The first beta for Home Assistant’s 2025.10 update is here, bringing a suite of powerful new features that deepen its Matter integration. Primarily contributed by community developers @lboue and @virtualbitzz, this release moves beyond basic device support to offer more granular control over robotic vacuums, occupancy sensors, and climate devices for a better user experience.
A wave of advanced Matter features
This update focuses on unlocking more capabilities within the Matter standard, transforming smart devices into more intelligent components of your home.
A major highlight is the progress for area-specific cleaning for Matter-enabled robotic vacuums (under spec 1.4 or above). The update introduced an EstimatedEndTime attribute related to service areas, allowing for more intelligent automation sequences based on when a cleaning task will be finished.
However, the cleaning area selection feature is still a work in progress to meet Home Assistant requirements, according to the GitHub discussions.
The update also addresses a common smart home annoyance with a new configurable HoldTime for occupancy sensors. This allows users to set a delay before a room is marked as unoccupied, preventing lights from turning off when someone is sitting still, like when reading or watching TV. This feature, already supported by devices like the Aqara Motion and Light Sensor P2, can now be configured directly within Home Assistant without the vendor apps.
Additionally, the release keeps pace with the latest Matter 1.4 standard by adding support for MountedDimmableLoadControl devices, ensuring in-wall dimmers are correctly identified as lights, not generic plugs.
For climate control, a crucial fix ensures that Home Assistant correctly interprets the running state of more thermostats. Previously, some devices could report as “off” while actively heating or cooling with the fan running. This update improves state accuracy and makes climate automations more reliable. Also, Matter thermostat can correctly display OutdoorTemperature sensor in Home Assistant.
Under the hood, improved Matter discovery schemas using product_id will help add support for less standardized Matter devices in Home Assistant.
For Thread integration, Thread Border Routers from OpenThread and GL.iNet would display branding icons properly.
The update is now available for all users who enrolled in the beta channel, accessible from the settings. Please make proper backups before joining the testing.
(Source: Home Assistant, GitHub; Image Source: Home Assistant, @lboue, Matter Alpha)
