ESPHOME API Password deprecated -- but how about no password?

ESPHome
1

The latest release notes mention API Password deprecated in favor of encryption keys (note here).

I have no password for the API. I’m more paranoid than most, but it’s a private network, and wifi is already encrypted, so I was never concerned. And I get encryption keys versus password, not complaining.

I assumed this “no password” would go away also, but I got no warning when I compiled with 2025.10.1.

I’m not against moving to encryption, I just don’t care (in what I think is an informed way) and won’t go unless I need to.

So… is the password deprecation going to include “no password” also?

If so, you may want to extend the warning message, as I did not see it.

If not… thanks.

Linwood

2

That’s default and recommended. Just remove the whole option.

" * password (Optional, Deprecated, string): The password to protect the API Server with. Defaults to no password. It is recommended to use the encryption → key above instead of the the password."

3

Just set it once, as it’s used for Esphome - HA communication, you will not be bothered with is again.

You can even use the same key for every device if you want.

4

I apologize for not understating…

You are saying that having no password is recommended?

And in particular is not deprecated?

5

Yes

“Deprecation is the discouragement of use of something human-made, such as a linguistic term, a proper name, a feature, design, functionality, piece of code, or practice.”