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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta upgrades to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds camera talkback, device-specific support for Aqara and IKEA hardware, and faster offline detection. The release lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 features, but it is not yet stable, and some additions also require changes in Home Assistant Core.
The Open Home Foundation has released a beta update to the Matter Server used by Home Assistant, adding two-way audio for compatible Matter cameras and device-specific support for an Aqara sensor and IKEA radiator thermostats. Version 1.5.0, built on Matter.JS 0.18.0, also prepares the server for Matter 1.6.1 features, though the update is not yet stable and some functions need further Home Assistant Core work.
The server’s new WebSocket Schema 14 camera API manages WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. Its talkback option lets users speak through compatible cameras and video doorbells from Home Assistant’s dashboard or integrated apps. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. The update also addresses some WebRTC session drops and adds error codes intended to make streaming problems easier to diagnose.
For the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, the release adds definitions for three manufacturer-specific clusters and Python client support. These allow the server to recognize features including sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location. The report says this enables detection zones and real-time target-position events over Matter, and notes a fix for transmitting zone-configuration data.
The update adds IKEA’s custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel for calibrating compatible LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostats through the server, without an IKEA hub. Other changes include removing a fixed three-minute delay before unreachable devices are marked offline, clearer Thread network role labels, temporary guest PIN support for door locks and additional interactive command panels in the server interface.
More Matter Devices, More Direct Control
The changes address practical gaps that can affect day-to-day smart-home use: speaking through a camera, calibrating supported radiator valves and identifying devices that have lost contact. For users with the listed Aqara and IKEA products, the new server definitions may expose controls and sensor data that otherwise depend on manufacturer-specific handling.
The Matter 1.6.1 work could also affect how quickly groups of devices respond. The report says Home Assistant has been sending group commands as individual unicast messages, which can make lights react in sequence. The new server provides a protocol-level foundation for IPv6 multicast group messaging across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. That is groundwork, not confirmation that every Home Assistant group will immediately respond together: availability depends on compatible devices and further platform support.
For people testing early releases, the beta offers a preview of these capabilities. For users who prioritize a stable setup, the current status means it may be better to wait until the add-on reaches stable and the needed Home Assistant Core changes are available.
Home Assistant Matter camera talkback
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What Matter 1.6.1 Adds
Matter is a smart-home connectivity standard, while Home Assistant’s Matter Server acts as a controller between the platform and Matter devices. The source report says the server update adopts Matter.JS 0.18.0 and introduces official support for Matter 1.6.1. The Connectivity Standards Alliance released that protocol version in September, according to the report.
Among the changes described for Matter 1.6.1 are Groupcast moving out of provisional status and separate volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. The server’s role is to provide the underlying implementation; support in the server alone does not establish that every device, client or Home Assistant feature can use each capability now.
Manufacturers can also define custom clusters for features outside Matter’s common device functions. The Aqara sensing features and IKEA valve calibration rely on these additions. The report also notes a command-line option for changing custom-attribute polling on older Eve Energy plugs that lack state subscriptions.
““the new Matter Server establishes the protocol-level foundation required for native IPv6 multicast group messaging””
— Matter Alpha report on Matter Server 1.5.0
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Stable Rollout and Core Support
The report does not give a date for the stable release. It says version 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable Matter Server add-on soon, but does not provide a schedule. It also says most new features still require work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible; it does not specify which features are ready for use in each current client.
Compatibility details are also limited. The report names particular Aqara and IKEA hardware, but does not provide a full device or firmware compatibility list, nor confirm that every camera client supports talkback. The Matter 1.6.1 group-messaging foundation should not be read as proof of an immediate change in how all existing device groups operate.
IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat
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Beta Testing Before Stable Release
Home Assistant users can opt into testing through the beta option in Matter Server settings, according to the report. Testing may help surface issues with camera sessions, device-specific clusters and network behavior before a stable release.
The next confirmed milestone is a stable Matter Server add-on release, but its date remains unspecified. Users should also watch for related Home Assistant Core updates, since the report says more work there is needed to make most new features accessible. Until those releases and compatibility details are published, the exact rollout and reach of the additions remain open.
Matter 1.6.1 compatible smart home devices
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Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?
No. The report describes version 1.5.0 as a beta and says it is expected to reach the stable add-on soon, without giving a release date.
Which cameras can use the new talkback feature?
The report says talkback works with compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells and names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. It does not provide a complete compatibility list.
What IKEA hardware support is included?
The update adds IKEA’s custom ValveCalibration cluster and a server control panel for calibrating compatible LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostats without an IKEA hub.
Does the update make Matter device groups respond together now?
Not necessarily. It provides the protocol-level foundation for IPv6 multicast group messaging. Actual use depends on compatible devices and supporting software, and the report does not say all groups will immediately change behavior.
How can users try the beta?
The report says users can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings. As with other beta software, the article does not guarantee that every feature will be available through Home Assistant Core yet.
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