Install OpenThread Border Router

Use this guide to install OpenThread Border Router on your Home Assistant instance when your system needs Thread support for Matter over Thread devices.

Before You Start

Before you install OpenThread Border Router, confirm:

1. Your Selora Box’s Home Assistant server is fully updated.
2. A Matter over Thread-capable radio dongle is connected to your SeloraBox PC.
3. You know the adapter’s expected baud rate from the manufacturer documentation.

Install the App

1. Open your Home Assistant instance.
2. Go to Settings > Apps.
3. Select + Install App.
4. Search for OpenThread Border Router.
5. Open the app page and review the documentation.
6. Select Install.
7. Wait for the installation to complete.
8. Enable Start on boot, Watchdog, and Auto-update.

Configure the Adapter

1. Connect a Matter over Thread adapter/dongle to your SeloraBox PC, if not already.
2. In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Apps > OpenThread Border Router, if not already.
3. Open the Configuration tab.
4. Under Device, select your Thread adapter listed by serial ID.
5. Enter the baud rate provided by the adapter documentation.
6. Save the configuration.

Start and Verify the App

1. In Settings > Apps > OpenThread Border Router, select Start.
2. Open the Log tab.
3. Confirm the app starts without repeated connection or serial errors.
4. Go to Settings > Devices & Services.
5. Confirm that Thread appears as an available or configured integration.
6. Open the Thread integration and confirm that a Thread network appears.

Thread Configuration

After OpenThread Border Router is installed and running, the next step is to set up and verify the Home Assistant Thread integration. The app handles the border-router side of the connection, while the Thread integration is where you confirm that Home Assistant can actually see and manage a usable Thread network.

Use the Thread integration to complete the following basic checks:

1. Open Settings > Devices & Services.
2. Open the Thread integration if it appears automatically.
3. If it does not appear automatically, select Add Integration and search for Thread.
4. Confirm that a Thread network appears in the integration.
5. If Home Assistant is your first Thread network, make sure the Home Assistant Thread network is marked as the preferred network.
6. If the home already has an Apple or Google Thread network, import those credentials first and make that network preferred before pairing devices.

If the Thread integration opens but no network appears, go back to OpenThread Border Router, recheck the adapter selection and baud rate, restart the app, and then return to the Thread integration.

Before moving on

Before pairing any Matter over Thread devices, confirm:

• OpenThread Border Router is installed and running.
• The correct Thread radio is selected.
• The app logs do not show repeated serial or startup failures.
• The Thread integration can see a Thread network.
• Your phone has the Home Assistant Companion App .
• Your phone is also set up to be a commissioner for Matter over Thread .