BLUCONNECT / USER GUIDE

Home Hub (optional)

Last updated: 7 October 2026

Most homes don't need Home Hub: device control, manufacturer accounts, local devices without an account, Matter and scenes all work straight from your phone. Home Hub is a small piece of software that runs on an always-on computer, a Raspberry Pi or as a Home Assistant add-on; you don't need to buy any hardware for it.

When is it useful?

Automations with devices controlled over your home network that must run while your phone is away or the app is closed
Zigbee devices (with a USB Zigbee stick plugged into the Hub)
Controlling devices on your home network while you are away
Some devices that iPhone can't find on the local network by itself, or that are supported only through the Hub
Bringing in all your Home Assistant devices without a separate sign-in (when the Hub runs as an add-on)

If the Routines screen warns that an automation "runs only while the app is open", Home Hub would run it all the time. Tap the warning to go to Add device.

Automations without a Hub

In a home without a Hub, time and sunrise automations run on the BluConnect server using your linked cloud accounts (Automations without a Hub). Devices controlled only over your home network can be reached while your phone is at home with the app open; automations that use those devices need the Hub.

Plus required

Home Hub is a BluConnect Plus feature. On the free plan, trying to add the Hub opens the Plus screen. Automations and Automations without a Hub are Plus features too.

Installing as a Home Assistant add-on

The add-on connects to Home Assistant on its own; no username or password is needed. Your Home Assistant devices come in with their areas as rooms. If the same device is also connected to BluConnect another way, it is merged into one device.

In Home Assistant, open Settings › Add-ons › Add-on Store.
From the ⋮ menu in the top right, choose Repositories and add the BluConnect add-on repository URL.
Open Home Hub in the list and select Install.
When installation finishes, select Start (you can leave start on boot on).
A 6-digit pairing code appears in the add-on's Log tab.

On a Raspberry Pi or a computer

If you don't use Home Assistant, you can run the Hub with Docker on a Raspberry Pi or an always-on computer. The Hub must be on the same local network as your phone. For Zigbee, plug a USB Zigbee stick into the machine; the Hub works together with Zigbee2MQTT. The 6-digit pairing code appears in the Hub's log.

Pairing with the app

The code changes every 10 minutes and after each successful pairing; after too many wrong attempts in a short time, you need to wait a few minutes. The pairing is saved to your account: your other phones signed in with the same account and the home's members use the Hub without pairing it again; members with limited access see only the devices allowed to them. The Hub shows up under Account › Connections in the Home Hub row as Local connection active or Paired · unreachable right now.

Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as the Hub.
On the Home or Devices screen, tap Add device.
Home Hub appears under the Nearby tab; tap it.
Enter the 6-digit code from the Hub's log. Pairing starts automatically once the code is complete.

Hub troubleshooting

The Hub doesn't appear under Nearby: are your phone and the Hub on the same network? Guest networks and separated networks (VLANs) can block local discovery.
Incorrect pairing code: enter the current code from the log; it changes every 10 minutes.
Invalid Hub token. Pair the Hub again: pair the Hub again from Add device.
Home Assistant devices don't appear: restart the add-on in Home Assistant.
If a device says it "works through a Home Hub on the same network", add the Hub first, then select the device again.

FAQ

Do I need to buy a device for Home Hub?
No. Home Hub is software; it runs on an always-on computer, a Raspberry Pi or as a Home Assistant add-on. If you want Zigbee, you only need a USB Zigbee stick.

Can I set up automations without a Hub?
Yes. Time and sunrise automations run on the BluConnect server with your cloud accounts. Automations that use devices controlled only over your home network need your phone at home with the app open, or a Hub.

What happens if the internet goes down?
The Hub works on your local network: control of devices connected to the Hub and the Hub's automations keep working without the internet.

BluConnect is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. Start free; upgrade to Plus when you need it. See plans ↗