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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta updates its Matter.JS engine to 0.18.0 and adds support for Matter 1.6.1, a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, and custom features for Aqara and IKEA hardware. The release is not yet stable, and some capabilities still need Home Assistant Core changes before they are readily available to users.
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 selected Aqara and IKEA devices. The Open Home Foundation’s update also lays protocol groundwork for Matter 1.6.1, though the release is not yet stable and some features still depend on changes in Home Assistant Core.
According to the version 1.5.0 changelog cited by Matter Alpha, the server moves to Matter.JS 0.18.0 and introduces official support for Matter 1.6.1. A key part of that work is a foundation for Groupcast, which can let Matter devices receive a group command rather than having the controller send separate commands to each device. The report says the update establishes the protocol-level basis for IPv6 multicast group messaging across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet; it does not say that every Home Assistant group action will immediately use this method.
The server also introduces WebSocket Schema version 14 and a camera API that manages WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation. Its new talkback: true parameter allows a client to request two-way audio from compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. It also describes fixes for dropped WebRTC sessions and new error codes intended to make camera-stream problems easier to diagnose.
Custom vendor-cluster definitions cover the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA radiator thermostats. For the FP400, the server adds definitions for three Aqara clusters related to ambient sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location, with support for detection zones and real-time target-position events over Matter. For compatible IKEA valves, a ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel are intended to allow calibration through the server without an IKEA hub. The update also adds a configurable polling interval for custom attributes on older Eve Energy smart plugs.
More Direct Control of Matter Devices
The update addresses several practical limits in smart-home control. If group commands use native multicast, multiple lights could respond together rather than in the staggered sequence described in the report. That may improve responsiveness, but the changelog account presents this as groundwork, not a guarantee that users will see the effect as soon as they install the beta.
Camera talkback and device-specific clusters could also bring more hardware functions into Home Assistant’s Matter workflow. Two-way audio would let users speak through supported cameras from compatible clients, while the Aqara sensing and IKEA calibration additions expose functions that are not covered by standard Matter controls alone. These capabilities matter most to owners of the named or otherwise compatible devices; broad availability across all cameras, sensors or thermostats is not established.
Other changes focus on administration. The server removes a fixed three-minute wait before marking an unreachable device offline, according to the report, and revises Thread network graph labels to use clearer roles. It also adds temporary guest PIN controls for door locks and provides pairing details when opening a commissioning window. Together, these features could make status checks, sharing and troubleshooting more direct for Home Assistant users.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
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What Matter Server 1.5.0 Changes
The Matter Server is the controller service used by Home Assistant to manage Matter devices. The release described here is version 1.5.0 of that server, built on Matter.JS 0.18.0; the Matter 1.6.1 reference concerns the protocol version it adds support for. Those are separate version numbers, and the server update should not be confused with a new Home Assistant Core release.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the source report. It says the specification moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. The report contrasts native group messaging with Home Assistant’s earlier approach of sending unicast commands to devices one at a time, which can produce a visible delay across a group of lights.
Not all of the 1.5.0 changes are user-facing in the same way. Some additions are server APIs, cluster definitions or dashboard tools, and the report says most new features still require Home Assistant Core work to become more accessible. The update also adds interactive server-dashboard command panels for device categories including robot vacuums, ovens, water heaters, EV chargers, media players, window coverings and home energy management forecasts.
“The server is upgrading to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine to introduce official support for Matter 1.6.1.”
— Matter Alpha, describing the Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog
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Beta Status and Compatibility Limits
Version 1.5.0 remains in beta, and the source report gives no firm stable-release date. It says users can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings to test it, but does not provide a full compatibility list or specify which Home Assistant Core version will expose each feature.
It is also unclear how quickly Groupcast will be used by everyday Home Assistant group actions, or which camera clients and devices beyond the example named will support talkback. The report describes custom clusters for the Aqara FP400 and IKEA radiator thermostats, but does not state that every model or regional variant will work. Details such as final stable-release behavior and any changes made during beta testing remain subject to confirmation.
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Stable Release and Core Integration
The next milestone is a stable release of Matter Server 1.5.0. Matter Alpha reports that it is expected to reach the stable Home Assistant Matter Server add-on soon, but does not provide a date. Users who choose to test the beta can enable it in the Matter Server settings; as with beta software, the report does not guarantee that every feature will be complete or exposed through Home Assistant.
Further development in Home Assistant Core will determine how many of the new server capabilities become available through normal dashboards and client apps. Users will need to watch for release notes that specify supported cameras and devices, Core requirements, and whether group actions are using the new multicast behavior. Until those details are published, the update is best understood as a beta server release with new protocol groundwork and device-specific functions, rather than a confirmed broad rollout of every feature.
Matter compatible smart home sensors
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Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 stable?
No. The source report describes version 1.5.0 as a beta and says a stable rollout is expected soon, without giving a specific date.
What does Matter 1.6.1 support add?
The update adds official support and a protocol-level foundation for Groupcast, which can send commands to a device group using multicast. The report does not confirm that all Home Assistant group commands will immediately use it.
Which cameras can use the new talkback feature?
The report says compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells can use the new camera API’s talkback: true option and names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example. It does not provide a complete list of supported models or clients.
Which Aqara and IKEA devices receive custom support?
The update adds custom-cluster definitions for the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and a ValveCalibration cluster for compatible IKEA radiator thermostats. Device and regional compatibility details are not fully listed in the source report.
Can users try the beta now?
According to the report, users can turn on the beta option in the Matter Server settings. Some capabilities may still require Home Assistant Core work, so enabling the beta does not mean every feature will appear in the standard interface.
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