Control WiFi devices via Matter with Homey
Many WiFi smart home devices already work well on their own. With the rise of Matter, it’s natural to ask: does Matter make Homey unnecessary for WiFi devices?
The short answer is: no. But it does change the role Homey plays.
Homey does not replace WiFi or turn every WiFi device into a native Matter device, but it can translate supported devices into Matter-compatible controls and provide advanced automation across your home.
WiFi devices and Matter: what’s different
Matter is a control standard, not a radio technology.
That means:
- WiFi devices can support Matter
- But only if the manufacturer explicitly adds Matter support
- Many existing WiFi devices do not support Matter natively
Without Matter support, WiFi devices can’t appear in Matter platforms on their own.
This is where Homey comes in.
Where Homey fits in with WiFi and Matter
Homey can act as a Matter Bridge.
With Homey:
- WiFi devices are connected using their existing integrations
- Homey exposes supported devices to Matter
- Matter platforms gain access to those devices in a standardised way
Homey remains the control and logic layer.
Matter becomes the shared interface across platforms.
What “exposing devices” means for WiFi devices and Matter
When Homey exposes a WiFi device to Matter, it means:
- The device keeps its original WiFi connection
- Homey controls the device through its supported integration
- Matter platforms communicate with Homey, not directly with the device
The device:
- stays paired with Homey
- is still controlled by Homey
- appears in Matter platforms as a Matter-compatible device
Homey doesn’t change how WiFi works. It changes how devices are shared across ecosystems.
How WiFi devices are used with Homey and Matter
A typical setup looks like this:
- WiFi devices are added to Homey
Homey connects using the device’s supported app or API. - Matter support is enabled in Homey
The Matter Bridge is activated in the Homey app. - Selected devices are exposed
Only devices that can be mapped to supported Matter device types can be exposed, and you choose which of those devices to share. - Add Homey as a Matter Bridge in your Matter controller by scanning the QR code shown in Homey
Control becomes cross-platform, and automation and logic stay in Homey.
When Homey adds clear value with Matter
Homey is especially useful when you want to:
- Use WiFi devices in multiple ecosystems
- Combine Matter devices with non-Matter devices
- Keep advanced automation in one place
- Avoid waiting for every manufacturer to add native Matter support
Matter focuses on compatibility, while Homey focuses on coordination and intelligence.
What to keep in mind
A few important points:
- Not all WiFi devices can be exposed to Matter
- Matter exposes a standardised feature set, not every device function
- Action-based devices may not report their full state
- Advanced automation logic always stays in Homey
Use Matter for cross-platform access and Homey to make everything work together.
In short
Matter doesn’t automatically make all WiFi devices universal.
Homey bridges the gap by exposing supported WiFi devices to Matter, while keeping control, logic, and automation in one place.
Matter becomes a shared language for your smart home and Homey stays in control.
Discover more about Homey by connecting additional devices through the Homey App Store. Control them with the Homey App and create your own automations with Flows and Advanced Flows. Monitor your smart home using Dashboards, and gain deeper understanding with Homey Energy and Insights.
Smart home technologies and platforms supported by Homey
Smart homes often use multiple wireless technologies and platforms. As a powerful smart home hub, Homey supports a wide range of communication standards, including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, KNX, 433 MHz, WiFi, Bluetooth and Infrared.
Homey also integrates with popular smart home platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home. By combining multiple technologies and platforms in one system, Homey allows devices from different ecosystems to work together in one flexible smart home setup.
