Home Automation
The Best Smart Home Starter Kit for 2026 | Where to Begin
The best smart home starter kit for 2026. Ecosystem selection guide, $250 and $500 kit recommendations, and how to avoid the common setup mistakes.
How To
21 articles
Home Automation
Home Assistant Companion App for iPhone | The Complete Guide to Mobile Control
Complete guide to the Home Assistant Companion App for iPhone. Remote access setup, widgets, location automations, Siri Shortcuts, and Apple Watch dashboard.
Home Automation
How to Expose Home Assistant Devices to Apple HomeKit | HomeKit Bridge Guide
How to expose Home Assistant devices to Apple HomeKit using the HomeKit Bridge integration. Pair with Apple Home, filter entities, and troubleshoot common issues.
Home Automation
How to Install Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi 5 | Complete Setup Guide (2026)
How to install Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi 5 in 2026. Hardware requirements, SSD setup, flashing with Raspberry Pi Imager, first boot and SSH guide.
Home Automation
How to Automate Your Thermostat with Home Assistant | Presence, Weather, and Room Sensors
How to automate your thermostat with Home Assistant. Presence-based heating, weather-adjusted setpoints, room sensor averaging, and schedule automations.
Home Automation
How to Install HACS in Home Assistant | Unlock Thousands of Custom Integrations
How to install HACS in Home Assistant step by step. Unlock custom integrations, themes, and Lovelace cards including Mushroom Cards with the HA Community Store.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Zigbee2MQTT with Home Assistant | The Better Zigbee Integration
How to set up Zigbee2MQTT with Home Assistant. Install Mosquitto MQTT broker, configure the Z2M add-on, set USB dongle path, and pair your first Zigbee device.
Home Automation
How to Build a Beautiful Home Assistant Dashboard | Cards, Themes and Layout Tips (2026)
Build a professional Home Assistant dashboard with custom cards, themes, and layout. Step-by-step guide for 2026.
Home Automation
How to Migrate from SmartThings to Home Assistant | Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Complete guide to migrating your smart home from SmartThings to Home Assistant. Learn hardware, device pairing, automation setup, and timelines.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant | Local AI Camera Detection Guide
Step-by-step guide to setting up Frigate NVR with Home Assistant for local AI-powered camera detection. No cloud, no subscriptions, full privacy control.
Home Security
How to Build a DIY Smart Home Security System | No Monthly Fees, Full Control
Build a DIY smart home security system using Home Assistant. No subscriptions, no cloud dependency, complete control over cameras, sensors, and alerts.
Home Automation
How to Set Up the Home Assistant Energy Dashboard | Track Electricity, Solar and Gas
Step-by-step guide to setting up Home Assistant's Energy Dashboard: hardware options, sensor configuration, solar tracking, and automation.
Home Automation
How to Flash Tasmota on a Smart Plug | Free Yourself from Cloud Apps Forever
Step-by-step guide to flashing Tasmota on smart plugs. Replace Tuya firmware with open-source local control—no cloud, no app.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Home Assistant Green | Beginner's Guide to Local Smart Home Control
Home Assistant Green setup guide for beginners. Step-by-step unboxing, first boot, device discovery, and automations. Local smart home control made easy.
Home Automation
How to Automate Your Existing Window Blinds | Smart Home Blinds Guide (2025)
Learn how to automate your existing window blinds without replacing them. SwitchBot, IKEA FYRTUR, and SOMA smart shades compared with installation tips.
Home Automation
How to Set Up Node-RED with Home Assistant | Visual Automations for Beginners
Learn how to install and use Node-RED with Home Assistant to build visual flow-based automations without coding. Perfect for complex conditional logic.
Home Automation
How to Build a DIY Presence Sensor with ESP32 and ESPHome | Under $15
Build a DIY presence sensor with ESP32 and LD2410B mmWave sensor for under $15. ESPHome firmware, Home Assistant integration, step-by-step guide.
Home Automation
How to Add Matter Devices to Apple Home | Setup Guide for iPhone and iPad
Step-by-step guide to adding Matter devices to Apple Home on iPhone and iPad. Includes pairing troubleshooting tips and multi-admin setup instructions.
Home Automation
How to Set Up WLED for Addressable LED Strips | The Easiest Way to Add Smart Lighting
Build your own smart addressable LED strip controller with WLED and an ESP32. 200+ effects, music reactive mode, and Home Assistant integration for under $30.
Apple Guides
How to Track Bitcoin Price on Apple Watch Face
Everyone's talking about Bitcoin and Ethereum, and if you've taken the plunge and purchased any form of Cryptocurrency, you might want to keep an eye on its price throughout the day.
Apple Guides
What does “Sent with Fireworks” mean?
Have you received a message that says (Sent with Fireworks)? This is because the sender is using a special animation that only works with Apple iOS 10 or later.