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 updates its Matter.JS engine and adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, plus custom-cluster support for Aqara’s FP400 sensor and IKEA radiator thermostats. The release also prepares for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, but the server is still in beta and some features need further Home Assistant Core work.

Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio and support for custom features in upcoming Aqara and IKEA hardware, while updating the server’s Matter.JS engine to prepare for Matter 1.6.1. The update matters to smart-home users who rely on Matter devices for cameras, sensing, heating and device-group control, but it is not yet a stable release.

According to the release changelog cited by Matter Alpha, the server moves to Matter.JS 0.18.0 and adds WebSocket Schema version 14, including an API that manages camera WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation. A new talkback: true parameter can enable users to speak through compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells from Home Assistant’s web dashboard or integrated client apps. The report gives the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. The update also addresses some WebRTC session drop issues and adds more specific stream error codes.

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

On Matter 1.6.1, the report describes the release as laying the protocol-level groundwork for Groupcast, or group messaging over IPv6 multicast across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. It says Home Assistant has handled group commands by sending them individually, which can make devices respond at slightly different times. The server update also removes a fixed three-minute wait before marking an unreachable node offline and updates network-graph role labels. Other additions include temporary guest PIN controls for door locks and interactive command panels for device categories including ovens, robot vacuums and EV chargers.

Faster Group Control and Camera Audio

The release combines improvements for everyday device use with changes aimed at making Matter support more capable. Camera talkback could let users handle two-way audio from compatible devices within Home Assistant’s interfaces, rather than relying only on basic stream viewing. How readily users can access that feature will depend on device compatibility and further work in Home Assistant Core.

The Groupcast groundwork addresses a visible limitation in group control: issuing commands one device at a time can create staggered responses. Native multicast support could allow a group of compatible devices to receive commands together, though the source describes the server as establishing a foundation, not confirming that every group operation will immediately use Groupcast. Custom Aqara and IKEA clusters also matter because they expose manufacturer-specific functions that standard Matter features may not cover.

From Matter 1.6.1 to Device Support

Matter is a smart-home interoperability standard maintained by the Connectivity Standards Alliance. Home Assistant uses Matter Server as the controller component for its Matter integration; this release updates the server’s underlying Matter.JS engine. The reported Matter 1.6.1 specification changes include moving Groupcast out of provisional status and adding separate volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes.

Manufacturer-specific clusters extend beyond Matter’s standard device functions. The new Aqara and IKEA definitions are intended to let the server communicate with particular hardware features, while the broader update also improves diagnostics and device management. The report says Matter Server 1.5.0 is currently in beta and that users can opt into beta testing in the server settings. It cites GitHub as the source for the release information.

Beta Status and Compatibility Questions

The update has not yet reached the stable Matter Server add-on, and no firm stable-release date is given. The source says some features require additional Home Assistant Core work before they are more accessible, but does not specify which features will be ready at launch or when that work will be completed.

Compatibility details also remain limited. The report names example Aqara and IKEA products but does not provide a full list of supported camera models, firmware requirements or affected installations. It also does not establish when Groupcast will be available end to end for Home Assistant users, or which devices and network setups will support it.

Stable Release and Core Integration

The next milestone is the move from the 1.5.0 beta to a stable Matter Server add-on. Users who choose to test the beta can enable it through Matter Server settings, but should expect features or compatibility to change before stable release. The source says a rollout is expected soon, without giving a date.

Home Assistant Core development will determine how the new server capabilities appear in the platform’s user-facing controls. Release notes and compatibility information for the stable server and related Core updates should clarify which cameras support talkback, how Aqara and IKEA features are exposed, and when the Groupcast groundwork produces practical changes for device groups.

Key Questions

Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?

No. The report says Matter Server 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable add-on later. It does not give a release date.

What does the new camera API add?

It lets the server manage WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation through a dedicated camera API. A talkback parameter can enable two-way audio on compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells.

Which Aqara and IKEA features are supported?

The update adds custom-cluster support for sensing and occupant-location features on the Aqara FP400, and valve calibration for compatible IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostats. Exact compatibility requirements are not listed in the source.

Does the update make Matter group commands immediate?

Not necessarily. The update lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, which can support multicast group messaging. The report does not confirm that all Home Assistant group commands will use it as soon as version 1.5.0 is installed.

Source: rss