This article is part of the Home Assistant Series. Other articles in this series:
Over the last couple of days we looked at installing Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi, as well as via a Docker Container. Once it is installed, it still needs to be set up and configured. Today we will look at setting up Home Assistant after successfully installing it. If you have trouble installing Home Assistant, look at their official Installation Troubleshooting Guide. But if installation was successful, you’re now ready to bring all your devices together. Let’s walk you through the five key steps to set up Home Assistant so that it’s ready to manage your smart home.
Step 1: Access Home Assistant via Your Browser
Once Home Assistant is installed, you’ll need to open it on your computer, tablet, or phone.
- Open a web browser (like Chrome, Safari, or Edge).
- Type the address provided during the installation (usually something like
http://homeassistant.local:8123orhttp://127.0.0.1:8123). - Press Enter or click go.
This will bring you to the Home Assistant onboarding screen. If you run into any issues accessing it, make sure the device you’re using is connected to the same network as the one running Home Assistant.
This will now finish the install of Home Assistant which may take some time. There will also be the installation of the latest version of Home Assistant Core, which can be up to 700Mb in size.
Step 2: Set Up a New Home or Import a Previous One
On the first screen, you’ll be asked to either:
- Create a new Home Assistant setup.
- Import an existing setup (if you’ve used Home Assistant before).
If this is your first time using Home Assistant, select “Set Up a New Home”. This will start fresh, letting you customize everything to your liking.
If you’ve used Home Assistant in the past and have a backup, choose “Import” to restore your old settings.
If selecting Set Up a New Home, you will need to create a new account (which is stored locally on the Home Assistant Machine)
Step 3: Set Up the Location of Your Home
Next, you’ll need to tell Home Assistant where your home is located.
- On the map that appears, drag the pin to your house’s location.
- Confirm the correct time zone.
Why is this important?
- Home Assistant uses this information to control devices based on sunrise, sunset, and time-specific automations.
- For example, your lights could automatically turn on at sunset or your thermostat could adjust at specific times.
If you’re concerned about privacy, you can adjust the accuracy of your location, but it’s helpful to provide a general area for better functionality.
Step 4: Select Privacy Options
Now you’ll set up how much data Home Assistant can share with its developers.
You’ll be given options like:
- Share usage data: This helps improve Home Assistant by sending anonymous usage statistics.
- Share error logs: If something goes wrong, sharing error details can help developers fix issues.
If you’re comfortable, enabling these can contribute to a better experience for everyone. But if you prefer to keep everything private, you can skip this step.
Step 5: Set Up the Auto-Detected Devices
Home Assistant is smart! It will scan your home network for devices it can control, like smart plugs, lights, thermostats, and speakers.
- A list of detected devices will appear.
- For each device:
- Confirm if you want to integrate it with Home Assistant.
- Provide any necessary login credentials or setup details (e.g., your Wi-Fi camera app’s login).
Why is this step important?
This is where Home Assistant becomes your central hub. The more devices you connect, the more control and automation options you’ll have. Don’t worry if some devices don’t show up right away — you can add them manually later.
What’s Next?
After completing these steps, Home Assistant is ready to go! From here, you can:
- Explore the dashboard to see and control your devices.
- Start creating automations, like turning off all lights when you leave home.
- Customize your setup to match your lifestyle.
Setting up Home Assistant may seem a little daunting at first, but by following these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a smarter, more convenient home. Enjoy your new setup!
