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Install the official Home Assistant Companion app, then let it discover your server on the home network or enter the server’s address yourself. Sign in with your Home Assistant credentials to finish. For access away from home, the server needs a remote-access setup; Home Assistant recommends Home Assistant Cloud or a properly configured HTTPS address.
Check compatibility and choose the app
Home Assistant’s current Getting Started guide lists iOS 16.4 or later, Android 6 or later, and Home Assistant 0.104.0 or later as requirements. Check the guide before installing if your device or server is older, since these requirements can change.
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Install the official app from the store or distribution channel for your device. Android offers two flavors, and they do not have identical capabilities:
| Android flavor | Distribution | Google Play Services | Documented feature differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Google Play | Uses Google Play Services | Includes location tracking, Matter commissioning, and activity sensors. |
| Minimal | GitHub releases APK or F-Droid | Does not use Google Play Services | Does not provide location tracking, Matter commissioning, or activity sensors. F-Droid updates can lag because F-Droid builds releases independently. |
These flavor details are documented in Home Assistant’s Android Flavors guide. If you want location tracking or Matter commissioning, choose a flavor that supports those features.
#1 Best Overall
- Home Assistant provides a professional and reliable platform for home automation, designed to run continuously 24/7.
- Powered by a 64-bit Quad-Core Cortex-A53 processor, delivering smooth and efficient performance for smart home automations.
- Includes 4GB SDRAM for reliable multitasking and 64GB eMMC
- Features a Mali-450 MP2 GPU for responsive visual interfaces, housed in a compact 85 × 85 × 15mm (3.35" × 3.35" × 0.59") design that fits easily in any space.
- Typical power consumption is under 10W, with fanless operation for quiet performance suitable for any room in your home.
Connect the app to your server
- Open the app. Select Connect to my Home Assistant server.
- Try discovery on your home network. If your phone and server are on the same network, allow the app to search. Select the server it finds; if more than one appears, choose the intended one.
- Enter the server address if needed. If discovery finds nothing, or you are setting up away from home, choose Enter address manually and enter the address configured for your server. For a default Home Assistant OS local setup, the networking guide gives
http://homeassistant.local:8123as an example. A local IP address with port 8123 is another common form. These are examples, not guaranteed addresses for every network. - Sign in. Use your Home Assistant credentials. Home Assistant cautions against using Trusted Networks authentication with the app because it limits access to the trusted network.
- Name the device. Choose a name that will help you recognize it. Home Assistant uses this name to identify the device’s entities and in automations and actions.
- Review security and permission prompts. Choose the connection-security option that fits your URL and decide whether to share location. The trade-offs are explained below.
- Finish onboarding. Open the dashboard. The app then asks about notifications, which can be used for alerts, reminders, and updates.
For the exact discovery and onboarding flow, see Home Assistant’s Getting Started guide. For URL and network details, see Companion App Networking.
Choose how you will reach Home Assistant
A server address only works when the phone can reach that server. Local discovery or a local URL is generally enough while you are on the home network. To connect from outside it, configure remote access on the server and use the corresponding external address.
Rank #2
- Custom fit design provides a snug and secure hold for your compatible with Home Assistant Green, ensuring stability and easy access at eye level.
- Space-saving wall installation helps declutter surfaces by moving your smart home hub off counters and onto the wall for a cleaner setup.
- Durable construction crafted for reliable long-term use with quick and straightforward mounting on various wall surfaces.
- Sleek minimalist style complements modern home aesthetics while keeping ports and displays accessible.
- This product is a third-party accessory designed to be compatible with Home Assistant. Our products are not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by it and are mentioned for compatibility purposes only.
- Home Assistant Cloud: The Getting Started guide recommends Home Assistant Cloud remote access as a secure option for connecting from outside the home.
- Your own HTTPS hostname: The networking guide documents HTTPS hostname and certificate setups. Custom configurations can involve DNS, certificates, router or reverse-proxy settings, and WebSocket support.
- VPN: A VPN may provide a route back to your home network, but the app’s trusted-network behavior depends on the operating system and network configuration. Do not assume a VPN makes an HTTP address safe in every situation.
Use an HTTPS address for remote access where possible. Do not expose an unencrypted HTTP connection on public Wi-Fi. Home Assistant’s networking guide covers the server-side details; remote access is not created merely by installing the app.
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Understand HTTP security and location permissions
If you enter an unencrypted address such as a local HTTP URL, onboarding asks you to select a connection security level. The Connection security level guide describes the choices:
Rank #3
- [Multi-Protocol Hub with Matter Bridge] The Aqara Hub M200 is a versatile smart hub that supports multiple advanced features, acting as a Matter Controller, Thread Border Router, and Matter Bridge. It integrates third-party devices into the Aqara Home app. With advanced Matter bridging functionality, it syncs Aqara-exclusive features with ecosystems like Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home for seamless integration. Supports up to 40 Aqara Zigbee devices and 40 Thread devices.
- [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.)
- [Wired & Wireless Connectivity with PoE Support] Enjoy flexible setup with dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) using advanced WPA3 security, and Power over Ethernet (PoE), making the M200 a versatile PoE Ethernet Smart Home Hub. The USB-C port supports mini-UPS or power bank connections for uninterrupted operation, ensuring your energy-saving and security automations stay online. (*2A USB power adapter is not included. )
- [Home Automation and Alarm System] Works with all Aqara devices to create a comprehensive, smart home automation system. The Aqara Hub M200 is equipped with a built-in speaker that can be used in a variety of ways: security alerts, doorbell, alarm clock, and custom audio messages. (** 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐙𝐢𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬)
- [Local Automation for Reliable Performance] Supports local execution of automations for Zigbee and Matter devices, ensuring smooth operation even without Wi-Fi or cloud access. Enjoy millisecond response times for a more stable and reliable smart home experience. (Some automation, such as cloud push notifications, will still require the cloud connection to be executed.)
- Most secure allows the unencrypted URL only on a configured trusted home network. The app needs location permission to identify that network, and it blocks that URL when you are away from it.
- Less secure allows unencrypted connections from other networks. Home Assistant does not recommend this on public networks; credentials could be sent unencrypted if the app connects to an external HTTP URL.
Location permission is not required for every basic connection. It can enable location-based automations and help the app determine whether an unencrypted local URL is being used on the trusted network. You can decline it, but background location automations and secure network detection may be limited.
Permission labels and behavior vary by operating system. The Getting Started guide specifies Allow all the time and Nearby devices for Android background location updates. On iOS, it recommends Allow While Using the App, followed by Allow always for full background automation functionality. For the security feature’s documented background requirements, iOS needs Always and Precise; Android needs Allow all the time.
Rank #4
- 💡 EASIEST WAY TO GET STARTED WITH HOME ASSISTANT - With Home Assistant already installed, it only requires plugging the included power supply and Ethernet cable to get started.
- ✅ OFFICIAL - This official Home Assistant hardware is built and supported by Nabu Casa, the team driving the development of Home Assistant.
- 🏡 DESIGNED FOR THE HOME - The small, fanless, and silent design packs a quad-core processor, 32GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM.
- 📱 ONE HUB TO CONTROL THE WHOLE HOME - Cut down hub and app clutter and control your whole home from Home Assistant Green.
- 🤖 AUTOMATE EVERYTHING - Make all the devices in your home work in harmony - have your lights dim when you start watching a movie, or turn off your heat when you’re away from home.
For this feature, Android may also recognize VPN or Ethernet as a trusted network; iOS uses the Wi-Fi SSID and does not identify physical location through VPN. If you use a VPN while away from home, take care not to configure a local HTTP address as the external URL or leave it accessible unintentionally. The documentation says location information stays with the Home Assistant setup or is sent through Home Assistant Cloud depending on the URLs configured; the location guide says it is not sent through other servers or organizations.
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Troubleshoot connection and onboarding problems
The app cannot find the server
Confirm the phone and server can reach one another on the local network, then enter the correct address manually. For remote onboarding, use the external address configured on the server rather than assuming a local address will work outside the home.
Best Value
- EASIEST WAY TO GET STARTED WITH HOME ASSISTANT: With Home Assistant already installed, it only requires plugging the included power supply and Ethernet cable to get started
- DESIGNED FOR THE HOME: The small, fanless, and silent design packs a quad-core processor, 32GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM
- ONE HUB TO CONTROL YOUR WHOLE HOME: Simplify your smart home with HA70. Built with official Home Assistant OS and a professional Zigbee coordinator, it brings local control, powerful automation, and seamless device management into one compact hub
- AUTOMATE EVERYTHING: Make all the devices in your home work in harmony - have your lights dim when you start watching a movie, or turn off your heat when you're away from home
- YOUR HOME, YOUR DATA: Your home's data will be kept in the home on your HomeAssistant. You can easily view, share, and export that data anywhere you want
Remote access does not work
Check that remote access is configured server-side and that the URL works from outside your home network. Prefer HTTPS. If you use a custom setup, check DNS, certificates, router or reverse-proxy configuration, and WebSocket support as applicable; these are not required steps for every installation.
Login repeats or works only at home
Use your Home Assistant credentials and review whether Trusted Networks authentication is enabled. That authentication method can restrict the app to the trusted network.
HTTP works at home but is blocked away
This can be expected when Most secure is selected: an unencrypted URL is restricted to the trusted home network. Connect while on that network or configure a secure remote URL.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The app asks for a TLS client certificate
This applies to an advanced server setup in which a reverse proxy uses TLS client authentication. The app can request a certificate in that configuration; Wear OS handles certificates separately. It is not a normal requirement for a first installation.
Add another Home Assistant server later
In the app, go to Settings > Companion app > Add Server. Allow local discovery or enter the server address manually. Home Assistant’s Getting Started guide notes that adding additional servers requires Home Assistant 2021.10 or newer.
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