Configuring problems with Nabu Casa remote access

Mobile Apps Home Assistant Companion for Android
1

Hello all,

I’m trying to get remote access working for my Home Assistant system.

What works.
I subscribed to the Home Assistant Cloud through Nabu Casa. I can connect to my account on the Nabu Casa website via mobile data and get full remote access to my HA server. I installed the Home Assistant Companion App on my android phone and can access my HA server when connected to the same network as my Home Assistant (HA) server. So in this connection, my phone is just another terminal for my HA server … not real useful.

What doesn’t work.
When I disconnect from my home network, the Companion App won’t connect remotely via Nabu Casa. Instead it sends a message that it’s unable to connect.

I was hoping the Companion App would connect to my home network or remotely, and be smart enough to manage that decision. Am I just missing some link to the secure Nabu Casa URL, or am I expecting too much?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Karl

2

that completely depends on the URLs the app has and if remote access is enabled in Nabu Casa

steps below are from your phone:

Settings > companion app > select your server and then confirm the URLs and also provide home network info so the app can make the switching for you

3

Thanks for the reply. To make sure I understand … there should be one server with two URLs? One URL for when I’m home and on my home wifi network, and a second encrypted URL provided by Nabu Casa when I am remotely connecting?

4

That’s correct

5

Still having connection issues.

If I go into my Companion App while disconnected from my home wifi network, I can bring up “Settings”. In that area is a section called “Servers & Devices” which has the name of my HA server and my cell phone. When I drill down on that, I see the URL of my HA server.

There is an “Add Server” option also. I selected this and created a second server and added the Nabu Casa encrypted URL in the “Connection information” field. When I back out of this menu, the two servers show under “Servers & Devices”.

When I open the Companion App I still get the error message that it is unable to connect.

In your earlier reply, you said there should be one server and two URLs. I actually just set up a second server. When I look at the details of that new server, I can see the Nabu Casa URL and an option to set my home network. This didn’t seem to work though. It only grants permission to allow location access.

I’m stumped. What am I doing wrong here?

Karl

6

you only need 1 server, first URL (Home Assistant URL) will be for external access so use the NC cloud there, then below that give your home network info, then finally supply the internal URL. No need for 2 servers unless you actually have 2 separate HA servers.

7

Thanks for all your help. I’m up and running now.

Karl