Tag: Home Assistant

February 10, 2026

Home Assistant App Update: 10+ New Features and Improvements

Key Takeaways

1. New version 2026.2 of the Home Assistant app for iOS has been released, following version 2026.1.
2. Users can now add entities directly to Apple Watch, CarPlay, or Widgets from the dashboard.
3. A new optional Quick search gesture has been introduced for better efficiency.
4. Enhancements have been made to the entity picker, download manager, and WebRTC camera player, along with edge-to-edge drawing on the Dashboard.
5. The app will no longer refresh automatically after five minutes of inactivity.

A fresh update for the Home Assistant app on iOS has been released. The new version, 2026.2, comes about a month after the previous version 2026.1, which introduced enhancements for CarPlay and the Control Center.

New Features

With the 2026.2 update, users can now add entities directly from their dashboard to their Apple Watch, CarPlay, or Widgets. An exciting addition is a new optional Quick search gesture, allowing for more efficient usage. Furthermore, there is a “mute response” option available when utilizing the Assist function.

Improvements and Settings

According to the release notes, this version also features enhancements to the entity picker, download manager, and the WebRTC camera player; however, specific details on these improvements have not been provided by Home Assistant. Another notable change is a new setting that allows for edge-to-edge drawing on the Home Assistant Dashboard. Additionally, the app will no longer refresh automatically after five minutes of not being used.

For those interested in the complete change log for the Home Assistant iOS app version 2026.2, it’s available in the screenshot below. To get this update, simply head over to the Apple App Store.

Home Assistant via Apple App Store.

Source:
Link

Tags: Apple Watch, Home Assistant, iOS app 2026.2
January 31, 2026

Home Assistant Launches Major App Update with New Entity Picker

Key Takeaways

1. The Home Assistant Android app has been updated to version 2026.1.6, featuring significant improvements.
2. A revamped onboarding experience has been introduced, similar to the update for iOS users.
3. The Assist voice control feature now includes streaming text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities for faster responses.
4. A new entity picker has been added, offering improved filters for ID, name, and area to enhance user experience.
5. Users can download the app from the Google Play Store and find the full changelog on the Home Assistant GitHub page.

The Home Assistant companion app on Android has just been updated significantly. The latest version, 2026.1.6, was shared by the company through their social media channels, introducing several exciting features and enhancements for its users.

New Onboarding Experience

To start off, Home Assistant has revamped the onboarding process for the Android app. Below, you can see a screenshot showcasing the new onboarding interface. A comparable update was made for iOS users in the 2025.11.0 version. Additionally, the company has enhanced the Assist voice control feature, which now includes streaming text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities, aimed at reducing response times.

Improved Entity Picker

Moreover, the Android app has a fresh entity picker as part of version 2026.1 (check out the screenshot below). This feature was previously introduced to iOS users in the same version. The new entity picker comes with additional filters for ID, name, and area, all designed to improve the overall user experience.

Download Availability

You can now grab the Home Assistant app version 2026.1.6 from the Google Play Store. Although the app’s page lacks detailed release notes, users can access the full changelog for this update on the official Home Assistant GitHub page. In the upcoming days, users should also look forward to a broader Home Assistant 2025.2 update for the open-source smart home automation platform.

Google Play Store, Home Assistant via GitHub, Home Assistant via X, Caschy’s Blog.

Source:
Link

Tags: Android app, Home Assistant, version 2026.1.6
January 6, 2026

Home Assistant App Update: New Widgets and Features Released

Key Takeaways

1. Version 2026.1 of the Home Assistant iOS app has been released, following the previous update 2025.11.
2. Enhancements to Apple CarPlay include direct access to the entity area from the quick access tab and fixes for the lock function.
3. The Control Center widget now features options for domain-specific entities and a new control for fan devices.
4. The entity picker search function has improved with new filters for ID, name, and area.
5. Audio support has been added to the Native WebRTC Player, which is still under development.

Another significant update has been released for the Home Assistant iOS application. The new version, 2026.1, comes about a month after the previous major update, 2025.11, which introduced various enhancements related to CarPlay and revamped the onboarding experience.

Enhancements to CarPlay

With the Home Assistant app version 2026.1, there are further improvements related to Apple CarPlay. One of the key features is that users can now access the entity area directly from the quick access tab. Additionally, the company has concealed diagnostic and configuration entities, and they have resolved an issue where the lock function was not working properly from the quick access tab.

New Features in Control Center

In the Control Center widget, Home Assistant has added fresh options that allow users to open domain-specific entities directly within the app, alongside a new control for a fan device. The entity picker search function has also been enhanced with new filters for ID, name, and area. Furthermore, a previous issue that required a reboot for local push activation has been fixed. Additionally, audio support has been integrated into the Native WebRTC Player, which is still in its early development phase.

You can check out the full changelog for the Home Assistant iOS app version 2026.1 in the screenshot provided below. If you’d like to get this newest update, it is available for download from the Apple App Store.

Home Assistant via Apple App Store

Source:
Link

Tags: Apple CarPlay, Home Assistant, iOS app
November 25, 2025

Home Assistant App Update: Enhanced Security Features Now Available

Key Takeaways

1. Revamped onboarding process for easier and faster app setup.
2. Two levels of connection security: ‘Most secure’ and ‘Less secure’ options.
3. Various bug fixes, including issues with Apple Watch app buttons and pipeline picker.
4. Improved stability for CarPlay connections.
5. Widgets transfer smoothly when restoring an iPhone from a backup.

Home Assistant has rolled out a new update for its iOS application. The latest version, 2025.11.0, marks the most significant enhancement for the open-source smart home automation software in recent months, with the last major features added back in July 2025.

New Onboarding Experience

With the Home Assistant app version 2025.11.0 for iOS, users will notice a revamped onboarding process. The company claims that this update will make it “easier” and “faster” for users to begin using the app. Now, Home Assistant users can select between two levels of connection security. The first option is ‘Most secure’, which is the recommended choice. This setting ensures that the app will only connect to unencrypted URLs when accessing your designated home network. The alternative option, ‘Less secure’, allows users to bypass location permissions or disable location at the operating system level, but this could potentially expose your Home Assistant data to risks. More details on these options can be found on Home Assistant’s support site.

Bug Fixes and Improvements

The Home Assistant iOS app version 2025.11.0 also includes a variety of bug fixes and enhancements. The company has fixed an issue where the header buttons in the Apple Watch app were not functioning properly. Additionally, they’ve addressed a problem where the Watch Assist pipeline picker failed to open. Furthermore, the stability of CarPlay connections is reported to have improved. Lastly, if you restore an iPhone from a backup, your Widgets should now transfer without any problems.

Source:
Link

Tags: Home Assistant, iOS app, update 2025.11.0
September 4, 2025

Airgradient: First Home Assistant-Compatible Air Quality Monitor

Key Takeaways

1. Home Assistant is free software that centralizes control of smart home devices, with increasing compatibility for various gadgets.
2. Devices do not need “Works with Home Assistant” certification to be added, but certified devices ensure better compatibility.
3. Airgradient’s air quality sensors are the first to receive official certification, allowing seamless integration with smart home systems.
4. The sensors track multiple air quality metrics and can trigger automated actions in response to poor air quality.
5. Pricing for the indoor air sensor is $230, with a self-assembly kit available for $138, plus an additional shipping fee.

Home Assistant is a free software that acts as a central system for managing smart homes, per Wikipedia. More devices are now being made compatible with this software, allowing users to control various smart gadgets from one place.

Device Compatibility

For a device to be compatible with Home Assistant, it doesn’t necessarily need the “Works with Home Assistant” certification. Even devices that lack this certification can still be added to the system through other methods. Yet, having the certification means that the device has been thoroughly tested to confirm it works well with Home Assistant right out of the box.

Certification for Air Quality Sensors

Airgradient’s indoor and outdoor air sensors are the first of their type to earn this certification officially. They can easily be added to smart home systems, which allows users to set up automated actions alongside other smart devices like air purifiers, air conditioners, and even humidifiers and dehumidifiers. This integration aims to promote a healthier indoor environment by activating these devices automatically when air quality falls below a set threshold.

These sensors can track various metrics, including particulate matter (PM2.5), CO2 levels, volatile organic compounds (TVOC), nitrogen oxides (NOX), temperature, and humidity. The color LEDs and small display on Airgradient One’s Indoor Air Quality Monitor help users quickly check air quality. This feature encourages timely ventilation, enhancing the home atmosphere when CO2 is too high or minimizing mold growth during high humidity. The system is also open source, providing opportunities for future enhancements. Besides working with Home Assistant, it can also link with Homey.

Pricing Details

The indoor sensor is priced at $230. For those who prefer to build the device themselves, a self-assembly kit is available for about $138. Both prices exclude a shipping fee of $25. As the products are shipped from Thailand, longer delivery periods should be anticipated.

Source:
Link

Tags: Home Assistant
July 16, 2025

Home Assistant App Update: Server-Related Changes Released

Key Takeaways

1. Version 2025.6 of the Home Assistant app is now available for both iOS and Android.
2. Users can access the entity “more-info” section directly from the Control Centre.
3. A bug fix was implemented for the macOS Download folder default choice.
4. Measurement units in CarPlay sensor states have been restored.
5. iOS users can now access settings even when the Home Assistant server is disconnected, thanks to a new Settings button.

An update is here for the Home Assistant apps on both iOS and Android, now at version 2025.6. This comes after the 2025.5 version that was launched in May 2025, which included enhancements to the onboarding experience.

What’s New in Version 2025.6

The release notes in the App Store for the Home Assistant app version 2025.6 mention a variety of adjustments. To start, users can now access the entity “more-info” section directly from the Control Centre. Additionally, there’s a fix for a bug associated with the macOS Download folder that wasn’t consistently set as the default choice. The measurement units that were missing in CarPlay sensor states have been restored. Furthermore, users now have the ability to rearrange servers in their app settings through a simple drag and drop method.

Enhancements for iOS Users

Moreover, iOS users will be pleased to know that a problem related to the Home Assistant server has been addressed. Previously, if the server was disconnected, users found it impossible to access the settings in the companion app. With the new update, a Settings button will now appear when users launch the app.

You can get the Home Assistant app version 2025.6 for both iOS and Android from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, respectively. Earlier in July, there was a more extensive 2025.7 Home Assistant release, which introduced a new Ask Question action for users of this open-source home automation platform.

Home Assistant can be found on Facebook, as well as on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, along with Smarthome Assistent.

Source:
Link

Tags: Android, Home Assistant, ios
May 12, 2025

Home Assistant 2025 Roadmap: Focus on Collective Intelligence

Key Takeaways

1. Home Assistant’s 2025 Roadmap focuses on enhancing the software based on user feedback, without detailing specific new features.
2. The roadmap is organized into themes like ‘Devices’, ‘Automation’, and ‘Dashboard’, with color codes indicating the status of initiatives.
3. A major change will allow the grouping of device entities for better management and tailored automation suggestions.
4. Home Assistant is developing a Device Database in collaboration with the Open Home Foundation to provide community-validated product information.
5. Planned enhancements include improved automation triggers, better navigation, user-friendly dashboard design, and upgraded privacy controls.

Home Assistant has shared its plans for 2025. This roadmap doesn’t list out new features but rather shows how the software will be enhanced in the next months. The company explains that this strategic plan is based on user feedback and requests for new features.

Themes of Improvement

The 2025 Roadmap for Home Assistant is organized into various themes like ‘Devices’, ‘Automation’, and ‘Dashboard’, with color-coded boxes indicating the status of each initiative: green for ‘Now’, yellow for ‘Next’, and orange for ‘Later’. In a blog post, the company stated its goal to make Home Assistant ‘truly smart’ by 2025. This means it will be able to give smart suggestions for improving your home by using information from the community. Thus, the focus is on enhancing device context and building the Device Database.

Changes in Device Management

At present, devices in Home Assistant are displayed as individual, ungrouped entities. For instance, a smart fridge may contain a temperature sensor, a door sensor, and a light. In 2025, the plan is to change this by allowing these entities to be grouped together. This change could lead to more tailored dashboards, device cards, and automation suggestions for different devices, making them simpler to manage. Additionally, for Assist voice commands, this improvement should yield more precise answers; asking for the kitchen temperature will refer to your thermostat instead of the fridge’s temperature sensor.

To support this new feature, Home Assistant is collaborating with the Open Home Foundation to create a Device Database. This will serve as a community-validated source with metadata, set-up guides, and user automation examples, among other details, for a variety of products.

Enhancements and New Features

In conjunction with this initiative for shared knowledge, Home Assistant aims to refresh its automation triggers and conditions, enhance navigation, and revamp the design system to make features easier to locate and dashboards more user-friendly right from the start. Additionally, privacy controls will be improved, the Music Assistant setup will be simplified, and the Assist voice assistant may become more conversational. The Home Assistant 2025 Roadmap comes out just days after the 2025.5 update for the open-source smart home automation software.

Source:
Link

Tags: Home Assistant, Smart Home Automation
April 21, 2025

Home Assistant Launches Major App Update with Custom Widgets

Key Takeaways

1. Home Assistant app version 2025.3 introduces Custom Widgets for personalized smart home control.
2. Users can opt-in for beta testing to view device status directly within the custom widgets.
3. The update includes new streaming features for Assist LLM, providing real-time response generation.
4. The Assist voice assistant can now continue recording if additional input is needed after the initial response.
5. There is no confirmed timeline for when these features will be available for Android users.

Home Assistant has just rolled out a fresh update for its application designed for Apple devices. This app works alongside the open-source smart home automation software. The latest version, 2025.3, brings several notable enhancements, echoing some features from Home Assistant 2025.3. It comes after the 2025.2 update released in February, which introduced options for opening a page in an external browser and a quick switch between servers.

Custom Widgets for Enhanced Control

To start with, the Home Assistant app version 2025.3 gives users the ability to create Custom Widgets. You can choose which smart home controls you wish to show and their related options. Additionally, if you opt-in for beta testing, you can experiment with viewing the status of your smart home device directly within the widget. Users can find instructions for setting up a custom widget in the documentation available on the relevant configuration screen.

New Streaming Features

Another exciting addition is the support for Assist LLM streamed responses. This feature allows users to see the answer generation happening in real-time, instead of having to wait for the complete response. Furthermore, the Assist voice assistant will now continue recording if the generated response needs more input from the user. It remains uncertain when or if this update will reach Android smartphone users; the last update for this app happened in early January 2025.

Source:
Link

Tags: Apple devices, Home Assistant
April 5, 2025

Home Assistant 2025.4 Launches with Smart New Dashboard Features

Key Takeaways

1. Home Assistant 2025.4 is the fourth update of the year, continuing its monthly release schedule.
2. A new Areas Dashboard is introduced, automatically created based on different home areas, simplifying setup for new users.
3. The voice assistant can now initiate conversations, making it a unique feature among voice assistants.
4. New template functions and YAML style support for light and switch templates have been added.
5. New integrations include Remote calendar, Pterodactyl game server management, and Bosch home security products.

The Home Assistant version 2025.4 has been released. This marks the fourth update from the open-source smart home automation platform this year, keeping with its usual monthly release schedule. The previous update, 2025.3, which came out in March, emphasized enhancements to dashboards, such as new headers and better tile card optimization.

Upgrades for Dashboards

With the new 2025.4 update, users of Home Assistant will enjoy several improvements for Dashboards. One notable addition is the new Areas Dashboard, which is still under testing. This dashboard is automatically created based on the different areas in your home and can be modified later. It acts as a substitute for the original default dashboard, allowing newcomers to avoid starting from zero.

Voice Assistant Enhancements

A significant update also pertains to the voice assistant, which is now capable of initiating conversations. The company states that this function makes it the first voice assistant available with this feature. For instance, the assistant might say, “Hey, I see you left the garage door open, should I close it for you?” or “Welcome back, Frenck! I hope your day was good. Would you like to hear the news or listen to some music?”.

New Template Functions and Integrations

In addition to these features, there are new and enhanced template functions like combine, difference, and flattens, along with support for YAML style in light and switch templates. New integrations that have been added include the Remote calendar, the Pterodactyl game server management panel, and Bosch home security products such as the B3512 Control Panel (current price $210.69 at Amazon). You can view the complete release notes for Home Assistant 2025.4 on the company’s official website.

Source:
Link

Tags: Home Assistant
March 11, 2025

Home Assistant Now Matter Certified for Smart Home Automation

Key Takeaways

1. Home Assistant is now officially certified for Matter by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).
2. Two certifications were achieved: one for the Home Assistant user interface and one for the Open Home Foundation Matter Server.
3. The Open Home Foundation Matter Server is the first open-source project to receive CSA certification.
4. Existing users of Home Assistant will see no immediate changes due to the Matter certification.
5. The certification aims to build trust with new users and encourage more brands to join the Works With Home Assistant program.

Home Assistant is now officially certified for Matter. This open-source software for smart home automation has long been compatible with Matter as well as other protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave. Recently, it received certification from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which oversees the Matter standard.

Two Certifications Achieved

Home Assistant has actually achieved two different certifications. The software itself is recognized as a certified user interface component, while the Open Home Foundation Matter Server is acknowledged as a certified software component. The latter is the very first open-source project to receive CSA certification. The company mentioned that having these two distinct certifications means there’s no need for recertification whenever Home Assistant is updated. Therefore, the Open Home Foundation Matter Server will continue to function as an add-on, instead of being directly incorporated into the Home Assistant Core.

No Immediate Changes for Users

Currently, this Matter certification does not affect existing users of Home Assistant. The company has promised to keep updating the Matter Server and its integration in the same way as before. What Home Assistant aims to achieve with this certification is to build trust with potential new users and to motivate more brands to participate in the Works With Home Assistant program. This program already features several Matter devices, including the Aqara Smart Lock U200, priced at $229.49 on Amazon.

Source:
Link

Tags: Home Assistant, Matter certification