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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAn ESP32 Bluetooth proxy extends Home Assistant’s Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) reach: the ESP32 listens for nearby BLE devices and sends their Bluetooth data over your network to Home Assistant. The practical path is to install ESPHome’s proxy project on a compatible plain ESP32, add the node to Home Assistant, then place it near the devices you want to reach. It does not proxy Bluetooth Classic, and support for a particular product still depends on its Home Assistant integration.
What the proxy does—and what it does not
The ESP32 acts as a remote BLE adapter. It receives Bluetooth information nearby and relays it over Wi-Fi or Ethernet; Home Assistant’s Bluetooth integration makes that information available to supported integrations. It can help when a BLE device is out of range of the Home Assistant host, but it does not make unsupported devices work.
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ESPHome’s documentation is explicit: “while this component is named bluetooth_proxy, only BLE devices (and their Home Assistant integrations) are supported.” ESPHome Bluetooth Proxy documentation and Home Assistant’s Bluetooth integration documentation describe the supported path.
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Choose compatible hardware
For ESPHome’s generic Bluetooth proxy project, choose a plain ESP32 board. Do not assume an ESP32-C3 or another ESP32-family variant works with that generic project: check the chip variant and select the matching project before installing. ESPHome’s project listing also includes projects for certain Ethernet-capable boards. Browse ESPHome projects for the current project and supported hardware options.
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A Wi-Fi board is the straightforward choice if you can place it where it has both network access and a useful Bluetooth signal. Ethernet can reduce Wi-Fi radio activity and improve Bluetooth performance, according to ESPHome, but it requires compatible hardware and board-specific configuration. ESPHome’s Ethernet sample is for the Olimex ESP32-PoE-ISO; do not copy its pin settings to a different board.
Install and configure the ESPHome proxy
Install the project
Use the ESPHome Bluetooth proxy project page’s generic ESP32 installer for a compatible board. If you are creating or maintaining a custom ESPHome configuration instead, follow the current component documentation and ensure the board definition matches the actual chip. The configuration below adapts ESPHome’s official Wi-Fi sample; it is a representative starting point, not a tested configuration for every board.
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esphome:
name: my-bluetooth-proxy
name_add_mac_suffix: true
esp32:
variant: esp32
framework:
type: esp-idf
wifi:
ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password
logger:
api:
ota:
platform: esphome
esp32_ble_tracker:
bluetooth_proxy:
active: trueReplace the Wi-Fi secret references with credentials configured through your ESPHome secrets setup. The ESP32 variant, framework, and any board-specific settings must fit the hardware. The important proxy pieces are the BLE tracker, the Bluetooth proxy component, a network connection, and Home Assistant’s native API.
Add the node to Home Assistant
When the ESPHome node joins the network, Home Assistant may discover it and offer to configure it. If it does not appear, add it manually:
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- In Home Assistant, open Settings > Devices & services > Add Integration > ESPHome.
- Enter the ESPHome node’s hostname or IP address. The native API’s default port is 6053.
- Complete the setup prompts. If Home Assistant’s Bluetooth integration is not configured yet, add it from Settings > Devices & services.
See Home Assistant’s ESPHome integration instructions if onboarding differs in your installation.
Place the proxy before tuning it
Start with ESPHome’s default scan parameters. ESPHome says changing scan interval or window usually provides little benefit and can add load or instability. First place the proxy close to the BLE devices it needs to hear, and away from routers, switches, racks, and other network equipment. There is no universal indoor range figure: reception depends on the home, the device, placement, and radio environment.
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos;ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
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In Home Assistant, Auto scanning mode is recommended for most recent ESPHome proxies. It listens passively most of the time and scans actively when integrations need more information. Active scanning can increase battery use on nearby BLE devices, so consider that trade-off if a battery-powered device’s behavior changes.
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Advertisements and active GATT connections are different. Advertisement-only sensor updates do not consume an active connection slot. A device that maintains an active connection does. ESPHome’s current proxy documentation says active connections are enabled by default and the default connection_slots value is three.
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- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Ultra-Low power consumption, works perfectly with the Arduino IDE
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- ESPHome estimates each slot uses about 1 KB of RAM.
- Up to nine slots are allowed, but ESPHome recommends staying at or below five to avoid memory and stability problems.
- Its Ethernet sample uses four slots, but that value is specific to the sample; increase slots only if your connected devices require them and the board has sufficient memory.
The BLE stack itself uses substantial RAM. If the node crashes or becomes unstable, keep its configuration focused and remove memory-heavy components before increasing slots or adding other features. See ESPHome’s BLE tracker documentation for component considerations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Wi-Fi or Ethernet?
| Consideration | Wi-Fi ESP32 proxy | Ethernet ESP32 proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Network installation | Needs Wi-Fi coverage and credentials; no Ethernet cable is required at the proxy. | Needs a wired network connection and compatible Ethernet hardware. |
| Radio coexistence | Uses Wi-Fi alongside BLE. Placement matters when both radios operate in a crowded environment. | ESPHome recommends Ethernet to offload Wi-Fi radio activity and improve Bluetooth performance. |
| Configuration | ESPHome’s Wi-Fi sample is a baseline; match the board definition to the exact chip. | Use configuration for the exact board. ESPHome’s cited sample targets an Olimex ESP32-PoE-ISO; its pin settings are not universal. |
| Active connections | Slot needs depend on whether devices use active GATT connections; advertisement-only updates do not use slots. | The same slot and RAM limits apply. The Ethernet sample’s four slots are not a general recommendation for every board. |
Choose based on where the proxy needs to sit and whether wired networking is practical, rather than assuming one connection type is always better.
Troubleshoot discovery and coverage
The proxy does not appear during discovery
- Confirm the ESP32 has joined the network and is running ESPHome firmware.
- Use Settings > Devices & services > Add Integration > ESPHome to enter its hostname or IP address manually; the native API default port is 6053.
- Check that the configuration includes the Home Assistant native API and that the board definition matches the hardware.
The target device is still unavailable
- Confirm the product uses BLE, not Bluetooth Classic, and that a Home Assistant integration supports it.
- Move the proxy nearer the device and away from network equipment before changing scan settings.
- For devices requiring a continuing GATT connection, check whether active connections are enabled and whether available slots meet the need. Advertisement-only sensors do not use those slots.
- If the node is unstable, reduce configuration complexity; the BLE stack consumes significant RAM.
Firmware versions for older proxies
Home Assistant lists historical minimum ESPHome firmware versions for proxy capabilities: 2022.8.2 or later for ESP32 advertisement listening, 2023.6.0 or later for advertisement bundling, 2022.9.3 or later for one active connection, and 2022.11.0 or later for multiple active connections. These are capability thresholds, not recommended targets for a fresh installation; follow current ESPHome installation guidance instead. See Home Assistant’s Bluetooth integration documentation for the current capability notes.
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