Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
To find a hardware capability Home Assistant already knows about, open Settings > Devices & services, select its integration and device, then expand entity not shown. If the entity is disabled, open its settings, turn on Enable, select Update, and confirm. If it is merely hidden, it is already tracking state and only needs to be added to a dashboard. If it is absent or unavailable, the fix is usually discovery, integration setup, or connectivity—not a visibility toggle.
What “hidden hardware feature” means in Home Assistant
Home Assistant represents device measurements and controls as entities. An integration determines which capabilities it can query and expose; the hardware’s advertised feature set is not automatically a list of entities. A missing temperature reading, switch, or diagnostic value may therefore have several different causes.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Start by checking the device’s entity list. Go to Settings > Devices & services, open the relevant integration, select the device, and expand entity not shown. The wording of menus can differ across releases. Home Assistant’s entity enablement instructions describe the workflow and note that activation can take about 30 seconds.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Identify whether the entity is hidden, disabled, unavailable, or absent
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden | The entity is registered and tracks state, but is omitted from default dashboard presentation. Home Assistant’s hidden-entity helper checks the registry’s hidden flag. | Add it to a dashboard if you want to see it there. |
| Disabled | The entity is registered but is not added to Home Assistant by the integration until enabled. Integrations or config-entry options can disable entities by default; users can also disable registered entities. See the entity registry documentation. | Enable it in entity settings. |
| Unavailable | The entity cannot currently provide a state—for example, because its device or service cannot be reached, or its integration has not been set up. This is different from an unknown state, which has no value. See Home Assistant’s state documentation. | Check integration setup and the device or service connection. |
| Not listed | There may be no entity registered for that capability. The integration may not expose it, may not have discovered the device, or may need configuration. | Check the integration’s supported features, setup, and discovery path. |
Hidden and disabled are not interchangeable. A hidden entity still exists and updates; disabling affects whether the integration adds the entity to Home Assistant. The template helper is_hidden_entity returns false for an entity that is not in the registry as well as for one that is not hidden, so a false result alone does not prove that an entity is enabled or available.
#1 Best Overall
- LOCAL PROCESSING FOR INSTANT RESPONSE: The Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro runs automations directly on the hub, not on remote servers, so lights, locks, thermostats, and routines keep working even when your internet goes down; this local-first architecture delivers near-instant response to every trigger without relying on remote servers to process commands; compatible with 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands, and device data stays at home for enhanced privacy
- WORKS WITH ALEXA, GOOGLE HOME, AND APPLE HOMEKIT: Connect your preferred voice assistant and start controlling your smart home from day 1; the C-8 Pro is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, so your existing ecosystem works alongside the hub without compromise; Ring camera integration adds a concrete layer of security awareness; approachable setup is supported by step-by-step documentation and an active online community ready to guide you through every stage
- MULTI-PROTOCOL SUPPORT WITH EXTENDED RANGE: A single hub covers Matter 1.5, Z-Wave 800 Series with Long Range, Zigbee 3.0, and Bluetooth, so existing devices stay compatible without extra bridges or adapters; 800 Series Z-Wave and Zigbee 3.0 deliver improved reliability and mesh stability, backed by Z-Wave Alliance membership; 2 dedicated external antennas, one for Z-Wave and one for Zigbee, extend wireless reach in larger homes and device-dense environments where signal consistency is critical
- AI-ASSISTED AUTOMATION AND ADVANCED RULE ENGINE: The AI-assisted routine builder suggests and builds automations based on your connected devices, no programming required; Rule Machine enables multi-condition logic across lighting scenes, geofenced arrivals, layered security responses, and whole-home scheduling; when your family arrives after dark, the hub can unlock the door, activate pathway lights, and adjust the thermostat, turning complex sequences into reliable hands-free routines
- NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED AND CONTINUOUS UPDATES: Full platform functionality needs no recurring subscription; every automation, integration, and advanced feature is available from setup; continuous platform updates since 2018 have expanded compatibility without requiring new hardware; an active community of tech-savvy homeowners and DIY smart home builders shares custom apps, drivers, and automation blueprints for ongoing value; compact at 3.23 x 2.95 x 0.67 in and just 0.16 lb, it fits anywhere
Enable a registered entity
Enable one entity from its device page
- Open Settings > Devices & services.
- Select the integration, then the device. Expand entity not shown if the entity is not in the visible list.
- Open the entity’s settings, toggle Enable, select Update, and confirm.
- Allow roughly 30 seconds for activation, as described in Home Assistant’s entity instructions.
Enable several entities together
Open the relevant entity table, select the entities you want, then choose Enable from its menu. Prefer enabling only the measurements or controls you need; some diagnostic entities generate frequent state changes and additional history.
Enabling makes an entity available to Home Assistant. Showing it on a dashboard is a separate presentation choice: add the entity to a dashboard if it is enabled but not displayed where you expect.
Rank #2
- [Multi-Protocol Hub with Matter Bridge] The M3 is a versatile hub supporting Aqara Zigbee and Thread devices. It integrates third-party devices into the Aqara Home app. Supports advanced Matter bridge functionality, enabling Aqara-exclusive scenes and signals to sync with Matter ecosystems such as Home Assistant for seamless integration. Supports up to 127 Aqara Zigbee devices （** Not third-party Zigbee devices) and 127 Thread devices (Repeaters are needed).
- [Edge Compatibilities and Local Automations] The M3 serves as an Edge Hub, prioritizing local control and automation. Upon integration, it supersedes existing Aqara hubs, shifting the automations among them to local operation (Some cloud-based notifications still require internet). Upgrade-friendly, it supports migrating Zigbee devices from older Aqara hubs.
- [Smart IR Blaster with Feedback and Learning] The 360°IR blaster not only sends commands but also provides accurate status updates by detecting traditional remote use. It connects IR air conditioning units to Matter, functioning as an AC thermostat when paired with an Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor. (Note: Only one AC device can be exposed to Matter. Functionality may vary based on the Matter integration app. For Apple Home exposure, use Matter integration instead of HomeKit.)
- [Optimal Wired and Wireless Connectivity] Offering both wired and wireless solutions, the smart home hub M3 provides dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) with advanced WPA3 security, and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) port. The addition of a USB-C port allows for mini-UPS and power bank connections, delivering unparalleled stability. (2A USB power adapter is not included. ) . Note: To ensure a stable connection, place the Hub M3 between 6 to 19 feet from the router.
- [Privacy-Focused with Encrypted Storage, Easy Setup and Versatile Placement] The M3 prioritizes privacy by excluding microphone or camera components. It boasts 8GB end-to-end encrypted local storage, for device lists, configuration parameters, and automation configuration data. Additionally, it includes a mount and screws for flexible placement on flat surfaces, walls, or ceilings. Magic Pair technology ensures effortless detection by the Aqara Home app upon power-up.
If the feature is not listed, check discovery and integration support
Integrations create entities from the information and controls they can query from a device or service. Home Assistant supports discovery methods including App, Bluetooth, DHCP, HomeKit, mDNS, MQTT, USB, and SSDP, but a particular device must support a method and its integration must implement it. The discovery guidance and network discovery documentation explain those mechanisms; they do not imply every device will be auto-discovered.
- Confirm that the device appears under the expected integration and that the integration is configured.
- Check the integration’s documentation for the capabilities it exposes; a physical feature does not guarantee a matching Home Assistant entity.
- If setup depends on network discovery, verify that the device and Home Assistant can communicate on the relevant network. USB discovery support and timing depend on platform support.
- If the integration has a device or config-entry option for additional entities, review it before assuming the capability is unsupported.
If an entity is unavailable, troubleshoot the connection
An unavailable state is a runtime or setup problem, not a hidden-entity setting. Check whether the device or service is powered, reachable, and correctly configured, then inspect the integration’s status and setup. Enabling a disabled entity will not repair a failed connection. Home Assistant’s devices-and-services architecture describes how integrations expose device and service data through entities.
Rank #3
- All-In-One Control & Storage Center: Centralized storage & alarm management for all Reolink cams - wired, wireless, PoE & doorbells (excluding 4G devices) on the portable App. Effortlessly monitor up to 24 devices (with Max. 12 wired connections) at a glance. Please note that it doesn’t support 3rd party cameras.
- Maximized Storage Capacity: With a pre-installed 2TB storage capacity for private local recording, REOLINK home hub pro supports up to 16TB HDD storage, meeting the needs for large-capacity storage. Please note that the microSD card is unable to save videos when both the HDD and microSD card are inserted.
- Absolute Privacy & Offline Recording: With built-in AES-128 encryption and LAN-supported offline storage, your security is always in view. Stolen or lost devices remain impenetrable without the correct password. Complete protection that never stops, online or off.
- Insightful Reports, Instant Action: Get daily/weekly/monthly summaries of all cameras' detections. Swiftly locate & play back events. Reolink Home Hub Pro's 120dB siren reacts swiftly to AI-detected motion events from linked devices. Personalize each cam's alert with 11 preloaded sounds or create 5 of your own.
- Up to 8K Multi-Device Streaming: The hub supports preview & playback at your camera's highest resolution, guaranteeing the finest details are impeccably captured and reproduced, enhancing your visual surveillance experience.
Example: enabling host hardware monitoring
The System Monitor integration can expose information about the system running Home Assistant, including disk, memory, network, CPU, and running-process measurements. Its sensors are disabled by default, so enable the specific entities you want rather than expecting them all to appear automatically.
There is an important host-access caveat: in a virtualized environment, hardware sensor data may not be available to Home Assistant, and the corresponding sensor entity may not be created. A VM or container therefore may not expose every host measurement. The availability of a CPU temperature, fan reading, or other hardware statistic depends on what the installation can access and what the integration provides.
Why some entities start disabled
Home Assistant’s developer guidance says less popular or noisy entities may be disabled by default to limit interface clutter and the history/database cost of frequent state changes. An RSSI signal-strength sensor is one example of a diagnostic value that may be less useful to many users, though its value depends on the integration and use case. See the guidance for entities disabled by default.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
