I have a Matter over Thread device that I’ve been trying (and failing) to add to Home Assistant (config: ZBT-1 based OTBR / HAOS on intel NUC). I was finally able to add it by first adding to Apple Home. I then added to HA by putting in pairing mode in Apple Home and entering setup code in companion app.
Anyone know what causes this? I don’t use Apple Home and really don’t want to have this indirect path to add matter over thread devices to HA.
Do you also have Apple Thread Border Routers, or does the Apple Home Matter commissioning workflow know your OTBR credentials? If the former, Apple Home almost always works better. If the latter, usually either app will work, because “syncing” is complete. You’ll have to provide some logs to help narrow it down further. If it makes any difference, Apple Home is not a failure point in your system; you can remove it any time or just ignore it if you don’t plan to use it once it’s in HA.
My configuration is that of the latter—I have no other TBRs other than the ZBT-1 based OTBR.