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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta upgrades to Matter.JS 0.18.0 and adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, custom support for Aqara and IKEA devices, and faster offline detection. The release is not yet stable, and some features also need Home Assistant Core changes before they are readily available to users.

Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, support groundwork for Matter 1.6.1, and custom features for selected Aqara and IKEA hardware. The Open Home Foundation’s server update also changes how quickly unreachable devices are marked offline; it matters to users who manage Matter cameras, sensors and radiator thermostats through Home Assistant, although the release is not yet stable.

According to the 1.5.0 changelog, the server moves to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds WebSocket Schema version 14, including a camera API that manages WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. A new talkback: true parameter allows compatible cameras and video doorbells to support speaking through a stream. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example; availability may depend on compatible hardware and client support.

The update adds built-in definitions and Python client support for custom Aqara clusters used by the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400. These cover ambient-sensing configuration, radar-sensing union and occupant location, enabling functions such as detection-zone configuration and real-time target-position events over Matter, according to the report. For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, the server adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel for calibrating compatible radiator valves without an IKEA hub.

Other changes include removing a fixed three-minute offline grace period: devices are reported unavailable once Matter.JS determines they cannot be reached. The server also updates network graph labels, adds controls for temporary door-lock guest PINs and commissioning details, and introduces interactive command panels for several device categories. Older Eve Energy plugs gain a command-line option to adjust polling for custom attributes.

At a glance
updateWhen: Matter Server 1.5.0 is in beta; stable…
The developmentThe Open Home Foundation’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds Matter 1.6.1 support groundwork, camera talkback and custom clusters for selected Aqara and IKEA devices.

New Matter Camera and Device Controls

The camera API could make two-way audio available through Home Assistant-connected Matter cameras without relying only on raw cluster commands. It also gives the server a more direct role in managing streaming sessions. The source reports fixes for some WebRTC session drops and clearer error codes, which may help users diagnose camera-stream problems; it does not establish how every camera or client will behave.

Support for vendor-specific clusters addresses a practical gap in Matter integrations: standard protocol features do not always cover device-specific capabilities. The new Aqara and IKEA definitions bring selected sensing and valve-calibration functions into the server, while faster unavailable status may help dashboards and automations reflect device connectivity sooner. These are server-side additions, not a guarantee that every function is immediately exposed in Home Assistant.

The Matter 1.6.1 work also lays protocol groundwork for Groupcast, which could let supported groups receive commands together rather than one device at a time. The source describes this as a foundation; it does not confirm that Home Assistant users can already use native group messaging in this beta.

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From Matter 1.6.1 to Home Assistant

The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the report. Among its changes, Groupcast moved out of provisional status, and the release added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. Before this server update, Home Assistant handled Matter device groups by sending commands sequentially, a pattern that can make a group of lights respond at slightly different times.

Matter Server is the controller component used by Home Assistant to communicate with Matter devices. Version 1.5.0 remains in beta. The report says users can opt into beta testing in the Matter Server settings, while a stable add-on rollout is expected soon. It also cautions that many features require changes in Home Assistant Core before they become more accessible through the platform.

“talkback: true”

— Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog, as summarized by Matter Alpha

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Stable Release and Feature Availability

The stable release date is not specified; the report says only that rollout is expected soon. It is also unclear which Home Assistant Core changes will be needed, when they will arrive, and which of the server’s new controls will be surfaced in user-facing integrations. The report does not provide a complete compatibility list for cameras or other devices that can use talkback.

Although the server update provides groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, the available information does not confirm that native group messaging is already active for Home Assistant device groups. Users should distinguish protocol support in the server from features enabled end to end in Home Assistant and compatible devices.

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Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout

The next milestone is a stable Matter Server add-on release, which the source report says is expected soon but does not date. Users who choose the beta option can test the changes earlier, though beta software may not provide the same stability as a stable release.

Home Assistant Core updates will also determine how many server-side features become available through the platform’s normal interface. Users should check the Matter Server release notes and Home Assistant Core updates for confirmed rollout details, device compatibility and any setup requirements.

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Key Questions

Is Matter Server 1.5.0 a stable release?

No. The source report identifies version 1.5.0 as beta and says a stable rollout is expected soon, without giving a date.

What does camera talkback add?

The new camera API supports managing WebRTC sessions, and a talkback: true parameter can enable two-way audio on compatible Matter cameras or doorbells when the client and device support it.

Which Aqara and IKEA devices are named?

The report names the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The server adds custom-cluster support for selected functions on those devices.

Does the update mean Matter group commands are already faster?

Not necessarily. The update lays the protocol-level foundation for Groupcast, but the report does not confirm that native multicast group messaging is already active for Home Assistant users.

Do all the new features work through Home Assistant immediately?

No such blanket availability is confirmed. The report says many features still require Home Assistant Core work, and compatibility will depend on the device and client.

Source: rss

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