web browser](), [App](), [GitHub](), [User experience (UX)]() Tags: [announcements](), [app](), [apple](), [github](), [ios](), [macos](), [performance](), [platforms](), [update](), [ux](), [watchos](), [web-browser]() ### AI overview Home Assistant is changing Apple platform support for its Companion app. Version 2026.7.1 will be the final release supporting iOS 15, watchOS 8, and macOS 11; beginning with version 2026.8.0, the minimum versions will be iOS 16.4, watchOS 9, and macOS 12. The change will enable improved UX, stability, performance, and newer features, while older devices can still use the web frontend. ### Source excerpt We're updating which Apple platforms the Home Assistant Companion app supports, and because transparency is core to how we work, we want to be upfront about what's changing. Starting with version 2026.8.0 of the Companion app, we will no longer support iOS 15, watchOS 8, or macOS 11. The last supported version for these platforms will be 2026.7.1. Here's everything you need to know: Why we're making the change At Home Assistant, we're committed to helping you use your devices for the long haul. We know your hardware is something you rely on every day, which is why we try to keep the Companion app running on older devices for as long as possible. However, supporting older OS versions indefinitely comes at a cost, limiting our ability to adapt to modern technology. From September this year, Apple's developer tools will officially stop supporting watchOS 8 and macOS 11, making it technically difficult for us to keep building for them. With less than 1% of our users currently running these older OS versions, this update allows us to future-proof the Companion app for the vast majority of our community. By focusing our efforts on current operating system versions, we can keep our codebase maintainable for the long term. This shift removes some long-standing constraints, since older OS versions had been limiting our ability to make UX, stability, and performance improvements, including adding features such as Apple Watch complications and more advanced widgets. What this means for you A recap of what's changing: The last Companion app update for these platforms will be version 2026.7.1. After version 2026.7.1, the minimum supported versions for the Companion app will be iOS 16.4, watchOS 9, and macOS 12. Importantly, this doesn't mean your older iOS devices will become unusable. You can still control your home using the Home Assistant frontend in your device's web browser, which remains fully supported and receives regular monthly updates. The last compatible Companion ap ## 2026.7: Automations that speak your language DevFeed: [2026.7: Automations that speak your language]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Franck Nijhof Published: 2026-07-01T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Automation](), [YAML](), [releases](), [User interface design]() Tags: [2026](), [automation](), [community](), [complexity](), [core](), [documentation](), [examples](), [release](), [release-notes](), [ui](), [zigbee]() ### AI overview Home Assistant 2026.7 makes purpose-specific automation triggers and conditions the default, aiming to provide more power with less complexity through both the user interface and YAML. The release also rebuilds Activity into a timeline, adds update-all and infrared/radio-frequency panels, improves ZHA Zigbee device management, and introduces 10 community integrations. ### Source excerpt Tip Don't forget to join our release party live stream on YouTube on July 1, 2026, at 20:00 GMT / 12:00 PT / 21:00 CET! Home Assistant 2026.7! πŸŽ‰ This is one of those releases I've been looking forward to for a long time. My favorite by far is what we've done with automations. Purpose-specific triggers and conditions graduate from Labs and become the new default for everyone. πŸŽ‰ It comes down to something we've been chasing for years: more power, less complexity. Instead of starting from Home Assistant's internals, which entity, which state, which kind of trigger, you start from what you actually want your home to do. When the bedroom drops below 18Β°C, turn on the heating. That's it. No technical traps, no quirks to memorize. And because integrations can teach the automation engine their own triggers and conditions, it only gets better from here. All of it right there in our beautiful user interface. The nice thing is, nothing breaks. All your existing automations keep working, worry-free. We've also written tons of great documentation explaining every single trigger, condition, and action, with examples to learn from. And if you're one of those people who prefers writing automations in YAML instead of the UI, you're in for an amazing experience too. User experience is not a synonym for "the UI". YAML users deserve good user experience too. But honestly? I've got a second favorite this release, and that surprised me a little. Activity, what many of you still know as the logbook, has been rebuilt into a slick and clean timeline. 😍 It reads top to bottom like a feed, groups entries by day, and finally speaks the same language as the rest of Home Assistant. I keep opening it just to look at it. And that's just the start. There's a new update-all button, dedicated panels for infrared and radio frequency, an overhauled ZHA Zigbee device management, and 10 new integrations from our community. One more thing before you dive in: the Open Home Foundation is exhibiting at IFA B ## The Matter upgrade you've been waiting for DevFeed: [The Matter upgrade you've been waiting for]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Ingo Fischer Published: 2026-06-23T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Matter](), [Home Assistant](), [TypeScript](), [Open Source](), [Network](), [Homebridge]() Tags: [2026](), [announcements](), [border-router](), [bugs](), [hardware](), [homebridge](), [matter](), [open-source](), [recovery](), [speed](), [standards](), [thread](), [typescript](), [upgrade](), [visualization]() ### AI overview Home Assistant introduces a new Matter implementation built on matter.js, an open source TypeScript implementation of the Matter standard. After beta testing and community contributions, the update aims to improve stability, reduce bugs, and accelerate startup and recovery. It also adds network visualization, upgrades to Matter 1.5.1, and updates the OpenThread Border Router app for Thread 1.4 support. ### Source excerpt It started as a passion project. Yet in a few years matter.js has grown beyond my wildest expectations, becoming the backbone of the open source Matter ecosystem, and powering everything from Homebridge to openHAB, and even some commercial products. Ten months ago, I joined forces with the Open Home Foundation to work full time as Lead Developer of Matter. Shortly after, I donated matter.js to the foundation - giving it a new home where it would be safeguarded for the future. Together we announced our plans to take Matter support in Home Assistant in a completely new direction: we set out to rebuild the Open Home Foundation Matter Server - the engine that powers Matter in Home Assistant - on matter.js. After four months of beta testing, with our community fixing bugs and contributing new features along the way, today we're thrilled to present the newest version of Matter for Home Assistant! πŸŽ‰ The Open Home Foundation invests in important technology to make open alternatives possible, and our work is funded in part by everyone who subscribes to Home Assistant Cloud and buys official hardware from our commercial partners. The launch of a new Matter experience in Home Assistant shows what's possible with your support. πŸ’ͺ Presenting the matter.js plans at the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) Member Meeting in November 2025 (right), and returning in March 2026 as an Outstanding Contributor Award recipient (left). Serving up more with matter.js For those new to matter.js, it's an open source TypeScript implementation of the Matter standard. I built it to give developers and power users more speed and flexibility, and to make Matter better suited for open source development across the millions of homes that use Home Assistant. By running Matter in Home Assistant on matter.js, all of those benefits now flow directly into the platform. This major update brings greater stability for Matter in Home Assistant, fewer bugs, and faster start-up and recovery. It also comes with ## Proxy all the things: no device left behind DevFeed: [Proxy all the things: no device left behind]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Paulus Schoutsen Published: 2026-06-18T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Network](), [Hardware]() Tags: [devices](), [diy](), [hardware](), [integrations](), [network](), [smart-home]() ### AI overview The Open Home Foundation describes how recent Home Assistant and ESPHome releases use generic proxying to connect older, offline devices to modern smart homes. Small microcontrollers can act as bridges for infrared, radio frequency, and serial communication, alongside existing Bluetooth and Z-Wave proxies, allowing devices such as older receivers and air conditioners to be controlled over the home network. ### Source excerpt Every smart home has them: the older devices that still work perfectly well but no longer fit neatly into a modern setup. Instead of letting them gather dust in a drawer, the Open Home Foundation's projects can help you bring them back into the fold. Here's how a little proxying can give your beloved old gear a new lease of life, and keep your smart home that bit more sustainable. ## 2026.6: Pick a card, any card DevFeed: [2026.6: Pick a card, any card]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Franck Nijhof Published: 2026-06-03T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [dashboards](), [Automation](), [dialog](), [Matter]() Tags: [2026](), [apps](), [automation](), [core](), [custom-dashboard](), [dialog](), [features](), [integrations](), [matter](), [release](), [release-notes]() ### AI overview Home Assistant 2026.6 introduces a new card picker that recommends dashboard cards based on the device or entity users want to display, with live previews using their data. The release also adds zone triggers and conditions, live condition-test indicators, target counts, step notes, new tile card features, improved smart-lock support, a friendlier Apps page, and additional community integrations. ### Source excerpt Home Assistant 2026.6! πŸŽ‰ I'm going to put my hand up right away: βœ‹ I am not a dashboard person. Not because I don't like them; I love seeing what you all build. But designing a beautiful one is a kind of visual creativity I just don't have. That's a big part of why I love the built-in Home dashboard so much, it does the designing for me. But when I do build a custom dashboard, I usually stare at that "add a card" dialog for way too long, picking cards almost at random just to see if they look good with the data I have. So you can imagine my excitement for my personal favorite of this release: the new card picker. Instead of asking "which card type do I want?", it now asks "which thing in your home do you want to show?", and then suggests cards that actually make sense for it, with live previews using your own data. For someone like me, that's not just easier; it's genuinely inspiring. It nudges me towards combinations I would not have thought of on my own. πŸ’‘ This fits into a bigger direction I keep getting more excited about: Home Assistant getting better at starting from the thing you want to do, instead of asking you to first learn the building blocks. The same idea is what makes purpose-specific triggers and conditions in Home Assistant Labs feel so right, and this release brings them a big step closer to graduating out of Labs with brand new zone triggers and conditions. πŸ“ A close second favorite for me this release is everything happening around that in the automation editor: live test indicators on your conditions, target counts on every device, area, floor, and label, and proper notes you can attach to any step. Individually they are small quality-of-life touches; together, they make building automations feel a whole lot more transparent. ✨ And there is plenty more to love in this release: new tile card features, Z-Wave smart locks catching up with their Matter siblings, a friendlier Apps page, and another big batch of new integrations from our community. πŸš€ E ## Sensereo joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [Sensereo joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-05-28T00:00:01Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Matter](), [Network]() Tags: [2026](), [battery](), [ecosystem](), [matter](), [products](), [safety](), [sensors](), [smart-home](), [thread](), [wireless](), [works-with-home-assistant]() ### AI overview Sensereo has joined the Works with Home Assistant program with Matter-based MS-1 smoke alarms and MSC-1 smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The article explains how Matter and Thread support open, interoperable, energy-efficient smart-home devices while the alarms continue operating as regular alarms if the Thread network fails. Sensereo also plans to develop air quality sensors and other environmental sensing devices. ### Source excerpt We're sensing a change in the air this month as we welcome Sensereo to the Works with Home Assistant program πŸŽ‰. Specialists in environmental sensing, Sensereo brings Matter smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms into the Home Assistant ecosystem - meaning more ways to keep your home open, safe, and sound. Built from a burning question... What happens if your smoke alarm goes off, but you're not there to hear it? It's an unsettling question, and one that led Roy Chen to found Sensereo in 2024. Driven to create safety devices that were equal parts reliable and resilient, Sensereo built the Matter-based MS-1 Smoke Alarm and MSC-1 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm, because as they put it: "every home deserves a system that will not fall silent when it matters most." It's just good sense For anyone unfamiliar, Matter is an open standard that lets smart home devices from different brands work together, regardless of who made them - no lock-in, no closed ecosystems. It's exactly the kind of open, interoperable technology the Open Home Foundation exists to champion. Thread operates on the same principle: it's an energy-efficient, wireless mesh network that connects devices directly to one another and can automatically reroute around disruptions. And for battery-powered alarms like Sensereo's, Thread's low-power design means fewer battery changes for devices that are always on duty. While we're talking about safety, it's important to note that if your Thread network did for any reason drop out, Sensereo's smoke and CO alarms will keep working as a "regular" alarm would - no smart home required. That peace of mind is central to how Sensereo thinks about their products, and having caught up with the team at CES 2026 earlier this year, we can tell you it's just the beginning. Air quality sensors and more are on the horizon, all building toward the same vision: to build an environmental intelligence system for the home that helps users understand and respond to their surroundings. "J ## zunzunbee joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [zunzunbee joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-05-19T00:00:01Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Automation](), [systems]() Tags: [2026](), [automation](), [battery](), [complexity](), [cost](), [devices](), [homes](), [installation](), [lighting](), [local](), [product](), [smart](), [smart-home](), [works-with-home-assistant]() ### AI overview Home Assistant announces that zunzunbee has joined its Works with Home Assistant program. The company's Slate Switch is a battery-powered smart scene controller that snaps over existing switches, supports tactile local control, and can be used as a portable remote. It is designed to simplify smart-home installation while keeping smart bulbs powered and preserving automations. ### Source excerpt We are often asked if we prioritize "Big Tech" firms in the Works with program, but we've always been clear that newer companies are just as important to our certification as household names. Start-ups are innovators, and have their fingers on the pulse of community needs much more than brands that are only at the mercy of their investors. That's just one reason we're thrilled to welcome zunzunbee to the program! They really stood out from the crowd at CES 2026 this January with their new product, the Slate Switch. This battery-powered smart scene controller simply snaps over existing switches - ideal if you rent your home, or don't fancy working with wiring. We're always on the lookout for devices that make setting up your smart home easier, so we're delighted to have zunzunbee on board! A clean slate for switches While zunzunbee are newcomers to the market, founder Harish Raman has more than 18 years' experience in lighting and connected systems - including senior engineering roles at Leviton and Philips. Harish designed the Slate Switch to cut the complexity sometimes found in smart homes, by bringing back simple, tactile control without any installation headaches. And because it builds on top of your existing switches rather than replacing them, it means less waste and more value from the things you already own. "At zunzunbee, we believe smart home control should feel natural, reliable, and stay under the user's control. The Home Assistant community shares that same philosophy, with a focus on local control, flexibility, and deep customization. Slate Switch was designed to solve everyday friction in smart homes, and we are excited to bring it to a community that values thoughtful automation and truly understands how homes should work." - Harish Raman, Founder Not just for newbies The Slate Switch isn't just a low-barrier entry point for beginners. It also tackles an issue that can crop up in more complex smart home setups: someone flipping a wall switch that con ## 2026.5: We're on the same frequency now πŸ“‘ DevFeed: [2026.5: We're on the same frequency now πŸ“‘]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Franck Nijhof Published: 2026-05-06T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [GitHub](), [Code](), [Discord]() Tags: [2026](), [building](), [core](), [devices](), [discord](), [documentation](), [github](), [integrations](), [platform](), [radio](), [release](), [release-notes](), [rf]() ### AI overview Home Assistant 2026.5 highlights open development, including a public roadmap and broader community participation. The release also introduces native radio-frequency device support and substantially reworked templating documentation. ### Source excerpt Home Assistant 2026.5! πŸŽ‰ What a few weeks it has been! Earlier this month, we hosted State of the Open Home 2026 live in Utrecht, the Netherlands. A big chunk of that day was dedicated to something we deeply care about: building in the open, and how we're going to take that even further from here on out. πŸ’™ Building in the open isn't just about source code on GitHub. It's about doing the planning, the decision-making, and the prioritizing out where everyone can see it, follow along, and join in. And "joining in" doesn't mean you have to write a single line of code or even consider yourself technical. Sharing how you use Home Assistant, telling us what frustrates you, what you wish existed, voting on ideas, helping a fellow user on the forums or Discord, translating, writing documentation, or simply leaving a thoughtful comment on a roadmap item: it all counts, and it all shapes where this project goes next. 🀝 A great first step in that direction also went live this month: our roadmap is now public. You can go browse it, see what we're working on, what's next, and (most importantly) comment on it, share your thoughts, and help shape it. We talked about all of this, and a lot more, on stage. So if you weren't able to join us live, please go watch the recording. It is genuinely worth your time, and it's the best invitation I can give you to come build the Open Home with us. πŸ—Ί Now, on to this release. My personal favorite this month is maybe a bit unexpected, considering it sits all the way at the end of this post: the completely reworked templating documentation. I know, I know, "documentation" doesn't exactly scream headline feature. But hear me out: making Home Assistant more approachable is one of our biggest missions this year, and darn good documentation is a big part of that. We've expanded our documentation team and are investing heavily in this, and the new templating docs are the very first taste of what's to come. I'm really proud of where this is heading. πŸ“š ## BEGA joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [BEGA joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-05-05T00:00:01Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant]() Tags: [community](), [devices](), [ecosystem](), [energy](), [offline](), [safety](), [smart](), [smart-home](), [sustainability](), [tech](), [works-with-home-assistant]() ### AI overview BEGA has joined the Works with Home Assistant program, bringing a large portfolio of certified architectural lighting products. Its BEGA Smart system uses Zigbee, supports flexible expansion, and works offline without an internet connection. The article also highlights BEGA's repairable fixtures and replaceable components, including outdoor lighting options. ### Source excerpt How do you more or less double the number of Works with Home Assistant-certified devices available to our community? Have BEGA join the program! This German firm has spent more than 75 years designing a wide range of architectural lighting that sets the industry standard: and now they're bringing that expertise to your smart home. Bright BEGA-nnings If you haven't heard of BEGA before, you may have admired their work without realizing it. That's because they produce the kind of beautifully engineered fixtures you see gracing the facades of fancy hotels, elegant public buildings, and stylish modern homes worldwide. They're probably better known for this kind of work than for smart home tech, which is precisely what makes their joining the Works with Home Assistant program so exciting. Because BEGA aren't just dipping a toe in: they're bringing what's almost certainly the largest single addition of certified devices we've ever had in one go: enough to very nearly double the number of certified products in the program! And it's not just the volume that impresses. BEGA Smart - their Zigbee-powered smart lighting system - is flexible, expandable, and designed to work entirely offline, with no internet connection required. BEGA: putting the smart into smart home lighting. "With BEGA Smart, we aim to combine high-quality architectural lighting with intelligent control. Integrating with Home Assistant allows us to bring our lighting solutions into an open and flexible smart home ecosystem that many of our customers already value. By doing so, we enhance comfort, safety, and energy efficiency while enabling new ways to experience light. We're excited to support the community and be part of this ecosystem." - Heinrich Gantenbrink, Managing Partner at BEGA Beyond beautiful design BEGA's premium positioning isn't only about aesthetics. Their commitment to repairability also aligns well with the Open Home Foundation's sustainability principles. Rather than treating a luminaire a ## ubisys joins Works with Home Assistant DevFeed: [ubisys joins Works with Home Assistant]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Miranda Bishop Published: 2026-04-23T00:00:01Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Home Assistant]() Topics: [Home Assistant](), [Automation](), [Hardware](), [interoperability](), [Network]() Tags: [automation](), [battery](), [community](), [devices](), [hardware](), [home-automation](), [innovation](), [integration](), [interoperability](), [mesh](), [network](), [open](), [partnership](), [standards](), [sustainability](), [updates](), [wireless](), [works-with-home-assistant](), [zigbee]() ### AI overview The article announces that ubisys has joined Works with Home Assistant. It describes ubisys's Zigbee smart home devices for retrofitting, their long hardware and software support, and the company's involvement in developing open standards and improving interoperability with Home Assistant. ### Source excerpt We're thrilled to welcome ubisys to Works with Home Assistant! This German company has been dedicated to smart home automation for more than 20 years, and offers a range of Zigbee devices designed to help you retrofit your home. If retrofitting is conjuring up images of avocado bathrooms πŸ₯‘ and artexed ceilings, fear not - it just means upgrading what you already have, rather than ripping it out and starting again. Better for your home, and the planet 🌍. Here today, here tomorrow Founded in DΓΌsseldorf in 2005, ubisys build devices that last. They back their hardware with a five-year warranty and software updates for the long term, meaning the device you buy today won't end up obsolete in a few years' time - in fact, they're still shipping feature updates for hardware designed in 2010! That kind of longevity aligns closely with the Open Home Foundation's own sustainability principle, and is just one reason why they're such a great (retro)fit for the program! Zigbee is another... Zigbee to the bone If you're scratching your head at the mention of Zigbee, allow me to explain: it's a wireless standard that lets smart home devices communicate with each other, regardless of who made them. Unlike WiFi, it's a mesh network, meaning Zigbee devices "talk" to each other, as well as to a central hub (like your Home Assistant setup), strengthening the connection across your whole home. It runs entirely locally, with no cloud dependency, and is optimized for long battery life. For retrofit devices that need to just get on with their jobs in the background, these qualities really count, and explains why ubisys refer to Zigbee as the backbone of everything they build. And they don't just use the standard, they help shape it: ubisys are active members of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (the organization responsible for maintaining and developing Zigbee), sitting on working groups and committees at the highest level - helping improve the standard for the benefit of the whole communi