Sharing HA Matter device to iOS works fine, but fails on Android for lack of Google Hub

Configuration Matter/Thread
, ,
1

I recently managed to get my Aqara U400 lock up and running without the use of the Aqara hub. So it’s on Home Assistant, and then I was able to share it with Apple Home via HA QR code, and get my HomeKey/UWB stuff going with no problem. But then I got to my family members’ Android phones. I thought it would be the same thing, but when I scan the HA share barcode with Google Home, it just says it required a Google Hub for anything to work.

After doing some reading, I came across an article - It could be 2026 before all your Thread border routers work together | The Verge - that suggested this was just a matter of Matter walled-gardens which might go aware in Thread 1.4. I found this notable since the last update to my lock mentioned Thread 1.4 support.

But I’m wondering if there’s something I’m missing here. The above article suggests that maybe messing around with credentials could tricky Google Home into finding the lock. I was thinking about installing the HA app on the Samsung phone, then syncing Thread credentials, but I’m worried that might just blow up my configuration.

Does anyone have any experience with pairing HA Matter and Android without a Google Hub involved?

2

Each platform requires its own Matter controller (not Thread border router, with one it’s enough). For Home Assistant it’s the Matter server add-on, for Apple Home it’s usually a Homepod or Apple TV or even the iPhone if you don’t want remote control. For Google Home it’s one of their smart speakers or the Google TV Streamer or other “Google hubs” like certain LG TVs.

Do you have any Matter controller for Google Home? If you don’t, you can’t add Matter devices to Google Home (and, even if the Google Home app lets you add them, they won’t work).

Edit: BTW, a note on the title, you are not sharing the device “to iOS”, you are sharing it to the Apple Home app. Likewise, you are not sharing the device “to Android” but to the Google Home app. If you shared it to the Aqara app you would need an Aqara hub, if you shared it to SmartThings app you would need a SmartThings hub, etc. regardless of the operating system of the phone.

1 Like