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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta upgrades to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds a foundation for Matter 1.6.1, a camera API with two-way audio, and custom support for Aqara and IKEA devices. The release is not yet stable, and some features still need work in Home Assistant Core before they are readily available to users.
The Open Home Foundation has prepared a beta update to the Matter Server used by Home Assistant, adding a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, support foundations for Matter 1.6.1, and custom features for upcoming Aqara and IKEA hardware. Version 1.5.0 is not yet a stable release, and the report says some capabilities also require changes in Home Assistant Core before users can access them easily.
According to the release changelog described by Matter Alpha, Matter Server 1.5.0 moves to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds official support for Matter 1.6.1. The protocol update provides the foundation for Groupcast, which can send commands to a group of devices at once rather than addressing them one by one. The report says this could reduce staggered responses when controlling multiple lights, but it does not establish that every Home Assistant group command will immediately use multicast.
The update adds WebSocket Schema version 14 and a dedicated WebRTC camera API for managing sessions and stream negotiation. Its talkback parameter allows compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells to support two-way audio from a connected client. Matter Alpha names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example; compatibility and availability depend on the camera and supporting Home Assistant software. The release also addresses some WebRTC session drops and adds more specific stream error codes.
For the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, the server adds definitions for three vendor-specific clusters and Python client support. The report says these enable Matter handling for detection zones and real-time target-position events, and notes a fix for transmitting zone configuration data. For IKEA, a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a server-dashboard control panel are intended to let users calibrate compatible LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostats without an IKEA hub. The source does not provide a full compatibility list.
More Control Across Matter Devices
The update targets two practical limits in smart-home control: how quickly groups of devices respond and how much camera or manufacturer-specific functionality can be managed through Matter. Groupcast support creates a route toward sending group commands together, while the camera API brings stream management and talkback into the server rather than relying only on raw Matter cluster commands.
The Aqara and IKEA additions also show how Matter’s standard features can be supplemented by vendor-specific clusters. That can make advanced device functions available through Home Assistant without requiring a separate manufacturer hub for every task. However, these are server-side capabilities in a beta: their practical reach depends on device compatibility and integration work in Home Assistant Core.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
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From Matter Commands to Camera Sessions
Matter is a smart-home connectivity standard, and Home Assistant’s Matter Server acts as the controller between the platform and compatible devices. The source report says earlier group control relied on sequential unicast commands; the new server version supplies protocol-level groundwork for IPv6 multicast Groupcast over Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet. The report also says Matter 1.6.1, released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance in September, moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes.
Camera support had been introduced previously, but the new release adds a dedicated API for WebRTC sessions and talkback. The server update also includes management changes: devices are marked unavailable once Matter.JS determines they cannot be reached, rather than after the prior fixed three-minute grace period. Its network graph adopts clearer Thread role labels, and the door-lock panel can create temporary guest PINs with expiration settings.
Other additions described in the changelog include a command-line option to change polling intervals for custom attributes on older Eve Energy plugs, clearer commissioning details when sharing devices with another platform, and interactive dashboard controls for device categories such as robot vacuums, ovens, and EV chargers. These features are part of the same server release, but the report does not say they are all exposed through Home Assistant’s main interface yet.
“The server is upgrading to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine to introduce official support for Matter 1.6.1 alongside a dedicated WebRTC camera API.”
— Matter Alpha, describing the Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog
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Beta Status and Device Compatibility
The stable release date is not specified, and the source does not give a detailed device-by-device compatibility list for camera talkback, IKEA valve calibration, or Aqara FP400 features. It also says most new features still require work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible, without specifying which features are ready now or when remaining integration changes will arrive. The Groupcast support described is a protocol foundation; the report does not confirm the timing or scope of its use in everyday Home Assistant controls.
Aqara G350 camera compatible with Matter
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Stable Release and Core Integration
The next milestones are the move of Matter Server 1.5.0 from beta to the stable add-on and any corresponding updates to Home Assistant Core. The source says users can opt into testing by enabling the beta option in Matter Server settings, but beta users should expect that some features may not yet be available through the standard Home Assistant experience. No firm stable rollout date is provided, so users will need to watch the project’s release notes for timing, compatibility details, and confirmation of which features are ready.
smart home groupcast control devices
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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 Matter Server add-on soon, but it gives no exact date.
What does camera talkback add?
The new camera API supports two-way audio for compatible Matter cameras and doorbells. A client can request it using a talkback: true parameter when starting a stream; availability depends on device and software support.
Which IKEA and Aqara devices are mentioned?
The report names the IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat for valve calibration and the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 for custom sensing features. It does not provide a full compatibility list.
Will group commands become faster immediately?
The update adds a foundation for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, which can send group commands through multicast. The source does not confirm that all Home Assistant group commands will use Groupcast as soon as the beta is installed.
How can users test the beta?
The report says users can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings. Some features still need Home Assistant Core work before they are readily accessible.
Source: rss
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