Home Assistant has announced the release of version 2026.1, which includes a number of updates aimed at improving the user experience, especially for those using mobile devices. This update comes after a quieter development period during the holidays, but it still manages to add features and make adjustments that focus on convenience and ease of use.
One of the main changes in this release is the updated Home dashboard for mobile users. The new design now puts summary cards for devices like lights, climate controls, security, media players, weather, and energy at the top of the screen. This lets users see and control important parts of their smart home without having to dig through menus or tap through several screens. The desktop version keeps the same layout as before, with summaries in the sidebar under the “For you” section.
There is also a new Devices page on the Home dashboard. This page shows all devices that are not assigned to a specific area of the home. In the past, it could be hard to figure out where these “orphaned” devices went if they were removed from an area. Now, users can find and manage these devices more easily, which can save time and help with keeping smart home setups organized.
For users interested in automation, this release builds on the earlier work done with purpose-specific triggers and conditions. Instead of having to set up automations based on technical details or state changes, users can now pick simple, human-friendly options, such as “when a button is pressed” or “when someone arrives home.” This release adds more trigger types, including triggers for buttons, climate controls, device tracker events, humidifiers, lights, locks, scenes, sirens, and updates. These triggers also support targeting larger groups, like areas or floors, and the automation flow has been updated so the targets are easier to see and understand.
Navigation in the Settings menu has also been adjusted. Protocol dashboards for standards like Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, Bluetooth, and others are now easier to find. These options show up in the menu only if the user has set up the matching integration, making the interface less cluttered and more focused on what is actually in use. This should help users locate and adjust protocol-specific settings more quickly.
This release also adds eight new integrations. Some of the new supported devices and services include AirPatrol for air conditioning control, eGauge for energy monitoring, Fluss+ for smart home button control, and Fish Audio for text-to-speech support. There are also improvements to existing integrations, which come from ongoing work by community contributors.
The release notes close by thanking contributors and encouraging users to join the community if they need help or want to get involved. The update continues to move Home Assistant in a direction that makes managing a smart home less technical and more user-friendly, while still supporting new devices and keeping existing ones up to date.
View the original press release.
