Adding Matter compatible equipment to your SmartThings Hub made easy
Navigating the junction of Matter and SmartThings (hopefully) heralds a new era of simplicity and convenience for smart home enthusiasts.
That parenthesised “hopefully” is because Matter has been somewhat of a muddle so far, but there are some signs of real progress now and it’s pretty simple to get your Matter smart home devices synced with your SmartThings Hub.
Seamlessly weaving together the very best in smart home connectivity standards, Matter and SmartThings can help you to create a dynamic synergy that promises enhanced functionality and harmonious control of your smart home system.
In this guide, we’ll talk you through the process of integrating Matter devices into your SmartThings-powered smart home, using the SmartThings app to easily add Matter tech to your SmartThings system.
Matter and SmartThings checklist
The first requirement of Matter is a Matter commissioner and, in the case of adding Matter devices to a SmartThings system, will simply be the SmartThings app, whether that be iOS or Android.
The next thing you’ll need is a Matter controller and, if you’re already using a SmartThings system, the good news is that you’ve already got one (probably… unless you’re running a really old system).
The v2 and v3 SmartThings Hubs and the Aeotec Smart Home Hub are all Matter controllers, but the v2 lacks Matter over Thread, so is a Wi-Fi only option.
There’s also the option of the Samsung SmartThings Station, which was revealed at CES earlier this year.
Also, some recent Samsung smart fridges and TVs can also act as Matter controllers (no Thread though).
Technically, you can add Matter devices to your SmartThings system that were originally added using a different, non-SmartThings, controller (such as an Apple HomePod) but that’s another guide for another day.
How to add Matter devices to a SmartThings Hub
(Image credit: The Ambient)
1. Power up your Matter device.
2. Open the SmartThings app.
3. Tap the + in the top right corner and and then tap Add device.
4a. Option 1 – Tap Scan in the Scan QR code section and scan the QR Code on the device.
or
4b. Option 2 – In the Other methods section, select Enter code and add your Matter code.
(Image credit: The Ambient)
5. Select your Hub and choose a room where it will live.
6. You may be asked to select the Wi-Fi or Thread network.
(If you’re on the 2015 v2 Hub and you’re adding a Thread device, you’ll need to select an alternative Thread border router and enter its Thread Network Key.)
7. Once it’s all connected, give the device a name and tap Save.
That’s it, all done – you are now all set to get your new Matter device involved in your SmartThings automations, groups and so on.
See also…
How to add Matter devices to Alexa