Aqara H2 US pairing

Configuration Matter/Thread
1

I recently purchased a brand-new Aqara H2 US wall switch. The hardware itself is excellent - solid build, great design.

But I’m having serious issues trying to connect it to my Home Assistant setup.

I currently have three fully functional and compatible networks:

  • A Matter-over-Thread network using the Home Assistant SkyConnect (with OTBR enabled)
  • A ZHA network (native to Home Assistant)
  • A Zigbee2MQTT setup

My goal is to connect the switch via Matter/Thread or via Zigbee. I’m fine with either.

Here’s what happens:

  1. When I try to pair it using Home Assistant’s “Add Matter device”, I get an error saying that “an interzone router is required.” It fails to pair.
  2. When I try to use the Aqara app (as described in the documentation) to set up the device - or possibly switch it to Zigbee mode - I’m forced to initiate a Matter pairing… and then I’m told that an Aqara hub is required. Which I don’t have.

This is frustrating because the box clearly says “Works via Matter with Home Assistant.” (with the official HA logo)
So far, it doesn’t.

And even more confusingly, it also states: “Aqara Hub required -or- a Thread Border Router required” - which I do have (via Home Assistant OTBR).

Any ideas? Has anyone here actually managed to get it working. Either via Matter or Zigbee - without using an Aqara hub?

Thanks in advance!

2

Neither the hub not a thread router is required to switch to zigbee mode. It’s all done in the app via bluetooth/wifi. Read this and scroll down to the “Changing Communication Protocol” section.

3

OOoh thanks! I was trying the soft reset (double + hold 5 seconds) and it wasn’t working. After a hard reset (10x on second button), I got the device appearing in a kind of auto-discovery in the app and I was able to switch it to zigbee mode.

Thanks again!

1 Like
4

I had the same issue recently until I also discovered the connection protocol is all changeable via the Aqara app.

5

Great that it all worked out for you!

Please consider marking my post above with the Solution tag. It’s the custom of the community to assign the Solution tag to the first or best post that explains the cause of the problem and provides a solution.

By setting the Solution tag it will automatically place a check-mark next to the topic’s title which signals to other users that this topic has been resolved. This helps users find answers to similar questions.

For more information about the Solution tag, refer to guideline 21 in the FAQ