Home Assistant’s Matter Server Adds Matter 1.6.1, Camera Talkback, And IKEA Hardware Support

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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta is built on Matter.JS 0.18.0 and adds support for Matter 1.6.1, a camera API with two-way audio, and custom clusters for Aqara and IKEA devices. The release also changes offline detection and adds management tools, but it is not yet stable, and some features still need Home Assistant Core work.

The Open Home Foundation’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine, a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, and custom-cluster support for hardware from Aqara and IKEA. The server underpins Matter device control in Home Assistant, and the update also lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 features, though the release is not yet stable and some functions require further Home Assistant Core work.

The update introduces WebSocket Schema version 14 and lets the server manage WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for compatible cameras and video doorbells. A new talkback: true parameter can enable users to speak through supported devices from Home Assistant’s built-in dashboard or integrated client apps. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example of compatible hardware. The release also addresses some WebRTC session drops and adds error codes intended to make stream problems easier to diagnose.

For the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, Matter Server adds definitions and Python client support for three Aqara-specific clusters. The report says this enables detection-zone configuration and real-time target-positioning events over Matter, alongside a fix for transmitting zone settings. IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat gains support for the custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel in the server dashboard, allowing compatible valves to be calibrated without an IKEA hub.

Other changes cover day-to-day management. The server no longer waits through a fixed three-minute grace period before marking a device unavailable after it determines the device cannot be reached. Its network graph uses updated Thread role labels. The dashboard’s Door Lock panel can create temporary guest PIN codes with custom expiration times, and commissioning windows now display pairing details including discriminator, vendor ID, product ID and timeout duration. New interactive command panels cover several device categories, including robot vacuums, ovens and EV chargers.

More Direct Control for Cameras and Devices

The changes could make Home Assistant’s Matter controller more useful for households combining devices from different manufacturers. Camera talkback adds a way to communicate through supported cameras and doorbells from the Home Assistant interface, while the Aqara and IKEA cluster work exposes functions that standard Matter controls may not cover.

The Matter 1.6.1 work has a separate potential benefit: Groupcast can provide the protocol foundation for sending one command to a Matter device group rather than issuing sequential commands. The source report says Home Assistant has previously handled group actions through sequential unicast, which can cause devices such as lights to respond at different times. The update establishes groundwork for native multicast messaging across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet; it does not establish that every group action will immediately use Groupcast in Home Assistant.

Faster unavailable status may also help users and automations react sooner when a device stops responding. The practical effect will depend on device behavior, network conditions and how the feature is exposed in Home Assistant.

What Matter Server 1.5.0 Changes

Matter Server is the controller component used by Home Assistant to communicate with Matter devices. The report identifies version 1.5.0 as the release containing the changes and says it upgrades the underlying Matter.JS engine to version 0.18.0. Matter is designed to support smart-home devices across ecosystems, but manufacturers may still rely on vendor-specific clusters for features beyond the standard functions.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the report. It says the specification update moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. Matter Server 1.5.0 provides a foundation for the newer protocol capabilities; the source does not say that all of those capabilities are already available to users through Home Assistant.

The report also notes a command-line option, –custom-cluster-poll-interval, for owners of older Eve Energy smart plugs. It allows a polling interval to be set for custom attributes on legacy hardware that does not support state subscriptions. The server’s network graph also adopts Thread 1.4 terminology, including “Mesh Extenders” and “Standby Mesh Extenders.”

““Version 1.5.0 of [Matter Server] is currently in beta.””

— Matter Alpha report

Stable Release and Feature Access

The report says Matter Server 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable add-on soon, but it does not give a specific stable-release date. It also says some features need additional Home Assistant Core work before they are more accessible, without listing which features will be available immediately or when that work will be complete.

Compatibility details are limited. The report names particular Aqara and IKEA devices, but does not provide a complete list of supported cameras, thermostats or firmware requirements. It also does not establish when Home Assistant will use Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast for real-world group commands, or how broadly the new camera talkback API will be supported across clients.

Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout

Users who want to test the changes can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings, according to the report. That carries the usual distinction between testing software and a stable release: behavior and availability may change before general rollout.

The next milestones are a stable Matter Server add-on release and further Home Assistant Core work to expose the new functions to users. Until those arrive, device compatibility and access to features such as talkback and Groupcast should be checked against the relevant Home Assistant and Matter Server versions.

Key Questions

Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?

No. The source report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable add-on soon, but gives no release date.

What does the camera talkback feature do?

For compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells, a new talkback: true stream parameter can enable users to speak through the device from Home Assistant’s dashboard or an integrated client app. Compatibility may vary by device and client.

Which Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?

The report describes custom-cluster support for Aqara’s Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. It does not provide a complete compatibility list.

Does the update mean Home Assistant already uses Matter Groupcast?

Not necessarily. The report says the server establishes the protocol-level foundation for native multicast group messaging. It does not confirm when or where Home Assistant will use Groupcast for device commands.

How can users try the beta?

The report says users can turn on the beta option in Matter Server settings. Some features may still require changes in Home Assistant Core before they are readily available.

Source: rss