How to Install Zigbee Support in Home Assistant

Zigbee is a popular, open-source, wireless communication standard used in many smart home devices, including lights, sensors, and switches. Setting up Zigbee in Home Assistant will allow you to integrate a wide range of Zigbee-enabled devices for automation and control.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of adding Zigbee support to your Home Assistant setup.

What You Will Need:

Home Assistant running on a Raspberry Pi, server, or another compatible device.
A Zigbee USB stick or gateway (e.g., ConBee II, Zigbee2MQTT, or a similar device).
A Home Assistant instance running on your device (ensure Home Assistant is up and running).

Step 1: Prepare the Zigbee USB Stick

There are different ways to add Zigbee support to Home Assistant, but one of the most common methods is using a Zigbee USB stick. This device plugs into your Home Assistant server and enables Zigbee communication with your devices.

Popular Zigbee USB sticks include:

ConBee II: A well-supported USB Zigbee stick.
Zigbee2MQTT: A gateway that connects to your Zigbee devices and integrates them with Home Assistant.

For this guide, we’ll use Zigbee2MQTT, but the steps are very similar for other Zigbee USB sticks like ConBee II.

Step 2: Insert the Zigbee USB Stick into Your Home Assistant Device

Plug in the Zigbee USB stick into a USB port on the device running Home Assistant (e.g., Raspberry Pi, server, or PC).
Ensure your device recognizes the stick by checking the available USB devices.
- For Raspberry Pi users, you can use the command ls /dev/tty* to check that the Zigbee USB stick is detected (e.g., /dev/ttyACM0).

Step 3: Install Zigbee Integration in Home Assistant

Home Assistant has built-in support for several Zigbee integrations. We will walk you through installing Zigbee2MQTT, but the process is similar for other Zigbee solutions.

Install Zigbee2MQTT via Home Assistant Add-ons

Open Home Assistant and go to Supervisor > Add-on Store.
Search for Zigbee2MQTT and click on the add-on.
Click Install to start the installation process.
Once installed, click Start to start the Zigbee2MQTT add-on.
Go to Configuration for the Zigbee2MQTT add-on and configure the following options:
- Serial port: Set this to the correct serial port where your Zigbee USB stick is connected (e.g., /dev/ttyACM0 or /dev/ttyUSB0).
- MQTT Broker: Make sure you configure an MQTT broker, or you can use Home Assistant’s built-in MQTT broker.
Once configured, click Save to save the changes.

Enable Zigbee Support in Home Assistant

Navigate to Configuration > Integrations in Home Assistant.
Click + Add Integration and search for Zigbee.
Select Zigbee2MQTT (or another Zigbee integration that matches your stick).
Follow the prompts to connect Home Assistant to Zigbee2MQTT.

Step 4: Pair Zigbee Devices with Home Assistant

Now that Zigbee is enabled and configured in Home Assistant, you can start pairing your Zigbee devices.

Put your Zigbee devices in pairing mode. Each device may have a different method, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Usually, this involves holding a button on the device for a few seconds.
Go to Home Assistant > Configuration > Integrations.
Click on the Zigbee integration (or Zigbee2MQTT if you’re using that method).
You should now see an option to Add Device or Start Pairing. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Your Zigbee device should appear in Home Assistant once paired successfully.
If using Zigbee2MQTT, you can also view paired devices in the Zigbee2MQTT dashboard via a web browser. This will give you further control over your Zigbee network.

Step 5: Organize and Control Your Zigbee Devices in Home Assistant

After successfully pairing your Zigbee devices, you can start using them in Home Assistant for automations, scenes, and monitoring.

Devices Overview: Go to Configuration > Devices in Home Assistant to view all your Zigbee devices.
Automations: To control your Zigbee devices based on triggers (e.g., motion, time, temperature), navigate to Configuration > Automations and create a new automation.
Groups: Group your Zigbee devices together for easier control. Go to Configuration > Helpers > Add Helper to create a new group.

Step 6: Update and Maintain Zigbee Devices

It’s essential to keep your Zigbee network running smoothly. Here are a few tips:

Update Zigbee devices: Some Zigbee devices require firmware updates to improve functionality or fix bugs. You can update them via the Zigbee2MQTT dashboard or the respective integration.
Monitor Zigbee signal strength: The reliability of Zigbee communication depends on factors such as signal strength and device placement. You can monitor Zigbee network health and troubleshoot using the Zigbee2MQTT dashboard.
Check Zigbee logs: If you experience issues with a device, you can check the Zigbee logs in Home Assistant or Zigbee2MQTT to diagnose any problems.

Step 7: Additional Zigbee Options and Troubleshooting

While Zigbee is an excellent option for home automation, some users may face occasional connectivity issues. Here are some tips for troubleshooting and enhancing your Zigbee network:

Add Zigbee routers: Some Zigbee devices, such as smart plugs and light bulbs, can act as Zigbee routers. These devices extend the range of your Zigbee network and improve mesh connectivity. Place these devices strategically throughout your home to enhance signal strength.
Avoid interference: Zigbee operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is the same as Wi-Fi and other wireless devices. To avoid interference, try to keep your Zigbee devices away from large metal objects or Wi-Fi routers.
Check Zigbee channel settings: If your Zigbee devices are not functioning well, you might want to change the Zigbee channel to avoid conflicts with Wi-Fi. You can do this in the Zigbee2MQTT configuration or the settings of your Zigbee integration.

Conclusion

By installing Zigbee support in Home Assistant, you gain access to a wide variety of Zigbee-enabled devices that can be easily integrated into your smart home setup. Zigbee is known for its reliability, ease of use, and ability to create a mesh network that improves communication across multiple devices.

Once your Zigbee network is set up, you can control, automate, and monitor your devices using Home Assistant’s intuitive interface, making your smart home even more capable and responsive.

Enjoy your Zigbee-powered smart home, and happy automating!