How do I get Matter over Thread working? | Home Assistant | Page 1

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 6:57 PM

#

For Xmas, I bought myself a ZBT-2 radio. I just went to IKEA and got myself a few Matter over Thread devices to start my journey with Matter. I'm pulling my hair out. I just can't get the thing working.

I plugged the ZBT-2 into my VMWare ESXi box, shut down the HAOS VM, associated the ZBT-2 with the VM then booted it. I found the ZBT-2 in "discovered devices" and hit Configure. I said I wanted to use it as a Thread radio and assigned channel 26. It flashed the firmware and the OTBR and Thread integrations appeared. I installed the Matter integration manually.

The OTBR and Matter Server add-ons seem to be present.

If I try to add a new device, I just get this:

I'm assuming there's some fundamental step I've missed.

What do I need to do please? My guinea pig device is an IKEA Alpstuga air quality monitor.

upper lake Dec 26, 2025, 10:05 PM

#

You should be able to add new devices via Integrations > Add Integration > Add Matter device and then scan the QR code on your device via the companion app.

Or sync your credentials in Settings > Companion App > Troubleshooting > Sync Thread Credentials and then add your device via the Google home app or similar

I found this quite helpful: https://www.matteralpha.com/how-to/home-assistant-connect-thread-dongle-first-take-the-finest-dongle-ever

Matter Alpha

Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Thread dongle first take: the finest d...

Here is a quick take and full setup guide for Thread.

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:32 PM

#

fickle arrow For Xmas, I bought myself a ZBT-2 radio. I just went to IKEA and got myself a fe...

When I first set up Thread, the Thread integration wouldn't connect to OTBR until I restarted HA, if I remember correctly.
You can also check if OTBR is set up in the integration by opening the Thread integration in settings, and clicking the cogwheel next to the "Thread" service. it should look something like this:

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 10:36 PM

#

Thanks. I got it working about 5 minutes ago. I'm clearly dumb for not realising I had to go into troubleshooting in the companion app settings and click "Sync Thread credentials" twice to get the phone the credentials and certificates it needed to introduce the new device to Thread over Bluetooth

#

That isn't the most intuitive workflow

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:42 PM

#

yeah, compared to zigbee or even z-wave, I felt like the integration between Thread/OTBR/Companion app really needs some more love. I had Matter over wifi devices before that and that was fine.
If i'd have to guess, I'd think with ikea going all in on Thread, it will likely become more relevant for a lot more people really soon

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 10:44 PM

#

Totally. Both of my local IKEA stores are running their stock of ZigBee devices out now. It's all Thread/Matter from now on

#

It would have been really nice if the app, rather than saying "This device requires a TBR" had said "I can't add devices to this network because I don't have the right credentials. Would you like me to fetch them from the TBR?"

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:48 PM

#

yeah, i've seen on the tradfri subreddit that some ikeas have really good deals like half off on their zigbee stuff. around here, I haven't seen a lot of the matter devices and the zigbee stuff is still regular price. i'm kinda looking forward to stocking up on some more of those 😄

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:50 PM

#

fickle arrow It would have been really nice if the app, rather than saying "This device requi...

yeah, I was confused by that error message as well, hence my post about the Thread/OTBR connection. I better error message would certainly be nice. or just shutting up and fetching the credentials itself instead of bothering the user.
but I would be surprised if minor kinks like that wouldn't get worked out over time

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 10:52 PM

#

I'm hoping for network map functionality too. It would be nice to see the topology of the mesh

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:52 PM

#

same here.
the network is available though, it's just inconvenient to get to it

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 10:52 PM

#

Where is it hiding in the app?

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 10:53 PM

#

you have to enable the webserver for OTBR by setting a port in the addon config

#

then the network map is in OTBR

#

it also doesn't appear in the sidebar without making a custom panel for it and the webserver/addon don't use ingress (yet?)

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 10:56 PM

#

Thanks.

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 11:02 PM

#

uncut beacon yeah, i've seen on the tradfri subreddit that some ikeas have really good deals ...

Styrbar remotes are £2 at Southampton now

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 11:04 PM

#

i was kinda looking to get some more parasoll door/window sensors an inspelning power measuring sockets

#

i could really more askväders too, but they discontinued those a while ago sadly. though I found out that the manufacturer of those devices will start selling a matter/thread version of them from 2026-01-01, so I'm really looking forward to that

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 11:06 PM

#

What are those?

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 11:10 PM

#

askväder is/was a line of modular power strips like so:

#

the switch unit was able to switch the sockets that come after it and you could switch it manually or over zigbee

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 11:12 PM

#

I don't think I ever saw a UK version of that

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 11:13 PM

#

hmm, yeah that's a good point, not sure if they made one tbh. that'd be a shame since those are really incredibly handy for all kinds of things. plus it's an easy way to have more zigbee routers

fickle arrow Dec 26, 2025, 11:15 PM

#

It would be absolutely perfect for my workshop

uncut beacon Dec 26, 2025, 11:17 PM

#

yeah, that was my line of thinking as well

#

maybe the manufacturer of the new ones makes a UK version as well after they launched the Schuko/EU ones - who knows. plus you'd have more thread routers for your network

serene finch Dec 27, 2025, 4:30 PM

#

https://discord.com/channels/330944238910963714/1452697242086674462

#

Still got some bargains in my local Ikea, both Zigbee and new MoT parts. Real disappointed with Ikea but there you go. Zigbee will be around for a long while yet.

fickle arrow Dec 27, 2025, 4:37 PM

#

Zigbee is certainly a lot easier to get and keep working. I'm a nerd and, if it took me all evening to get MoT working, what hope does the average normie have?

#

Acknoledged that it's probably a lot easier to get it working if someone has a Dirigera hub

serene finch Dec 27, 2025, 4:40 PM

#

I’m going to give it a go. Well familiar with ZHA; 100 odd devices. I don’t want thread on my lan so I’m hoping I can use a SMLIGHT SLZB-06 on USB. It’s not gonna be fun.

#

Just looking at https://openthread.io/guides/border-router/ is making me wonder if this is a waste of time. Wish me luck. I’ve been playing with IP networks for nearly 30 years but this is kinda terrifying. 🤣

OpenThread

OpenThread Border Router

serene finch Dec 27, 2025, 4:50 PM

#

fickle arrow Acknoledged that it's probably a lot easier to get it working if someone has a D...

You’d bloody hope so otherwise IKEA’s strategy is sunk.

lime nest Dec 28, 2025, 4:57 AM

#

the openthread border router stuff is honestly scarier to the sorts of people who tend to use HA because of https://frenck.dev/the-enterprise-smart-home-syndrome/ - for the folks ikea is targeting (who will generally be using a single isp-provided wifi router), add a Dirigera which acts as a thread border router and matter controller (or use Google, Apple Home, etc. devices with thread border router functionality) and it should be pretty straightforwards.

#

there probably will be issues for some unlucky folks if their wifi equipment has some sort of multicast/broadcast optimization feature enabled by default since that can break ipv6 router announcements or mdns :/

serene finch Dec 29, 2025, 2:54 PM

#

I have parked my efforts to get MoT working. Life’s too short for that battle. Thought it would be fun to get it working but it’s just a PITA. SMLIGHT 06M in MoT mode on USB, docker’d otbr and matter-server with my iPhone to commissioning an ikea BILRESA button. Imported the key and it shows in the HA app debug section. Gets past the connecting stage but then hangs or bails on the setting up stage. Will look at it again in a few months / HA and other updates. The security aspects of it are alarming anyway. OTBR certainly needs a “I have only one thread network and don’t want thread traffic to get past the other side of the modem” option.

#How do I get Matter over Thread working?