Do all devices have to be supported by an 'App'

Questions & Help
1

Good evening.
I am considering getting a Homey to replace my SmartThings setup.

As I learn more about this system I am trying to go through my devices to see which ones will work and which ones will need to be replaced.

The main thing I am a little unclear on is if all devices (outside of Matter) need to be supported by an App.

For Example, I have a Smartthings (Aeotec) button. When I go to that App on the Homey website I do not see the button as a supported device. However, this button is Zibgee and I know Homey has a Zigbee radio. So can I not just connect it via Zigbee?

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks.

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2

Hello and welcome,

Besides Matter and zigbee/z-wave lights&switches&plugs***, devices need to be supported by an app in general.
This can be checked @ https://homey.app

***)The generic Zigbee and Z-wave drivers support only a few device types: lights and switches/plugs, with basic functionality like on/off, dim, color and power measurements.
NO sensors and such, like buttons.

I hope this is the info you needed.

3

Thank you for the reply.

ā€¦and just to confirm my thinking and you comment if a product is ā€˜Matterā€™ then it will work with Homey and does not need app support.

So if I am looking at some matter light switches and plugs they should all work?

4

One caveat (feel free to correct me if I am wrong): my understanding is that the functionality that is part of the Matter spec should be supported (basic functionality). For additional functionality (not part of the Matter spec) you would typically need the deviceā€™s mobile app to control.

5

Thereā€™s a lot of functionality in the Matter spec that Homey doesnā€™t support.

6

Ah, good to know!

Would be nice if there was some guidance / information from Athom on what functionality is and isnā€™t supported. This info in their knowledge base is rather limited.

7

Sorry, Iā€™m still unclear about this. I am considering a migration from an old Vera Plus, and so have only Z-Wave devices at this point. I have motion sensors, thermometers, Schlage door locks, a thermostat, and some smart outlets. Vera does not have the ā€œappā€ concept. Do I need to be concerned with which of these devices have Homey apps?

8

Yes, make sure you check the https://homey.app store for supported devices.

And take note, when a brand is supported, that does not just automatically mean any of their devices is supported. Always check if your model is listed.

Lightbulbs and plugs should work with the generic z-wave driver, but with very basic functionality.

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