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Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta updates its Matter.JS engine and adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, custom support for Aqara’s FP400 sensor and IKEA radiator thermostats, and faster offline detection. The release also lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, but the server update is still in beta and some features need further Home Assistant Core work.
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds two-way audio support for compatible Matter cameras and custom hardware support for Aqara and IKEA devices, while updating the server’s Matter.JS engine to version 0.18.0. The update also lays the protocol foundation for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, but it is not yet a stable release and several features still need work in Home Assistant Core.
The camera changes center on WebSocket Schema version 14, which introduces a dedicated camera API. Rather than relying only on raw Matter cluster commands, the server can manage WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. A new talkback: true parameter lets a client request two-way audio through compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example; actual availability depends on device and client compatibility.
The server adds built-in definitions and Python client support for custom vendor clusters used by the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400. These cover ambient-sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location, enabling features such as detection zones and target-position events over Matter. The update also fixes the transmission of zone-configuration data. For IKEA, it adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel for calibrating compatible LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostats without an IKEA hub.
Other changes address device status and administration. The server removes its fixed three-minute offline grace period, so a device can be marked unavailable as soon as Matter.JS determines it cannot be reached. Network graphs use clearer Thread role labels, and the Door Lock panel can create temporary guest PINs with custom expiry times. The update also improves WebRTC error reporting and adds server-interface command panels for several device categories, including robot vacuums, ovens and EV chargers.
Faster Camera and Device Control
The release broadens what Home Assistant can manage directly through Matter, particularly for devices whose advanced features rely on manufacturer-specific clusters rather than standard Matter functions. Aqara sensor zones and IKEA valve calibration can make those products more useful to people who want to manage them through Home Assistant rather than depending on a manufacturer hub for those functions.
Camera talkback adds a practical capability for users who want to speak through a compatible camera or doorbell from an integrated client. The faster unavailable status may also make dashboards and automations reflect a lost connection sooner. However, the release notes do not establish that every listed feature will be immediately exposed in every Home Assistant interface; the report says some Home Assistant Core work remains.
Groupcast could eventually change how Matter device groups respond. The report says Home Assistant has handled group commands as sequential unicast messages, which can make multiple lights react at different times. Matter 1.6.1’s Groupcast support provides a protocol-level basis for multicast commands, but the current server update is described as laying the groundwork—not as confirming that all group commands already use multicast.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
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Matter 1.6.1 and Server 1.5.0
The development discussed is Matter Server version 1.5.0, which runs the Matter.JS engine used by Home Assistant’s Matter integration. The source report says it is based on the project’s latest 1.5.0 changelog and identifies an upgrade to Matter.JS 0.18.0. These server and engine version numbers are separate from the Matter protocol version.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September, according to the report. It says that version moved Groupcast out of provisional status and added independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. The 1.5.0 server update is described as establishing the technical foundation for native IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet—not as replacing the need for compatible devices, clients or further implementation.
Custom vendor clusters extend the standard Matter feature set for particular products. In this update, the Aqara and IKEA additions are intended to let the server recognize and interact with functions that are not covered by standard device controls. The report also notes a command-line option for owners of older Eve Energy plugs to adjust polling intervals for custom attributes on hardware that does not support state subscriptions.
“The server is upgrading to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine.”
— Matter Alpha report on the Matter Server changelog
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Compatibility and Stable Release
The source does not give a date for the stable release or list which Home Assistant Core version will expose each new feature. It says the 1.5.0 server is in beta and that most new features still require work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible. Users should not assume every function is ready in the standard interface simply because it appears in the server update.
Compatibility details also remain limited. The report names example devices and describes new cluster support, but does not provide a complete list of supported firmware versions, Matter controllers or client applications. It is also unclear when Home Assistant will use Groupcast for ordinary group operations, and whether that behavior will depend on device and network support. The reported improvements describe the update; they do not establish performance results across all installations.
IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat
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Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout
The next milestone is the stable Matter Server add-on release. The report says users can opt into beta testing through the Matter Server settings, but does not provide a scheduled release date. Beta users can check whether their devices and clients support the new camera and vendor-cluster functions, while recognizing that behavior may change before stable deployment.
Home Assistant Core work is also needed to make many of the new server capabilities easier to access. Until release notes confirm that work and the stable rollout, users should check the Matter Server and Home Assistant documentation for supported features, setup requirements and known limitations.
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Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 a stable release?
No. The source report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable Matter Server add-on later. It does not give a release date.
What does camera talkback add?
The new camera API supports WebRTC session management and a talkback: true parameter for two-way audio on compatible Matter cameras and doorbells. Availability depends on the device and the Home Assistant client used.
Which Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?
The report names Aqara’s Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The server adds custom-cluster support for sensor features and valve calibration, respectively.
Does the update mean Matter group commands now use Groupcast?
Not necessarily. The report describes the update as establishing the protocol-level foundation for native multicast Groupcast. It does not confirm that all Home Assistant group commands have switched from sequential unicast.
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