DIY Matter Switch using ESP32-C3 and Zerocode fails to commission in HA

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1

Hello,
I have created a simple DIY Matter switch using an ESP32-C3 and Zero Code that works fine. It can be commissioned in Amazon Alexa but cannot be commissioned in Home Assistant. Are there any restrictions in Home Assistant (for example, an invalid DAC)? Why I am no able to add this device in HA?

Here is the event log:
home assistance cant comision a matter device, this is the log: 025-07-01 22:48:06.657 (Dummy-2) INFO [chip.ChipDeviceCtrl] Established secure session with Device
2025-07-01 22:48:09.031 (Dummy-2) CHIP_ERROR [chip.native.CTL] Error on commissioning step ‘AttestationVerification’: ‘src/controller/CHIPDeviceController.cpp:1283: CHIP Error 0x000000AC: Internal error’
2025-07-01 22:48:09.032 (Dummy-2) CHIP_ERROR [chip.native.CTL] Failed verifying attestation information. Now checking DAC chain revoked status.
2025-07-01 22:48:09.032 (Dummy-2) CHIP_ERROR [chip.native.CTL] Failed in verifying ‘Attestation Information’ command received from the device: err 101. Look at AttestationVerificationResult enum to understand the errors
2025-07-01 22:48:09.033 (Dummy-2) CHIP_ERROR [chip.native.CTL] Error on commissioning step ‘AttestationRevocationCheck’: ‘src/controller/CHIPDeviceController.cpp:1332: CHIP Error 0x000000AC: Internal error’
2025-07-01 22:48:09.047 (Dummy-2) CHIP_ERROR [chip.native.EM] Failed to send Solitary ack for MessageCounter:247653748 on exchange 25327i with Node: <0000000000000000, 0>:src/messaging/ExchangeContext.cpp:99: CHIP Error 0x00000002: Connection aborted
2025-07-01 22:48:09.048 (Dummy-2) WARNING [chip.ChipDeviceCtrl] Failed to commission: src/controller/CHIPDeviceController.cpp:1332: CHIP Error 0x000000AC: Internal error
2025-07-01 22:48:09.049 (MainThread) ERROR [matter_server.server.client_handler] [140090698718224] Error while handling: commission_with_code: Commission with code failed for node 4.

2

I’ve read reports that, at least as of December, the HA python-matter-server does not recognize the espressif zerocode eval certificate as valid, so device attestation fails and devices cannot be commissioned to the HA fabric. My own experience supports this, as I never got my esp32-h2 zerocode working in HA despite working in Apple Home. I have other Matter devices, including Tasmota32 which uses dev certs, working just fine.

The only workaround I’ve seen is to hack the code to disable device attestation, which is a fairly complex process, or downgrade to matter-python-server 6.1.2 which evidently worked with the eval certs.

My hope is someone chimes in with another workaround, or proves me wrong and it turns out we both have a completely different problem. Edit, see new workaround below.

3

Exactly…
I would suggest you reach out to espressif and ask them about this problem and see if they have a fix for it (yet).

4

We have another workaround! Agners noted in another discussion that the Matter server doesn’t download test DCL certificates unless configured to. In the Matter add-on, enable “Show unused optional configuration options” and then “Enable test-net DCL usage.” If using docker container, add the parameter --enable-test-net-dcl to your command arguments and re-up the container. I was finally able to add a Zero Code device after months of failing. Good luck!