Request for Home Assistant Companion App on Microsoft Store

Feature Requests
1

Subject: Request for Home Connect App on Microsoft Store

Dear Home Assistant Community,

I am writing to inquire about the potential availability of the Home Connect app on the Microsoft Store. As a senior computer engineer and a dedicated user of Home Assistant, I believe that a native Windows app would significantly enhance the user experience for those who prefer the Windows ecosystem.

While I understand that there may be various factors influencing development decisions, I am curious to explore the reasons behind the current absence of Home Connect on Microsoft Store. Are there any technical challenges or strategic considerations that have prevented the app from being released on this platform?

I believe that a Home Assistant-compatible app on Microsoft Store could offer several advantages, including:

  • Seamless Integration: A native app could provide a more integrated experience with the Windows operating system, leveraging features like Cortana or Windows Hello.
  • Enhanced User Experience: A Windows-specific app could be optimized for the platform’s unique characteristics,potentially offering improved performance and usability.
  • Expanded Reach: By making Home Connect available on Microsoft Store, you could reach a wider audience of users who prefer Windows devices.

I would be grateful if you could provide any insights into the feasibility of developing a Home Connect app for Microsoft Store or share any plans that may be in progress. Additionally, I would be happy to contribute my expertise or assist in any way possible to support such a project.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Kindest and Warmest Regards,

Pooya Mohammadhossein

My Nickname Ryan

Senior Computer Engineer

Smart Home Experts.

2

HA runs in a web browser. Most windows computers have one, or more.

1 Like
3

true, but not complete. I meant I do have access to HA with different browsers but I do install Home Assistant (HA) from Apple Store for my MacBook Pro. So still the request is valid. Bye for now!

4

In what way?

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5

Here are two links for Native Home Assistant on Apple Store one is free to install and it’s a native HA official version :slight_smile: ‎Home Assistant on the App Store

the other link is 11.99$ to buy. I meant this is second Apple Native Application for HA servers, and this is non-official Version of HA On Apple Store:

So the question I have asked if I want to clarify is why HA exits on Apple Store, so Why not on Microsoft Store?

6

And the question I asked you is how a browser is incomplete?

It’s a forum, a discussion. I am trying to work out exactly what you are after.

2 Likes
7

The best solution I have found for Windows is to run the native Android app inside BlueStacks under Windows . It can be a little slow, a little CPU greedy and a little memory greedy but it does provide the solution

8

You can just install the web page as an app, bam, native app.

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9

Isn’t that what we used to call a bookmark?

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no those are different. wden you use your browser to “install a web app”, then the app appears in the start menu and opens as a standalone window with no browser chrome.

11

But it is running in chrome isn’t it? It whatever browser you use.

12

yes.

and if what is meant by “native app” s a C# or WinForms or GDI app instead of a webpage, then that will never ever happen. the existing “native apps” for HA are all without exception webpage shells.

13

I know.

Some of the companion apps of course do have more than the web ui. E.G. location. But as @pooyair won’t tell us what he thinks is missing, it’s hard to say what we’re looking for.

2 Likes
14

Sorry to be nitpicking here but Home connect is the name of Bosch/Siemens app.

But I’m not sure I understand the purpose of this app.
Is it just for viewing your HA instance or do you mean it should have sensors just like the android/iOS app?

2 Likes
15

Are you looking for a App based client instead of a Web based client to manage Home Assistant? If so I will leave that to experts in HA to answer.
On separate note, if you are interested to get alerts and sensor for your windows system which runs in your tray, you may check this one. . It is not exactly an OS based client but an integration that works with Windows.

16

That’s a very strange definition of “best”.

  1. There have been no volunteer developers willing to put the time into developing an app for windows. Which is fine because:

  2. It is not needed. A web browser is sufficient.

1 Like
17

Also, keep in mind the companion apps are targeted towards mobile devices. There is no mobile windows os anymore.

18

Valid and prompt Response , Safely could disregard it.

19

The companion exists for two reasons

1 access the HA server - done. Literally ANY modern web browser. Supported by the OS natively.

Here’s where I will take a slightly different tack

2 and to provide sensors to the installation. As you noted if you use the android version on Windows Subsysten for Android (WSA) , you get this.

Well Microsoft is depricating WSA so… I can see why you asked this. Really.

This means you DO have a valid ask in a companion for a Windows client that provides sensors to the installation like the mobile device does.

So let’s assume this is the ask.

You can also get this and WAY MORE using HASS.Agent for windows. You get access to the entirety of WMI - if you’re nota windows sysadmin, it means you have query access to the system intrumation guts in the OS and can literally query anything you want. You also have things like media control and the ability to run scripts.

So yes you can obtain the information you want through other means easily. Albeit through a custom component. But if you do it not only gives what you’re asking for and an order of magnitude more.

Finally the demand. Users who would need this would probably want to do so for the sensors not the browser so we’re talking about a subset of windows users accessing HA. (a small number to begin with - I say this as a 25 year windows sysadmin. Use my phone to access HA unless I’m actually making changes.)

So you have a very small demand set for a feature set that is duplicated by internal components and extended by an existing third party component.

Given that have a vote everyone - personally ill pass.

4 Likes
20

Why would you disregard it if it is valid?

Make sense please.