# Noob SHS questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Homey Self-Hosted Server\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608 "2026-09-14T18:07:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UffeS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/uffes/32/172083_2.png) [@UffeS](https://community.homey.app/u/UffeS)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/1 "2026-09-14T18:07:32Z")
Hello, Does an SHS with a lifetime license require an Internet connection or can it run for days / weeks / months without one? Let’s say I have a dedicated tablet for the app (no SIM card). Can it connect directly to my SHS through the LAN and a) configure b) control my devices without accessing the Internet at any time? Finally, does anyone have any experience with integrating Plejd devices to an Homey SHS? Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/2 "2026-09-14T18:53:04Z")
> [@UffeS](#): > > Does an SHS with a lifetime license require an Internet connection Yes and no, it can still execute your Flows even if you have no internet connection. However, for most functionality (like the web app at my.homey.app, API, integrations, webhooks, notifications) you need internet. The mobile app can work without it for up to 14 days. > [@UffeS](#): > > Let’s say I have a dedicated tablet for the app (no SIM card). Can it connect directly to my SHS through the LAN and a) configure b) control my devices without accessing the Internet at any time? No, the app needs internet for log in and to refresh its authentication token every 14 days with the Athom servers. ---
**Author:** ![UffeS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/uffes/32/172083_2.png) [@UffeS](https://community.homey.app/u/UffeS)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/3 "2026-09-14T19:18:18Z")
Tack! 🙂 > [@smarthomesven](#): > > No, the app needs internet for log in and to refresh its authentication token every 14 days with the Athom servers So if I understand correctly this means that even with a self-hosted server, user authentication is carried out by Athom’s servers? That seems slightly odd to me. Aren’t the users local to the (self-hosted) server? ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/4 "2026-09-14T20:06:58Z")
> [@UffeS](#): > > So if I understand correctly this means that even with a self-hosted server, user authentication is carried out by Athom’s servers? Yes, account management happens on Athom’s side > [@UffeS](#): > > That seems slightly odd to me. Aren’t the users local to the (self-hosted) server? Well, you can have multiple Homey’s in 1 account, so at least to me it’s very logical. Also this means you can sign in with Google/Apple for easier login. It’s also needed for OAuth for Google Home, Alexa and IFTTT. All Athom sites, apps and API integerations use this central identity (forum, developer tools, mobile app, web app, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![UffeS](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/uffes/32/172083_2.png) [@UffeS](https://community.homey.app/u/UffeS)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/5 "2026-09-14T21:07:24Z")
Sure, that makes sense. Thank you for your time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/6 "2026-09-14T22:01:05Z")
> [@UffeS](#): > > Does an SHS with a lifetime license require an Internet connection or can it run for days / weeks / months without one? Abe (Athom) responded like below. (I still don’t know for how long it will run w/o the need to reach Athom servers to check upon licenses): > [@Homey Self-Hosted Server (Pre release analysis)](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-self-hosted-server-pre-release-analysis/146695/69): > > > [@Homey Self-Hosted Server (Pre release analysis)](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-self-hosted-server-pre-release-analysis/146695/67): > > > > Or, when one pays the €149,- , will one become owner of the software (if that’s possible at all)? > > @Doekse ? > > You get a lifetime license to use the software . > [@UffeS](#): > > Can it connect directly to my SHS through the LAN and a) configure b) control my devices without accessing the Internet at any time? Yes, when you’ve configured Homey SHS first by [adding a local account](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/22924537226268-Set-up-Local-Users-on-Homey-Pro) (see below); But, as mentioned above here, I’m not very sure if it’s really unlimited to “at any time”. . > [@UffeS](#): > > So if I understand correctly this means that even with a self-hosted server, user authentication is carried out by Athom’s servers? Yes, but only for the online accounts. The [local accounts](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/22924537226268-Set-up-Local-Users-on-Homey-Pro) however are, well, local. Out of reach by Athom, and out of reach by the Mobile app → Meaning: No Dashboards, No Energy Tab and other stuff not integrated by the web app. > [@UffeS](#): > > Aren’t the users local to the (self-hosted) server? Yes, but only after preparation which needs internet: 1. The mobile app is first needed to register and add the new SHS to your account via internet @ Athom Cloud. This is mandatory. 2. After you have created [a local user](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/22924537226268-Set-up-Local-Users-on-Homey-Pro) per [https://my.homey.app](https://my.homey.app), you can reach Homey SHS fully locally per `http://homeyshs.ip.address/` - Of course all internet dependent devices / services don’t work w/o available internet connection, including Homey Weather - In case you (consider to) use a Homey Bridge as local radio bridge (like zigbee, z-wave): it _can_ work fully locally as well, BUT, when you restart it (manually or f.i. due to power outages) _ **it temporary needs internet in order to boot** _… → very odd, very inconvenient, bad choice - Physical Homey models need internet to determine the timezone and correct local time at boot! Unknown to me what Homey SHS uses to get the correct time at boot… - Local LAN/WiFi devices continue to work with Homey. F.i. Shelly WiFi devices can be configured to work without Cloud dependency - Tip: Local zigbee / Matter-over-Thread / Z-wave devices works headache-free with solutions like [SMLight devices](https://smlight.tech/nl/products/smhub) ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2026, 4:08am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/7 "2026-09-15T04:08:04Z")
> [@Peter\_Kawa](#): > > - Tip: Local zigbee / Matter-over-Thread / Z-wave devices works headache-free with solutions like [SMLight devices](https://smlight.tech/nl/products/smhub) I don’t really understand this comment, Homey SHS can only connect Homey Bridge. External dongles are not supported > [@Peter\_Kawa](#): > > - very odd, very inconvenient, bad choice It’s not a bad choice, it’s just the most secure option since it uses TLS encryption with your Homey on the LAN. This ensures that the connection cannot get intercepted by other devices, but in order to do that it needs DNS. ---
**Author:** ![Vnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@Vnet](https://community.homey.app/u/Vnet)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 8:24am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/8 "2026-09-20T08:24:25Z")
> smlight communicates via mqtt to shs ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/9 "2026-09-20T18:01:54Z")
Yes indeed. Users can also use the [zigbee2mqtt community app](https://community.homey.app/t/app-pro-zigbee2mqtt-use-zigbee-devices-via-mqtt/83214) to connect SMlight or other zigbee2mqtt devices to Homey SHS (because ALL use MQTT) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/10 "2026-09-20T18:27:51Z")
> [@smarthomesven](#): > > I don’t really understand this comment, Homey SHS can only connect Homey Bridge. External dongles are not supported Maybe if you don’t understand something, I mean several other ways to add local protocols next to Homey Bridge, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work? ---
**Author:** ![smarthomesven](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/smarthomesven/32/79712_2.png) [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/11 "2026-09-20T18:39:39Z")
But this is an external dongle, right? SHS doesn’t support USB dongles. ---
**Author:** ![Doekse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/doekse/32/109415_2.png) [@Doekse](https://community.homey.app/u/Doekse)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 11:42am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/noob-shs-questions/159608/12 "2026-09-22T11:42:30Z")
Simply run Zigbee2MQTT in another container and use the Zigbee2MQTT App for Homey to import devices, as easy as that