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

TL;DR

Before you orderOffer from Amazon

Get home appliances delivered free with Prime

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
• Member-only deals all year

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

The Home Assistant Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds support for the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine, a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, and custom cluster support for Aqara’s FP400 and IKEA radiator thermostats. The release is not yet stable, and some features also need Home Assistant Core changes before users can access them through the platform.

Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, support for the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and custom device clusters for Aqara and IKEA hardware. The update also lays protocol groundwork for Matter 1.6.1, but the release is not stable yet, and some features require additional Home Assistant Core work.

According to the version 1.5.0 changelog described by Matter Alpha, the server update introduces WebSocket Schema version 14 and handles camera WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation directly. A new talkback: true parameter can be used when starting a stream, allowing compatible cameras and video doorbells to send audio back to the device from a dashboard or integrated client. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. The update also addresses some WebRTC session drops and adds more specific stream error codes.

The server adds definitions and Python client support for custom Aqara clusters on the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400. The report says this enables Matter-side configuration of detection zones and real-time target-positioning events, and notes a fix for transmitting zone-configuration data. For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, the update adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel in the server dashboard, allowing calibration of compatible radiator valves without an IKEA hub.

Other changes cover device status and management. The server removes a fixed three-minute offline grace period; devices can be marked unavailable once Matter.JS determines they cannot be reached. The dashboard also adopts updated Thread network-role labels, adds support for temporary door-lock guest PINs with expiry settings, and displays commissioning details such as discriminator and vendor and product IDs. A command-line option lets users adjust polling for custom attributes on older Eve Energy plugs.

New Camera and Device Controls

The update could make Matter devices more useful within Home Assistant by exposing functions that standard Matter clusters do not cover. Camera talkback means compatible cameras and doorbells may support two-way audio through connected Home Assistant clients, while Aqara’s custom clusters expose sensor features such as detection zones. IKEA valve calibration in the server dashboard may also reduce reliance on the manufacturer’s hub for that task.

The Matter 1.6.1 work addresses a separate issue: how the controller sends commands to groups of devices. Matter Alpha reports that Home Assistant has used sequential unicast commands, which can make lights respond at different times. The new server provides a protocol-level foundation for IPv6 multicast Groupcast over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. The report describes this as groundwork; it does not establish that group commands are already operating through the full Home Assistant experience or quantify the improvement users will see.

From Matter 1.5.0 to 1.6.1

The release discussed is Matter Server 1.5.0, which upgrades its underlying Matter.JS engine to version 0.18.0. The 1.6.1 reference concerns the Matter protocol supported by the server, not the server’s own version number. The source report says the Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September and that the revision moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes.

Matter Server is the controller component used by Home Assistant to communicate with Matter devices. The source report says version 1.5.0 is available in beta and is expected to reach the stable add-on soon. Users can opt into testing through the Matter Server settings. It also cautions that several new functions need changes in Home Assistant Core before they become more accessible in the wider platform.

“The update introduces a dedicated camera API and support for Matter.JS 0.18.0.”

— Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog, as described by Matter Alpha

Stable Release and Core Support

The source report does not give a firm date for the stable release or specify which Home Assistant Core version will expose each feature. It says some functions need Core changes, but does not list a feature-by-feature schedule. The report also does not confirm whether all camera models will support talkback; that capability depends on compatible Matter camera hardware and client support.

Although the server adds the protocol foundation for Groupcast, the available information does not confirm when Home Assistant will use it for device groups in normal operation or how much faster group commands will appear. Users testing the beta should also check compatibility with their devices and current Home Assistant setup before relying on the new controls.

Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout

The next step is testing Matter Server 1.5.0 in beta, followed by a stable add-on release if development proceeds as expected. Home Assistant Core changes will also be needed for some additions to appear through the platform’s usual interfaces. The source report gives no release date for either milestone.

Users who opt into the beta can check the server dashboard and changelog for the available controls, while watching for updates to Home Assistant Core and device compatibility information. A stable rollout and clearer feature-by-feature support details will show which additions are ready for everyday use.

Key Questions

Is Matter Server 1.5.0 stable?

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

What does camera talkback add?

The new camera API supports two-way audio for compatible Matter cameras and doorbells. A stream can use the talkback: true parameter so a user can speak through the device from a supported dashboard or client.

Which Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?

The report names Aqara’s Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The update adds custom-cluster support for sensor configuration and valve calibration features.

Does the update mean Matter group commands are faster now?

Not necessarily. The server adds groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, but the report does not confirm when group commands will use it in Home Assistant or quantify a speed improvement.

Will every new feature work in Home Assistant immediately?

No. The source report says some features still require Home Assistant Core changes. It does not specify when those changes will arrive or which functions depend on them.

Source: rss