How‑to Guides
Step‑by‑step instructions for common installer workflows.
Practical guides to integrate platforms, configure automations, and deliver a polished client experience.
Getting Started
Beginner-friendly guides for new installers setting up Home Assistant.
- Beginner: Backup & Restore for Home Assistant (simple and safe)Backup Restore Snapshots Safety
- Beginner: Choosing Hardware for Home Assistant (Pi, Mini PC, HA Green)A practical guide to picking hardware for Home Assistant: HA Green, Raspberry Pi, mini PCs/NUCs, NAS/VM. Includes Zigbee/Z-Wave coordinator tips, storage, networking, and starter shopping list.Hardware Raspberry-Pi Mini-Pc Ha-Green Zigbee Z-Wave Storage Networking
- Beginner: Your First Automation and Scenes in Home AssistantCreate your first motion-activated light automation and learn how to save and restore device states with Scenes. Includes UI steps and YAML examples.Automations Scenes Beginner Templates
Apps
Guides for installing and verifying apps and add-ons used within a Selora Hub PC running Home Assistant OS.
- Install AppsBasic guide to installing apps in Home Assistant and finding the app store.Apps Home-Assistant Setup Add-Ons
- Install OpenThread Border RouterInstall OpenThread Border Router in Home Assistant and verify that your Thread network is ready for Matter over Thread devices.Openthread Thread Matter Apps Home-Assistant Setup
- Install HACSInstall HACS using the current supported flow, then add the HACS integration in Home Assistant.Hacs Apps Integrations Home-Assistant Support
- Install Mosquitto MQTT BrokerInstall the Mosquitto MQTT Broker add-on and verify the MQTT integration in Home Assistant.Mqtt Mosquitto Apps Home-Assistant Support
- Install NetAlertXInstall NetAlertX and verify device discovery for integration support work.Netalertx Mqtt Network Apps Support
- Install Studio Code ServerInstall and verify Studio Code Server in Home Assistant during Selora Hub setup.Studio-Code Add-On Apps Home-Assistant Support
Mobile App
Guides for installing the Home Assistant Companion App and setting up remote access on mobile devices.
- Mobile Phone Matter over Thread Setup Commissioner SetupSet up the Home Assistant Companion App so your phone can commission Matter over Thread devices.Companion-App Home-Assistant Matter Thread Mobile Setup
- Home Assistant Companion App Remote AccessAdd your Selora Homes remote access URL to the Home Assistant Companion App and verify remote mobile access.Companion-App Home-Assistant Setup Remote-Access Mobile
- Home Assistant Companion App SetupInstall the Home Assistant Companion App, sign in to your server, and confirm mobile access works correctly.Companion-App Home-Assistant Setup Mobile
Lighting
Lighting automations, sunrise effects, and motion sensor configurations.
- Hue Sunrise Effects Without Bridge: CT vs RGB Pitfalls and Working PatternsAvoid unreliable sunrise effects on Hue lights by understanding CT vs RGB mode switching. Learn working patterns with color_name, proper sequencing, and alternatives.Hue Sunrise Rgb Ct Color-Transitions Beginner Zha Zigbee2mqtt
- Hue Sunrise Effects AutomationLearn how to create natural sunrise effects with Philips Hue lights in Home Assistant for gentle wake-ups and circadian rhythm support.Hue Philips-Hue Sunrise Lighting Automation Circadian-Rhythm Home-Assistant
- Hue Sunrise Effects That Actually Look NaturalSet up Philips Hue sunrise/sunset effects in Home Assistant that feel smooth and natural; compare native Hue scenes vs HA scripts/Adaptive Lighting.Hue Philips-Hue Sunrise Sunset Adaptive-Lighting Lighting Circadian
- HACS Integration Not Appearing & Adaptive Lighting ConflictsTroubleshoot HACS integrations not appearing and resolve common conflicts, using Adaptive Lighting as an example.Hacs Integration Adaptive-Lighting Troubleshooting Home-Assistant
- Fixing Motion Automation Race Conditions in Home AssistantA guide to solving common race conditions in motion-activated lighting automations, where lights turn on and then immediately off.Automation Motion Race-Condition Timing Debounce Lighting
Climate & Scheduling
Heating systems, time-based automations, and scheduling configurations.
- DST-proofing: Time and Sun AutomationsMake time- and sun-based automations resilient across DST changes using offsets, dedupe guards, and duration timers.Time Sun Dst Automation
- Complex Heating Automation with Multiple Heat SourcesLearn how to automate complex heating systems with multiple heat sourcesHeating Automation Multiple-Heat-Sources Energy-Management Home-Assistant
Networking & Remote Access
Network configuration, remote access, and connectivity guides.
- Remote Access and Geofencing That Actually WorksGet reliable remote access and presence detection working. Learn when to use reverse proxy/VPN setups, and fix common geofencing issues.Remote-Access Geofencing Vpn Home-Assistant
- Troubleshooting DuckDNS for Home Assistant Remote AccessA step-by-step checklist to diagnose and fix common issues when your DuckDNS remote access to Home Assistant stops working.Networking Remote-Access Duckdns Troubleshooting Ssl Lets-Encrypt
Matter
Matter and Thread device setup and configuration guides.
- Matter and Thread Protocol SetupOverview of the Matter and Thread setup process in Home Assistant, from dongle firmware through device commissioning readiness.Matter Thread Setup Protocol Border-Router Commissioning Openthread
- Pairing Matter DevicesCommission Matter devices into Home Assistant using the Companion App, including Thread credential sync, QR code scanning, and troubleshooting tips.Matter Thread Pairing Commissioning Devices
Zigbee
Zigbee mesh configuration and optimization guides.
- How to Set Up and Use ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation)Complete guide to setting up the ZHA integration in Home Assistant, pairing your first devices, managing groups and bindings, and maintaining a healthy Zigbee network.Zigbee Zha Setup Pairing Groups Bindings Ota Network
- Zigbee Protocol SetupSet up the Zigbee coordinator and integration in Home Assistant so the system is ready to receive Zigbee devices.Zigbee Setup Coordinator Dongle Protocol
- Pairing Zigbee DevicesPair Zigbee devices to your network using ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, including mesh-building strategy, pairing tips, and device naming.Zigbee Pairing Devices Zha Zigbee2mqtt
- ZHA vs Zigbee2MQTT: Which Zigbee Integration Should You Use?A practical comparison of ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT for Home Assistant, covering setup complexity, device support, features, and recommendations by use case.Zigbee Zha Zigbee2mqtt Comparison Mqtt
- How to Set Up and Use Zigbee2MQTTComplete guide to installing Zigbee2MQTT alongside Home Assistant, pairing devices, configuring groups, bindings, and OTA updates, and managing the Zigbee network through the Zigbee2MQTT frontend.Zigbee Zigbee2mqtt Mqtt Setup Pairing Groups Bindings Ota Network
- PoE Zigbee Coordinator Placement: Ceilings vs RacksOptimize your PoE Zigbee coordinator placement for maximum mesh stability. Learn central positioning, RF interference avoidance, channel selection, and mesh building best practices.Zigbee Poe Coordinator Placement Mesh Smlight Zigbee2mqtt Best-Practices
- Fix Third Reality ZL1 pairing issues with ZHAStep-by-step to pair the Third Reality ZL1 Zigbee bulb with Home Assistant ZHA, including reset, channel/interference guidance, and troubleshooting.Zigbee Zha Pairing Third-Reality Bulbs
- How to Recover Your Zigbee Network After a Router UpgradeA step-by-step guide to fix Zigbee device dropouts and instability after upgrading to a new WiFi 6, 6E, or 7 router.Zigbee Networking Troubleshooting Wifi Interference 6e Mlo
Z-Wave
Z-Wave network setup, inclusion, and optimization guides.
- Z-Wave Protocol SetupSet up the Z-Wave controller and Z-Wave JS integration in Home Assistant so the system is ready to receive Z-Wave devices.Z-Wave Setup Controller Dongle Protocol Z-Wave-Js
- Pairing Z-Wave DevicesInclude Z-Wave devices into your network using SmartStart, standard inclusion, and S2 security, with tips for reliable pairing.Z-Wave Pairing Inclusion Smartstart Devices S2
Bluetooth
Bluetooth and BLE proxy configuration guides.
Integrations & Devices
Platform integrations, device setup, and third-party service connections.
- Thread Integration SetupSet up the Thread integration in Home Assistant and verify that your Thread network is ready for Matter over Thread devices.Thread Matter Home-Assistant Integrations Setup
- Communication Protocol SetupSet up **Zigbee**, **Z-Wave**, **Matter**, and **Thread** in Home Assistant so compatible devices can be added correctly.Zigbee Z-Wave Matter Thread Protocols Setup Dongle
- Install and Configure IntegrationsUse the correct integration route in Home Assistant, whether the integration is installed directly or first through HACS.Integrations Home-Assistant Hacs Setup
- Automate Amazon Music on Wiim/Linkplay with Home AssistantLearn how to automate specific song playback from Amazon Music on Wiim and other Linkplay-enabled devices using Home Assistant, leveraging the Alexa Media Player custom component.Music Amazon-Music Wiim Linkplay Automation Alexa-Media-Player Home-Assistant
- AI-Powered Doorbell Use Cases and Implementation in Home AssistantTransform your doorbell into an intelligent assistant with AI. Covers visitor interaction, package management, security deterrence, and implementation using Frigate GenAI or HA AI Tasks.Ai Doorbell Frigate Ai-Tasks Home-Assistant Security Automation
- Z-Wave Inclusion Timeouts: Secure vs Non-Secure and S2 TipsStruggling with Z-Wave inclusion timeouts? This guide covers secure vs non-secure inclusion, S2 security tips, and troubleshooting steps to get your devices paired reliably.Z-Wave Inclusion Timeout S2 Z-Wave-Js Home-Assistant
- Voice Assistant Sanity Checks: Stop Misfires and Get TTS Replies from Dashboard ChatFix common Home Assistant Voice Assistant issues including random device activations, get TTS working from dashboard chat, and troubleshoot Voice Preview Edition problems.Voice-Assistant Tts Stt Home-Assistant Troubleshooting
- How to Integrate Home Assistant with HomeKitComplete guide to bridging Home Assistant and Apple HomeKit for the perfect smart home setupHomeKit Apple Home Home-Assistant Integration
Troubleshooting
Diagnostic guides and fixes for common Home Assistant issues.
- HACS Visibility Troubleshooting ChecklistA checklist to resolve HACS not appearing in the sidebar or integrations after installation.Hacs Troubleshooting Installation Home-Assistant
- HACS Integration Not Appearing & Adaptive Lighting ConflictsTroubleshoot HACS integrations not appearing and resolve common conflicts, using Adaptive Lighting as an example.Hacs Integration Adaptive-Lighting Troubleshooting Home-Assistant
- Alexa Media Player: Troubleshooting Reliability and Rate LimitsA guide to understanding and mitigating sporadic failures and rate-limiting issues with the Alexa Media Player custom integration in Home Assistant.Alexa Alexa-Media-Player Troubleshooting Reliability Rate-Limiting Cloud
- Fixing the Disappearing Header in Home Assistant's Android AppA guide to troubleshoot and resolve the common UI bug where the header and menu vanish in the Home Assistant Android Companion App.Android Companion-App Ui Troubleshooting Lovelace
- Fixing Yale YRD510 Matter Locks Constantly Asking for Codes in Home AssistantA guide to resolving the persistent code prompt issue with Yale YRD510 Matter locks in Home Assistant.Matter Locks Yale Codes Security
- How to Fix Shelly and Sonoff Device Reliability IssuesTroubleshoot Shelly/Sonoff dropouts and instability fast: Wi‑Fi tuning, firmware tips, MQTT, and power quality fixes—step‑by‑step.Shelly Sonoff Troubleshooting Reliability Wifi Connection Esp32 Tasmota
- Troubleshooting Matter Device Pairing Failures and Connectivity IssuesDiagnose and fix Matter devices that fail to commission, drop off after pairing, or behave differently across iOS and Android controllers in Home Assistant.Matter Thread Troubleshooting Pairing Commissioning Border-Router Connectivity
- Troubleshooting WiFi IoT Devices Not Connecting or Dropping OffFix common WiFi connectivity issues with smart home IoT devices including band compatibility, security protocol mismatches, and network configuration for reliable connections.Wifi Iot Troubleshooting Connectivity 2.4ghz Wpa2 Network Smart-Home
- Troubleshooting Z-Wave Devices Showing Unavailable or UnresponsiveDiagnose and fix Z-Wave devices that stop responding, show as dead or unavailable in Home Assistant, or fail to execute commands after previously working.Z-Wave Troubleshooting Unavailable Unresponsive Dead-Node Z-Wave-Js
- Troubleshooting Zigbee Devices Showing Unavailable or UnresponsiveDiagnose and fix Zigbee devices that paired successfully but later show as unavailable, stop responding to commands, or report stale sensor data in Home Assistant.Zigbee Troubleshooting Unavailable Unresponsive Mesh Zha Zigbee2mqtt