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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta updates its Matter.JS engine and adds a camera API with two-way audio, plus custom-cluster support for Aqara and IKEA hardware. The release also changes device-offline detection and adds management tools, but it has not yet reached the stable add-on and some features need further Home Assistant Core work.
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds an updated Matter.JS engine, a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, and custom support for upcoming Aqara and IKEA hardware. The Open Home Foundation’s update also lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 group messaging and changes how quickly unreachable devices are marked offline; the stable add-on release has not yet been announced.
According to the Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog cited by Matter Alpha, the server is moving to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds official support for Matter 1.6.1. The report says this provides a protocol-level foundation for IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. That could allow a group of devices to receive a command together rather than having the controller send separate commands to each one. The report describes the current sequential approach as a potential cause of staggered responses, such as lights switching off at slightly different times.
The release introduces WebSocket Schema version 14 and a dedicated API for camera sessions and stream negotiation. Its new talkback: true option allows compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells to carry audio from a user back through the device. The source names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. It also reports fixes for dropped WebRTC sessions and new error codes intended to make camera-stream problems easier to diagnose.
For the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, the server adds definitions for vendor-specific clusters and Python client support. The report says these cover ambient-sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location, including detection zones and real-time target-position events. For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, the update adds a ValveCalibration cluster and a dashboard control panel for calibrating compatible valves without an IKEA hub. The source also lists a configurable polling interval for custom attributes on older Eve Energy plugs.
More Matter Devices, More Direct Control
The update addresses several practical limits that can shape whether a mixed-brand smart home works smoothly. Groupcast support is a foundation for coordinated commands across multiple devices, while camera talkback adds a two-way audio capability to the Matter Server’s camera handling. These additions could make the system more useful for households that want to control devices from different manufacturers through Home Assistant rather than rely on separate brand hubs.
Support for the Aqara sensor’s custom clusters and IKEA thermostat calibration also matters because devices can expose features beyond Matter’s standard controls through vendor-specific functionality. Adding those definitions in the server may let Home Assistant clients access more of that hardware’s capabilities. However, the release notes described by Matter Alpha do not establish that every feature will be available immediately in Home Assistant’s usual interface: the report says that some changes still require Home Assistant Core work.
Faster unavailable status may also affect automations and troubleshooting. The server previously retained a fixed three-minute grace period after losing contact with a device; the report says that timer has been removed, so a node can be marked unavailable once Matter.JS determines it cannot be reached. That may provide faster status updates, though the precise timing will depend on the server’s reachability determination.
Aqara Camera Hub G350 with two-way audio
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What Matter Server 1.5.0 Changes
Matter Server is the controller component used by Home Assistant to communicate with Matter devices. The update described here is version 1.5.0; Matter 1.6.1 is the protocol version it adds support for, not the server’s release number. The source says the server’s underlying Matter.JS engine is updated to version 0.18.0.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the report. Among the changes it cites are moving Groupcast out of provisional status and adding independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. Matter Server 1.5.0’s multicast groundwork is relevant to sending group commands, but the source does not say that all devices or Home Assistant interfaces will use every new protocol feature as soon as the beta is installed.
Other additions described in the report include clearer network-graph labels based on Thread 1.4 terminology, temporary guest PIN creation and custom expiration times in the door-lock panel, and commissioning details such as discriminator and vendor and product IDs. The server’s web interface also gains command panels for several device categories, including robot vacuums, ovens, EV chargers and window coverings.
“The server is upgrading to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine to introduce official support for Matter 1.6.1.”
— Matter Alpha, reporting on the Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog
Stable Release and Core Support
Matter Server 1.5.0 remains in beta, and the report gives no specific date for stable availability. It says users can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings, but does not provide detailed guidance on compatibility or whether all installations will receive the same features at the same time.
It is also unclear which parts of the new camera API, Matter 1.6.1 group messaging and device-specific controls will be exposed in Home Assistant’s standard interface at launch. The source says some features require further Home Assistant Core changes, without identifying a schedule. It does not report independent testing results, supported-device lists beyond the named examples, or performance measurements showing how much faster group actions or offline detection will be.
Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout
The next milestone is a stable release of the Matter Server add-on. Matter Alpha reports that users can opt into the beta through the server settings to test the update, while warning that some features still depend on Home Assistant Core work. The source does not give a release date or specify which Core version will complete that integration.
For users considering the beta, the practical next steps are to check the add-on’s release notes and confirm that their Matter devices and client setup support the features they want to test. Further reporting or release documentation will be needed to clarify stable availability, broader device compatibility and when the new controls appear in Home Assistant’s interface.
Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?
No. The report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable add-on soon, but it gives no release date.
What does the Matter 1.6.1 support add?
The update provides the server-side foundation for IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. The report says this could let group commands reach devices together instead of being sent sequentially; it does not confirm that every setup will immediately use the feature.
Which cameras can use the new talkback feature?
The report says the camera API supports two-way audio on 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 Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?
The beta adds custom-cluster support for the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and calibration controls for IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The source describes the added functions but does not establish availability for every region or configuration.
Will all the new features work in Home Assistant immediately?
Not necessarily. The report says some features require additional Home Assistant Core work. It does not specify which features will be ready first or when those changes will ship.
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