The latest Home Assistant Companion App update for Android is making waves in the smart home community, introducing a streamlined "invite flow" that simplifies sharing control of your connected ecosystem. Version 2025.7.0, rolling out globally this week, tackles one of users’ most frequent requests: a frictionless way to grant access to family members or guests without compromising security.
What’s New in the Invite Flow?
Gone are the days of manually generating long-term access tokens or fiddling with complex permissions. The redesigned interface now lets homeowners send role-based invites via email or QR code directly from the app. Recipients receive guided setup instructions, and administrators retain full control to revoke access instantly. The system even supports temporary guest passes—ideal for Airbnb hosts or visiting relatives.
Beyond invites, the update packs subtle but powerful enhancements:
- Reactive Sensors: Reduced battery drain for motion/light detection.
- Material You Dynamic Theming: Automatic UI color matching for Android 14+ devices.
- Notification Reliability Fixes: Critical patches for delayed alerts.
Why This Matters
Home Assistant’s ethos centers on local control and privacy, but sharing access historically required technical know-how. "This bridges the gap between power users and casual home members," explains core developer Robbie Dunne in the official announcement. Early adopters praise the feature for enabling elderly parents to adjust thermostats or kids to control lights—without exposing admin privileges.
German tech outlet SmartHomeAssistent also notes upcoming integrations spotted in beta builds, including ultra-wideband (UWB) room-level presence tracking and Matter device diagnostics—hinting at even bigger updates ahead.
How to Get It
Android users can update via the Play Store or sideload the APK from Home Assistant’s GitHub. iOS enhancements are expected in the next cycle. For privacy-focused households, this update transforms convenience from a compromise into a standard feature.
Ready to invite others into your smart home? Update the app and tap "People" in settings to try the new flow.
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