A new firmware update for the IKEA Dirigera hub has been pushed out with the aim of resolving some well-reported Matter pairing issues.
The Swedish furniture and home giant has recently demonstrated its commitment to Matter with a range of over 20 new devices (ranging from smart buttons to sensors) only to find itself on the receiving end of multiple press reports of poor pairing success rates (an issue that is surely not limited to IKEA).
Dirigera firmware v2.934.0
Whether you use your Dirigera as a bridge or a controller, the IKEA Dirigera firmware update version 2.934.0 (announced on March 3rd) adds two key fixes:
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Improving Matter onboarding
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Adding better pausing support to the Bilresa remote
While the Bilresa issue is niche, the improved onboarding should help address some of the recent complaints.
However, exposing devices to other Matter supporting environment (for example, Samsung SmartThings) appears to be an ongoing problem for IKEA.
Ensuring the new firmware update is applied to your Dirigera is simple. Open the app on your phone, Go to Settings > Hub Settings and tap Hub and app version. Firmware version should state “2.934.0.”
Why IKEA’s attention to this Matters
IKEA has been in the smart home market for some years now, previously leaning into it via the Tradfri smart home hub, which relied on Zigbee. The Dirigera has superseded the Tradfri, and features support for Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread. Given its price, it is one of the most affordable Matter controllers around, and its dual function as a bridge is useful for getting IKEA smart home devices into your Matter smart home.
This is the significant part. IKEA has over 500 stores worldwide, each of them stocking affordable, Matter-compatible devices. Whether lamps, air purifiers, or sensors, the pricing of the smaller items means you can buy multiple sensors and smart buttons without breaking the bank.
By supporting Matter so wholeheartedly – arguably more than any other manufacturer in terms of inventory – IKEA has opened itself up to the criticism seen in recent weeks. But IKEA’s support is vital to pushing Matter into homes, and attracting what I call “spouse approval.” Beyond Matter-compatible devices, motorized blinds make daily life easier, while a Klippbok water leakage sensor can potentially save a $1000s in repairs.
Will this firmware fix IKEA’s issues?
From what we can see, the firmware has automatically rolled out to Dirigera devices around the world, but you should use the steps above to ensure your own IKEA smart home hub has received the update.
Pairing devices with Matter smart home environments can be a challenge at the best of times. The rollout of the new firmware should ease Matter onboarding issues, without resorting to power cycling or even full resets.
But let’s remember that Matter is a long-term project, and it is comparatively early days. IKEA’s onboarding issues for the new family of Matter devices should be fixable via firmware updates, but don’t forget that this retailer has a forgiving returns policy. If you feel these products don’t quite meet your needs, take advantage of that.
