Home Assistant on Android Home Screen: Actions & Status

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, you can put Home Assistant actions and status on your Android home screen. You do this with widgets, which show live sensor values and trigger automations or device controls with a single tap, without opening the app.

Why Put Home Assistant on Your Home Screen

Home Assistant is a powerful home automation platform, but its main app hides most controls behind menus. A widget puts the most-used functions one swipe away. The practical benefits are:

Faster control: Toggle lights, locks, or scenes without unlocking and navigating the app.
Live status: See temperature, battery, door/window state, or energy usage at a glance.
Less friction: A single tap is often faster than voice commands, especially in noisy rooms or when your hands are full.
Customization: You can make a screen that fits exactly how you use your home, unlike the fixed layout of the app.

What You Need Before You Start

Before adding any widget, make sure the basics are in place:

Home Assistant instance: A working setup (Home Assistant OS, Container, or Supervised) that is reachable from your phone.
Android app: The official Home Assistant Companion app installed from the Google Play Store.
Account access: You must be logged in to your instance in the app. The widget pulls data from that connection.
Entities: The devices or sensors you want to show must already be configured in Home Assistant (e.g., a smart bulb, a temperature sensor, a binary sensor for a door).

How to Add a Home Assistant Widget

The exact steps vary slightly by Android version and launcher, but the general process is the same on stock Android and most custom launchers (like Nova or Pixel Launcher):

Long-press on an empty area of your home screen.
Tap Widgets in the menu that appears.
Scroll to find Home Assistant in the list of apps.
You will see several widget options. The most common are:
- Entity: Shows the state of a single entity (e.g., temperature, light brightness) and lets you toggle it on/off.
- Button: Triggers a script, scene, or automation with a single tap.
- Camera: Displays a live camera feed from a supported camera entity.
- Media Player: Controls playback (play/pause, next, volume) for media players like a Chromecast or a smart speaker.
Drag the widget onto your home screen. A configuration dialog will open.
Pick the specific entity, script, or scene you want the widget to control or display.
Optionally, set a custom label or icon for the widget (if supported).
Tap Save or Done. The widget will appear on your screen.

After placing it, you can resize most widgets by long-pressing them and dragging the handles. This lets you make a small icon or a large status card.

Using the Entity Widget for Status and Control

The Entity widget is the most flexible for showing status. When you configure it, you choose an entity ID (like light.living_room or sensor.outdoor_temp). The widget then displays:

The current state (e.g., “on”, “off”, “21.5 °C”, “locked”).
The entity’s icon (which changes with state for many entities).
A tap action: for a light, it toggles; for a sensor, it may open the more info dialog; for a lock, it might lock/unlock.

This is ideal for a quick glance at your front door sensor, the temperature in a room, or the battery level of a smart device.

Using the Button Widget for Automation

The Button widget is for actions that are not simple toggles. You can assign it to:

A script (e.g., “Good Night” that turns off all lights and locks the door).
A scene (e.g., “Movie Mode” that dims lights and lowers the screen).
An automation (e.g., “Vacuum Now” that starts your robot vacuum).

You can add multiple button widgets to create a control panel on your home screen. Each button can have a custom label and icon, so you can make a grid of common actions.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Widgets sometimes fail. Here are the most frequent issues and their solutions:

Widget shows “Unavailable” or “Unknown”: This usually means the app cannot reach your Home Assistant instance. Check that your phone is on the same network or that your instance is accessible via the internet (e.g., using a cloud service or a VPN). Also verify the entity still exists in Home Assistant.
Widget does not update: Some Android launchers restrict background updates to save battery. Go to your launcher’s settings and allow the Home Assistant app to run in the background. Also, try removing and re-adding the widget.
Tap does nothing: Make sure the entity or script is not in an error state. Check the Home Assistant log for errors. Also, ensure the app has the necessary permissions (e.g., location for presence detection, but not for basic toggles).
Widget size is wrong: Drag the widget to a new spot and resize it. Some launchers require you to long-press and then use the handles.
Multiple widgets are out of sync: If you have two widgets for the same entity, they may update at different times. This is normal; the app refreshes each widget on its own schedule.

Comparing Widgets to Other Quick-Access Methods

Widgets are not the only way to get quick access. Here is how they compare:

Widgets vs. App Shortcuts: Long-pressing the Home Assistant app icon gives you shortcuts to specific areas (like “Lights” or “Scenes”). These are faster to set up but less customizable and do not show live status.
Widgets vs. Notifications: The app can send persistent notifications with actions (e.g., a notification for your front door that has a “Lock” button). These are useful for event-driven actions but are not always visible.
Widgets vs. Voice Assistants: Google Assistant or Alexa can control Home Assistant via the cloud, but they require a stable internet connection and are slower than a tap.
Widgets vs. Dedicated Wall Panels: A wall-mounted tablet running the Home Assistant dashboard is a more permanent solution, but it is more expensive and not portable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I show multiple entities in one widget?

Yes, the Home Assistant app offers a “State” widget that can display multiple entities in a single, resizable card. When you add it, you can select several entities to show in a list. This is useful for a quick overview of your home’s status.

Will the widget drain my phone battery?

Widgets do consume some battery because they need to refresh data. However, the Home Assistant app is designed to be efficient. If you notice excessive drain, check your launcher’s battery optimization settings and ensure the app is not constantly refreshing when you are not looking at the screen.

Can I use widgets without the Home Assistant app?

No, the official widgets require the companion app. Third-party apps like “Home Assistant Widgets” may offer more options, but they are not officially supported and may have security implications. It is safer to stick with the official app.

Why is my widget showing the wrong state?

This usually happens when the entity has changed in Home Assistant but the widget has not refreshed. Try tapping the widget to open the more info dialog, which forces a refresh. If it persists, remove and re-add the widget. Also check that your phone is not in a power-saving mode that pauses background updates.

Can I control a device that is not a light or switch?

Yes, the Entity widget can control any entity that supports the turn_on and turn_off services, such as media players, fans, covers (blinds), or even locks (if you configure the right services). For more complex actions, use a Button widget with a script.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.