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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 camera API with two-way audio, custom support for Aqara’s FP400 sensor and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE thermostat, and quicker offline detection. The release is not yet stable, and some features still need Home Assistant Core work before they are broadly accessible.
The Open Home Foundation has prepared Matter Server 1.5.0, a beta update for the server used by Home Assistant, adding a dedicated camera API with two-way audio and support for custom features in upcoming Aqara and IKEA devices. The update also moves the underlying Matter.JS engine to version 0.18.0 and lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1, but the release has not yet reached the stable add-on.
According to the 1.5.0 changelog described by Matter Alpha, a new WebSocket Schema version 14 camera API lets the server manage WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. A talkback: true parameter can enable users to speak through compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells from a dashboard or integrated app. The report names Aqara’s Camera Hub G350 as an example. The update also addresses some WebRTC session drops and adds more specific camera-stream error codes.
The server adds built-in definitions and Python client support for custom vendor 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, according to the report. A fix also addresses transmission of zone-configuration data to the sensor.
For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, the update adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel for calibrating compatible radiator valves through the server dashboard, without an IKEA hub. Other changes include removing a fixed three-minute delay before marking unreachable devices offline, clearer labels in the Thread network graph, temporary guest PIN controls for door locks, and new interactive command panels for several device categories.
More Matter Devices, Fewer Workarounds
The changes matter to Home Assistant users because they extend what the platform’s Matter server can do beyond standard device commands. Camera talkback could let compatible cameras and doorbells support two-way audio through connected Home Assistant clients, while the Aqara and IKEA clusters expose manufacturer-specific functions that generic Matter controls may not cover.
The Matter 1.6.1 work addresses a separate usability issue: grouped commands have been sent as sequential unicast messages, which can make devices respond at slightly different times. The report says the new server establishes a foundation for IPv6 multicast Groupcast over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. That is a protocol capability foundation, not confirmation that every Home Assistant device group will immediately switch to synchronized control after installation.
Faster offline reporting may also help users diagnose connectivity problems sooner. At the same time, the beta status and remaining Core work mean the practical effect will depend on device compatibility and subsequent Home Assistant releases.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
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From Matter 1.6.1 to Device Support
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the source report. It moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. Before this server update, Home Assistant handled Matter device groups by sending commands to devices one by one, a method that can produce staggered responses.
Matter defines common smart-home functions, but manufacturers can also use custom vendor clusters for features that are specific to their products. The 1.5.0 release adds definitions for selected Aqara and IKEA hardware rather than suggesting that every feature of those devices is covered by the shared Matter standard. The report also notes a command-line option for adjusting polling of custom attributes on older Eve Energy smart plugs that lack state subscriptions.
“the new Matter Server establishes the protocol-level foundation required for native IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet”
— Matter Alpha, describing the server’s Matter 1.6.1 work
Beta Status and Compatibility Gaps
The source report does not give a firm stable-release date, a complete list of compatible cameras, or details of which Home Assistant Core changes are still required for each feature. It says most new features need further work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible, so inclusion in the Matter Server beta does not necessarily mean they are ready to use through the standard Home Assistant interface.
It is also not clear from the report when Groupcast will be used in everyday Home Assistant device-group commands, or how quickly the named Aqara and IKEA hardware will be available to users. Device-level support may depend on firmware, client support and the final stable release.
Stable Release and Core Integration
The next milestone is the stable Matter Server add-on release, which the report says is expected soon but does not date. Users who want to test the changes can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings, as described in the report; beta software may behave differently from a stable release.
Home Assistant Core work will determine how much of the new camera, device-cluster and management functionality becomes available through the platform’s usual interfaces. Further release notes should clarify feature readiness, compatible hardware and whether Groupcast is active for specific device groups.
Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 stable?
No. The source report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and that a stable rollout is expected soon, without providing a date.
Which camera feature is new?
The update adds a dedicated WebRTC camera API and a talkback: true option for two-way audio with compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. The report cites Aqara’s Camera Hub G350 as an example; it does not provide a full compatibility list.
What does the Matter 1.6.1 support change?
The server update lays protocol-level groundwork for IPv6 multicast Groupcast, which can send group commands without addressing devices one at a time. The report does not confirm when Home Assistant will use this for particular groups.
What Aqara and IKEA hardware is mentioned?
The update adds custom-cluster support for Aqara’s Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. These clusters expose features such as sensor detection zones and thermostat valve calibration.
Will every new feature work immediately in Home Assistant?
Not necessarily. The report says most features still require Home Assistant Core work to become more accessible, and actual use can depend on compatible hardware and software.
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