← All guides

How Matter firmware updates work, and how to update a Matter device

Matter devices can get firmware updates over the air from a platform's hub, or through their maker's own app — but Matter's over-the-air (OTA) update is optional, so not every device supports it. The short answer: keep your hub online and updated, turn on the platform's update setting where there is one (SmartThings has one, and Apple's developer guide describes one), and check the maker's app. Each platform's details and limits are below.

Who updates a Matter device on each platform?

On every platform, a hub or the platform itself acts as the update source, and the maker has to publish the update first.

The pattern is consistent across platforms: Apple's primary home hub, Google's Matter hubs, and SmartThings hubs act as OTA Providers, while Alexa and Home Assistant handle updates through the platform itself. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) says a Matter device can use Matter's OTA functionality or its own software update methods, so a maker isn't forced to use the Matter path. That's why the maker's app remains relevant even when a platform offers updates.

How Matter OTA updates work: providers, requestors and the DCL

Google's developer documentation explains the mechanics: a Matter device (the OTA Requestor) periodically polls an OTA Provider to find out whether there are any available software updates. When one is available, the Requestor obtains the update from a Provider and installs it. A device may only move to a higher version number, and if multiple updates with larger version numbers exist, it receives the one with the highest version number — updates aren't applied sequentially. A Matter device must be CSA-certified to receive OTA updates, though Google notes it's possible to test OTA for an uncertified device.

Google also says that per the Matter specification, OTA images cannot be rolled back. If a maker releases a bad update, the fix is to prepare an OTA update using the previous revision of the firmware and give it a higher version number. The CSA describes the Distributed Compliance Ledger (DCL) as a cryptographically secure, distributed network where IoT device makers, official test houses, and certification centers publish public information about a given device or class of devices. Anyone can read it, but writing requires authorized accounts. The CSA says makers must put data for their certified product models into the DCL. Home Assistant says the DCL provides metadata for firmware updates, and SmartThings' 2023 staff post notes that the firmware itself downloads from the maker's host server.

Apple Home

Apple's Matter OTA developer guide (Release R5, dated 2026-02-12) describes how updates work on Apple's side. The primary home hub — an Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini in the Connected state under Home Settings > Home Hubs & Bridges — acts as the OTA Provider. A Thread accessory requires a home hub with Thread support. Only the primary home hub is responsible for providing the firmware update, and it must be on a supported version for the update to appear.

Automatic updates can be turned on or off at Home Settings > Software Update > Other Accessories, according to Apple's developer guide. With automatic updates enabled, the Home app shows an Update state and then an Installing spinner. With automatic updates disabled, the app presents three states: Update > Requested > Installing spinner. The Requested state means the accessory is waiting for the home hub to transfer the firmware.

• Apple's developer guide is written for accessory makers testing updates, so the wording in your Home app may differ from what's described there.
• Apple's consumer support pages we checked don't describe Matter firmware updates in the Home app. The page "If you can't add a smart home accessory to the Home app" says an accessory that shows a "not supported" alert may need a firmware update from the maker's app.
• Apple's "If your HomeKit or Matter accessory isn't responding" page says to check the maker's app to see if accessories need a firmware update.
• The iPhone User Guide's router configuration page warns that the "Restrict to Home" setting may prevent firmware updates or other services.

Google Home

Google's developer page says Google Matter hubs, such as the Google Nest Mini, function as OTA Providers and announce their presence to devices by sending the AnnounceOTAProvider command. For Matter devices linked to a Matter hub but not registered in Google's Developer Console, OTA updates are automatically pushed. Makers can release updates through Google's Developer Console or the DCL, and devices not registered in the Developer Console can still receive updates available in the DCL.

Google's consumer help page "Prepare your smart home for Matter" says a Google hub device automatically receives the latest updates and acts as a hub for Google Home — but that's about the hub itself, not connected Matter devices. None of the Google consumer help pages we checked describes an update button or menu for Matter device firmware in the Google Home app. For more on which Google devices act as hubs, see our Matter hub and Thread border router guide.

Alexa

Amazon's Works with Alexa developer requirements say Amazon supports Matter OTA updates directly from Alexa, but only for devices that support Matter OTA as a requestor, whose makers publish firmware updates to the DCL, and who complete Alexa regression testing for each OTA firmware release. Alexa pushes OTA updates only for developers who complete this testing commitment. If a firmware update changes device capabilities or behavior, the maker must complete WWA recertification. None of the pages we checked describes an Alexa app setting or button for Matter firmware updates, so you can't assume a given device gets updates from Alexa — check with the maker.

SmartThings

SmartThings' staff post from 2023-04-07 describes Matter OTA support on SmartThings hubs. Starting with the 47.10 hub firmware, Matter-supported hubs have Matter OTA Provider support enabled, meaning the hub can automatically perform OTA firmware updates on eligible Matter devices to newer firmware certified by the CSA and published to the DCL. Unlike Zigbee, where device firmware is packaged with hub firmware, Matter device firmware downloads from the maker's host server.

1. Open the SmartThings app and select your SmartThings hub.
2. Choose More Options (...) and tap Settings.
3. Select Device firmware updates and choose Allow.
4. Once enabled, the hub will automatically update the firmware for your Matter devices if a new one becomes available.

The 2023 post described a Controlled Rollout Phase and listed only Eve Energy, Eve Door & Window, and Eve Motion as eligible devices. It planned an "All Devices Eligible" phase in the near future. Community replies in 2025 and on 2026-03-03 asked about the status, and the fetched thread shows no staff answer — we found no newer SmartThings statement. The 0.47.3 beta notes said the hub only installs CSA-certified firmware and that SmartThings doesn't test and validate all firmware updates; a SmartThings staff reply added that certified releases can still have issues, and that SmartThings is monitoring this.

Home Assistant

Home Assistant creates an update entity for every Matter device that supports Matter updates — so if a device has no update entity, Home Assistant doesn't see it as supporting Matter updates. The update entities check the DCL every 12 hours by default. To force a check, use the homeassistant.update_entity action with the update entity as the target. Eve and Nanoleaf currently use the DCL to provide updates, and Home Assistant expects more and more firmware updates to become available through the DCL.

• Home Assistant Matter updates currently don't work for Thread devices on a Thread network with any Apple border router. You'll typically see a "Target node did not process the update file" error.
• The reason: Apple border routers don't forward the mDNS packets needed to discover the update provider on the Home Assistant end.
• Apple Home might offer updates from its end as an alternative — for example, for Eve devices.
• For more on Thread vs Wi-Fi implications, see our Matter over Thread vs Wi-Fi guide.

Updating through the maker's app

Some makers handle firmware updates through their own apps rather than through a platform's Matter OTA path.

Nanoleaf's steps are specific: keep the app open and don't close or minimize it during the update, stay close to the device for a stable connection, and Wi-Fi bulbs may prompt you to re-enter your Wi-Fi password afterward. IKEA says the DIRIGERA hub and TRÅDFRI gateway, together with your smart products, automatically stay updated, and you should update the IKEA Home smart app in the App Store or Google Play. Eve says HomeKit-only Eve devices require the Eve app running on an iOS device to apply firmware updates. Other makers' steps differ, so check their app for your specific product.

Getting Matter on an older device through a firmware update

The CSA says many existing smart home products can and will be updated to support Matter via software updates, either by updating the devices themselves or in some cases the bridges they're connected to. Whether a device gets such an update depends on its technical capabilities and on whether the product maker chooses to make one available. SmartThings says some pre-Matter devices may gain Matter via a firmware update, entirely dependent on the device — it says its own 2018 and 2015 hubs and the Aeotec Smart Home Hub were made before Matter but will support it with a firmware update.

Home Assistant notes that in a few cases you need to apply for a (beta) firmware update on the device to enable Matter as a communication protocol. Eve offers a free upgrade for listed Thread-enabled Eve devices: open the Eve app, go to Settings > Accessories, tap the device, and tap Upgrade to Matter. You need a Thread Border Router capable home hub and the latest iOS/iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad. Once upgraded, you can't migrate the device back to HomeKit, and you should keep the Matter Setup Code shown at the start. Eve's Wi-Fi devices stay HomeKit-only. If re-adding the device via Matter after the upgrade doesn't succeed, reset it and try again — see our remove and factory reset guide.

Matter products we track from these makers

These are the Eve, Nanoleaf, and IKEA Matter products in our tracked product records.

The table only says what the makers' and platforms' pages say about these products. It doesn't mean a given unit has an update waiting, and products from other makers may update through other routes. See our product records for full details.

Why isn't my Matter device updating?

• The device may not support Matter OTA. Matter's OTA update is an optional feature, and Home Assistant says not all Matter devices implement it. In Home Assistant, a device without an update entity is one Home Assistant doesn't see as supporting Matter updates.
• The maker may not have published an update, or the platform may only push for some makers. Alexa only pushes OTA updates for makers who complete its testing commitment, and SmartThings' 2023 post listed only three Eve devices as eligible during its Controlled Rollout Phase.
• Home Assistant + Apple border router limitation. Home Assistant says its Matter updates don't work for Thread devices on a Thread network with any Apple border router, with a "Target node did not process the update file" error. Apple Home might offer updates instead.
• Apple router "Restrict to Home" may prevent firmware updates. Apple's iPhone User Guide says this router setting may prevent firmware updates or other services.
• Apple's primary home hub must be on a supported version. Apple's developer guide says the update shows when available if the primary home hub is on a supported version. Eve's Matter page tells you how to update HomePod mini via Home Settings > Software Update and Apple TV via Settings > System > Software Updates.
• Nanoleaf's no-notification steps. If no update appears, Nanoleaf suggests power cycling the device for 5 minutes, restarting smart home hubs and your Wi-Fi router, and tapping Refresh Cloud Sync in the app under More > Your Account > Cloud Sync.
• Check the maker's app. Apple's support pages say an accessory that isn't responding or shows a "not supported" alert may need a firmware update from the maker's app. For pairing-related issues, see our Matter device not pairing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do Matter devices update automatically?

It depends on the platform and the device. Google's developer page says updates are pushed automatically for Matter devices linked to a Matter hub. SmartThings' 2023 staff post says its hub automatically updates eligible Matter devices once you enable Device firmware updates and choose Allow. Apple's developer guide says automatic updates can be turned on or off at Home Settings > Software Update > Other Accessories, though the wording in your Home app may differ. But Matter OTA is optional for devices, so not every device supports it.

Can I roll back a Matter firmware update?

No. Google's developer page says per the Matter specification, OTA images cannot be rolled back. If a maker releases a bad update, the fix is to release the previous firmware revision with a higher version number.

What is the Matter DCL?

The Distributed Compliance Ledger is a cryptographically secure, distributed network where device makers, test houses, and certification centers publish public information about certified device models. Anyone can read it, but writing requires authorized accounts. Home Assistant says the DCL provides metadata for firmware updates, and SmartThings says the firmware itself downloads from the maker's host server.

Why doesn't Home Assistant show a firmware update for my Matter device?

Home Assistant creates an update entity only for Matter devices that support Matter updates. If your device has no update entity, Home Assistant doesn't see it as supporting Matter updates, so check the maker's app instead. Also, Home Assistant's Matter updates don't work for Thread devices on a Thread network with any Apple border router.

Do I need a hub to update Matter devices?

On Apple Home, Google Home and SmartThings, the pages we checked describe a hub acting as the OTA Provider. Apple's developer guide says it's required to use an Apple home hub, and a Thread accessory requires a home hub with Thread support. Amazon says devices receive updates directly from Alexa, and Home Assistant handles updates itself through its update entities. Makers' own apps, such as Nanoleaf's, can also update their products.

Which platform updates a device that's shared between several?

No page we checked describes what happens when two platforms both offer an update to the same device. Home Assistant notes that Apple Home might offer updates from its end as an alternative — for example, for Eve devices — when Home Assistant's Matter updates don't work due to an Apple border router on the Thread network.

Can an old smart home device get Matter through an update?

Sometimes. The CSA says many existing products can and will be updated to support Matter via software updates, depending on the device's technical capabilities and whether the maker chooses to. SmartThings says some pre-Matter devices may gain Matter via a firmware update, and says its own 2018 and 2015 hubs were made before Matter but will support it with a firmware update. Eve offers a free Matter upgrade for listed Thread-enabled Eve devices, but once upgraded, they can't be migrated back to HomeKit.

More MatterCheck guides

• Matter hubs and Thread border routers — which devices act as hubs on each platform.
• Matter over Thread vs Wi-Fi — what each platform needs for each transport.
• Matter device not pairing — how to fix pairing failures on each platform.
• Remove or factory reset a Matter device — steps for each platform.
• Share a Matter device between platforms — multi-admin explained.
• Does Matter work without internet? — local control on each platform.
• Apple Home Matter support — every device type checked.
• Google Home Matter support — every device type checked.
• Alexa Matter support — every device type checked.
• SmartThings Matter support — every device type checked.
• Home Assistant Matter support — every device type checked.
• Matter versions explained — what 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 added, and which version each platform supports.

How we checked

We fetched platform, standards-body, and maker pages on 2026-10-19: Home Assistant's Matter docs; Apple's Matter OTA developer guide (Release R5, 2026-02-12), its can't-add page published 2026-05-12, its not-responding page published 2026-03-03, and its iPhone User Guide router page; Google's Matter OTA developer overview (last updated 2025-01-29) and its Prepare-for-Matter help page; Amazon's Works with Alexa connection requirements; SmartThings staff posts from 2023 and its Matter integration article; the CSA's Matter FAQ and DCL page; and Eve, Nanoleaf, and IKEA support pages. Developer pages describe what makers must do and may not match each app's wording. We don't test firmware updates ourselves — see our methodology.

Last reviewed 2026-10-19. Update menus and rollout rules change; if a step doesn't match your app, check the platform's or maker's page linked above.