Home Assistant has rolled out its first beta of 2026.2, refining some Matter experience that was delayed from the final 2026.1 release. Beyond the headline return of the dedicated Matter settings panel, this update introduces sophisticated logic changes that deepen how the platform interacts with thermostats, locks, and sensors.
These technical adjustments, driven by specific community contributions, aim to align Home Assistant more closely with the native capabilities of the Matter standard while polishing the user interface for daily use.
Refined Matter panel
In the 2026.1 beta, Home Assistant moved the Matter and Thread entries to the top level of the Settings page, but these changes did not make it into the final release. Now, with the new 2026.2 beta, the feature has returned with a refreshed design.
The page now displays Matter status, along with quick links to Matter devices and entities. Additionally, there is a dedicated panel for device commissioning. The methods for adding Matter devices are now much easier to identify; users can clearly see whether the setup is done via smartphone, shared from another ecosystem, or handled by Home Assistant alone.
This clarity also helps users troubleshoot or get help from the community.
Smarter energy management for thermostats
The most significant functional addition in this version is the support for “Occupied Setback” on Matter thermostats. This feature, merged in this version, exposes the OccupiedSetback attribute defined in the Matter Thermostat spec. Rather than indicating whether a space is occupied, this attribute controls the allowed temperature “span” around the occupied heating and cooling setpoints before the thermostat initiates heating or cooling.
It defines how far the calculated local temperature may drift above the OccupiedCoolingSetpoint or below the OccupiedHeatingSetpoint before the device changes state. This span, sometimes referred to as the thermostat’s "deadband," is to “help prevent over-cycling and reduce energy bills, though this may result in lower comfort on the part of some users.”
Home Assistant users can now fine-tune how aggressively their HVAC system reacts to temperature changes, balancing comfort against efficiency using native device logic rather than additional automation and scripts.
Devices like Aqara W500 Thermostat would benefit from this update when paired on the Matter protocol mode. Clear test pictures provided by the regular contributor @lboue showed how this works in real life.
Floor Heating Thermostat W500
Safety-focused interface changes for locks
The user interface for smart locks has been reorganized to prioritize security and prevent accidental operation. The selection of Operating Modes for Matter door locks, which controls states like “Privacy,” “Passage,” or “NoRemoteLockUnlock” has been technically reclassified into the Configuration entity category.
Previously, this dropdown might have appeared alongside standard lock and unlock controls, posing a risk of users accidentally setting their front door to “Passage” (permanently unlocked) when attempting a simple unlock command. By moving this control to the configuration section, the platform treats the operating mode as a “set-and-forget” device setting rather than a daily toggle, adding a layer of friction that serves as a safety guardrail.
Logic refinements for cleaner data
Several under-the-hood changes have been implemented to ensure that the data displayed in dashboards is both accurate and relevant. A new logic check now governs the discovery of outdoor temperature sensors. Many Matter devices, particularly thermostat bridges, technically support an OutdoorTemperature attribute even if no physical sensor is attached.
The update now verifies that a valid temperature reading actually exists before creating the entity, effectively preventing ghost sensors that report “Unknown” or “Unavailable” from cluttering the device list like Eve Thermostat.
Eve Thermo (Gen5)
A privacy-focused smart radiator valve that offers flexible temperature control and seamless Matter/Thread integration.
Eve Thermostat
The Eve Thermostat brings smart, precise control to water-based underfloor heating systems, letting you manage room temperature more efficiently and comfortably. It replaces a conventional wall thermostat with a connected, intelligent controller that adjusts heat levels according to your preferred schedules, routines, or smart-home automations. By adding smarter modulation rather than simple on/off heating, it helps maintain consistent comfort without wasting energy. Its clean, minimal design fits naturally into living spaces while offering intuitive control.
Window Coverings devices also gain small improvement with renamed diagnostic entities, which show the operational state of your smart shutters.
*This article was updated to correct an earlier misinterpretation of a newly added Matter thermostat feature.
(Source: Home Assistant, GitHub; Image: Home Assistant, CSA, @lboue, Matter Alpha/Ward Zhou)
