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Does Matter work without internet? Local control on Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant

Matter is a local standard — devices talk over your home network using Wi-Fi, Thread or Ethernet, and the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) says Matter devices maintain functionality within your local network even if the internet goes down. But what keeps working during an outage depends on the platform: a hub or controller has to be at home and powered on, remote control, notifications and cloud voice assistants generally need the internet, and only some platforms say their automations run locally.

The short answer

"Local" means commands travel over your home network rather than out to the internet and back. The CSA's Matter FAQs list Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet as the technologies Matter uses for connecting devices. Google's Matter setup page says Matter-enabled devices carry out commands over your existing home network rather than communicating over the internet, and Home Assistant's Matter integration docs say device control happens without the need for any internet connection or cloud services.

You still need your local network — the router, Wi-Fi and, for Thread devices, a Thread border router — just not the internet connection itself. Away-from-home control needs an internet-connected controller in the home, according to the CSA. Some Matter devices also have a direct internet connection for the maker's own app.

• Local control works without internet — commands go over Wi-Fi, Thread or Ethernet, not the cloud.
• Your local network still has to be up — router, Wi-Fi and any Thread border router must be powered on.
• A hub or controller usually has to be at home — it's what carries out commands and automations locally.
• Remote control needs internet — an internet-connected controller in the home is required when you're away.
• Cloud voice assistants and notifications generally need internet — even when device control is local.

What works without internet on each platform

Here's the at-a-glance picture from each platform's own pages.

Where the table says a platform hasn't stated something, its own pages don't say — that doesn't mean the feature fails.

Apple Home without internet

Apple's support pages describe what a home hub enables, but they don't spell out exactly what keeps working during an internet outage. With iOS 18 or later, an iPhone can add and control Matter accessories without a home hub, and an iPhone 15 Pro or later can control Thread accessories without a hub — though Apple recommends a home hub for the best experience, according to Apple's Matter accessory page. Automations need a home hub: Apple's automations page says you set up a home hub before creating automations triggered by time of day, location or sensor detection.

Thread accessories need a Thread-enabled home hub or border router to run automations, receive notifications and control accessories while away, per Apple's iPhone User Guide. Remote control needs a home hub signed in to the same Apple Account with Home turned on in iCloud. Apple's HomePod network issue page says network and internet issues may affect Siri requests on HomePod and controlling accessories in the Home app — but Apple doesn't say which of these keep working in an outage. Apple's home hub page does say to check that the hub is in your home, connected to your home Wi-Fi and powered on.

Google Home without internet

Google is clearer about local control. Its Matter control page distinguishes between commands given "From Home" and "Remotely from away": at home, commands go locally over Wi-Fi or Thread without connecting to the cloud; away, the request goes via the cloud to your hub for Google Home, which verifies it and carries out the command locally. A hub for Google Home is required for local control and remote control, per Google's Matter setup page.

Google's automations page warns that automations can depend on working internet, Wi-Fi and service availability, and are for convenience, not safety. The Google Home product site footnotes say notifications, remote control and sound detection need working internet and Wi-Fi, and the Gemini for Home voice assistant requires an internet connection. Google's developer docs for its Home APIs describe a hub that is offline, not an internet outage: if the hub itself is offline, a Matter device can still be viewed and controlled from an app on the same Wi-Fi, but not remotely, and automations with it don't run — so keep the hub plugged in. Google's consumer pages don't say what happens to voice control during an outage.

Alexa without internet

Amazon's Alexa developer docs say a Matter-enabled Echo is the Matter administrator and controls devices locally, reducing latency and improving reliability. Amazon's Local Voice Control page covers offline voice control only for Zigbee devices connected directly to Echo Plus (1st and 2nd gen) and Echo Show (2nd gen) — it's on by default, and recordings are sent to the cloud once the Echo reconnects. Amazon's pages don't say whether Alexa voice control or routines work for Matter devices without internet — test before you rely on it.

SmartThings without internet

SmartThings' developer docs describe a split between hub-connected and cloud-connected devices. Matter devices are Hub Connected Devices, and SmartThings Edge moves some of the work that used to happen in the cloud onto the hub: it controls and automates devices connected directly to a SmartThings Hub — including Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave and LAN devices, and automations triggered by timers — per the architecture docs. Rules run locally only when every device feature and service in them supports local execution; otherwise they run in the SmartThings Cloud, and they appear as automatic routines in the Routines tab, according to the Rules docs. The SmartThings Cloud handles complex automations, onboarding and remote access. Direct Connected Devices, such as Samsung appliances, connect to the SmartThings Cloud over Wi-Fi.

Samsung's 2026-10-06 newsroom post announces a local-control feature: when your phone and a SmartThings Hub are on the same Wi-Fi network, the phone can communicate directly with the hub rather than routing controls through the cloud, which Samsung says helps keep devices working during disruptions to external internet service. Samsung lists SmartThings Station, V2, V3 and V4 hubs, hub-enabled Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub, with the SmartThings app on Android or iOS. It's part of that update, so make sure your app and hub are up to date before you count on it.

Home Assistant without internet

Home Assistant is the most explicit about offline behaviour. Its FAQ says Home Assistant runs on your own hardware and keeps working when the internet is down: Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave and ESPHome devices need no internet connection at all, and automations keep responding. What still needs internet: devices that only talk to a vendor's cloud, Home Assistant Cloud features (remote access and the Apple Home, Google Home and Amazon Alexa integrations), and updates and the app store.

Home Assistant's Matter integration docs say Matter needs no IPv6 internet connection, but IPv6 must be enabled on Home Assistant. Some vendors may require an account before enabling Matter. Bridging a cloud-integrated hub — Home Assistant gives Aqara Hub as an example — via Matter makes it use local communication. Home Assistant Cloud adds remote access, Google Assistant and Alexa integrations, and Assist's text-to-speech and speech-to-text engines, and Home Assistant works fully without it (the service is planned to be renamed Home Assistant Link on December 2, 2026).

What usually stops working when the internet is down

Even on platforms with strong local control, these typically need the internet:

• Control from away / remote access — the CSA says away-from-home control needs an internet-connected controller in the home; Google and SmartThings route remote commands through their clouds, Apple needs a home hub and iCloud, and Home Assistant offers remote access through Home Assistant Cloud or a setup of your own.
• Phone notifications — a Google Home site footnote says mobile and browser notifications need working internet and Wi-Fi; Apple's Thread note says a home hub is needed to receive notifications.
• Cloud voice assistants — Gemini for Home needs internet per Google's footnote; Home Assistant Cloud provides Assist's speech engines and the Alexa and Google integrations; Amazon documents offline voice control (Local Voice Control) only for Zigbee devices on three Echo models.
• Automations that use cloud services — Google says automations can depend on internet and service availability; SmartThings rules with non-local features run in the cloud.
• Devices that only talk to a maker's cloud — Home Assistant says vendor-cloud devices can't be reached when the internet is down, and the CSA notes some Matter devices have a direct internet connection for the maker's app.
• Software updates — Home Assistant lists updates and access to the app store among the things that still need internet.

Hubs and Thread border routers: why they matter offline

The hub or controller is what carries out commands and automations locally, so it has to stay powered and on your home network. Apple's home hub page says to check the hub is in your home, connected to your home Wi-Fi and powered on. Google's developer docs for its Home APIs show that if the hub itself is offline, a Matter device can still be controlled from an app on the same Wi-Fi, but automations with it don't run and remote control stops.

A Thread border router connects the Thread mesh to your Wi-Fi or Ethernet network and routes packets between them, per Home Assistant's Thread integration docs . Google adds that the border router is what lets Thread devices communicate with non-Thread devices and access the internet. Amazon's Thread developer docs note that Thread's mesh network broadens coverage to keep devices working even if one device goes offline. For which devices act as hubs and border routers on each platform, see our Matter hub and Thread border router guide, or the short hub reference.

Remote access: controlling Matter devices when you're away

The CSA says Matter-only devices need an internet-connected controller in the home for away-from-home control. Apple requires a home hub signed in to the same Apple Account with Home turned on in iCloud. Google routes remote commands via the cloud to your hub, which carries them out locally. SmartThings automatically switches between local and cloud-based remote control based on whether your phone is at home or away, per Samsung's newsroom post, and its developer docs describe cloud-based remote access through the SmartThings Cloud.

Home Assistant is local-only by default. Its remote access docs list Home Assistant Cloud as the easiest option, plus VPNs such as Tailscale or ZeroTier One, a reverse proxy, or port forwarding — with a warning that dynamic IPs from some ISPs can cut access, fixable with a Dynamic DNS service like DuckDNS, and a reminder to follow the securing checklist before exposing Home Assistant to the internet. Alexa's remote access for Matter isn't covered on the Amazon pages used here.

How to keep your smart home working through an internet outage

1. Keep the hub or controller powered and on your home Wi-Fi — Apple's home hub page says to check it's in your home, on your Wi-Fi and powered on.
2. Put Matter devices on your primary network, not a guest network — the CSA says guest networks block communication between Matter devices and controllers, causing setup failures.
3. Prefer devices and integrations that work locally — Home Assistant says choosing locally controlled devices is the most reliable way to ride out an outage, and its Works with Home Assistant program highlights tested local-control devices.
4. Add devices directly over Matter rather than through a maker's cloud link where you can — Home Assistant's Aqara example shows bridging a cloud hub via Matter makes it local; SmartThings distinguishes hub-connected Matter devices from cloud-connected Direct Connected Devices.
5. On SmartThings, keep your phone on the same Wi-Fi as the hub — Samsung's local-control feature works when phone and hub share a Wi-Fi network.
6. For Thread devices, make sure a Thread border router is on your network — Home Assistant's Thread docs say Thread devices use a border router to communicate outside the mesh.
7. Don't use automations for safety-critical jobs — Google says automations are for convenience, not safety or security-critical use cases.
8. Test your own setup — MatterCheck's suggestion: disconnect your router from the internet for a few minutes and see what still responds, since platform pages don't cover every scenario.

Frequently asked questions

Does Matter work without internet?

Yes, for local control. The CSA says Matter devices maintain functionality within your local network even if the internet goes down, and Google says Matter commands at home go over Wi-Fi or Thread without connecting to the cloud. You still need your local network up, and a hub or controller at home for automations and remote control.

Does Matter work without Wi-Fi?

Matter needs your local network — Wi-Fi, Thread or Ethernet. Thread devices don't need Wi-Fi, but they still need a Thread border router on your network to reach the rest of your home. The internet connection itself isn't required for local control.

Does Matter over Thread work without internet?

Yes, as long as a Thread border router is on your home network. Home Assistant's Thread docs describe the border router as routing packets between your local network and the Thread mesh, and Apple says Thread accessories need a Thread-enabled home hub or border router for automations, notifications and control while away. Amazon's Thread docs note the mesh keeps devices working even if one device goes offline.

Do Matter automations run locally?

It depends on the platform. Home Assistant says automations keep responding when the internet is down. SmartThings runs rules locally only when every device feature and service in them supports local execution. Google says automations can depend on working internet, Wi-Fi and service availability. Apple says automations need a home hub but doesn't say what happens in an outage. Amazon doesn't say.

Can I control Matter devices remotely without a hub?

Not through Matter alone. The CSA says Matter-only devices require an internet-connected controller in the home — such as one built into a smart speaker or hub — to enable control when away from home. Some Matter devices also have a direct internet connection that lets the maker's own app control them from outside the home.

Does Alexa work offline with Matter devices?

Amazon's pages don't say. Alexa's Local Voice Control is documented only for Zigbee devices on Echo Plus (1st and 2nd gen) and Echo Show (2nd gen), not for Matter. Amazon's developer docs say a Matter-enabled Echo controls Matter devices locally, but offline voice control for Matter isn't covered.

Does Home Assistant need internet for Matter?

No. Home Assistant's Matter integration docs say device control happens without any internet connection or cloud services, and its FAQ says Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave and ESPHome devices need no internet at all. You do need IPv6 enabled on Home Assistant, but not an IPv6 internet connection.

More MatterCheck guides

• Matter hub and Thread border router guide — which devices act as hubs and border routers on each platform.
• Matter device not pairing? — how to fix pairing failures on Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant.
• Matter bridges explained — how Zigbee, Hue, IKEA, Aqara and SwitchBot bridges work on each platform.
• Sharing a Matter device between apps — multi-admin explained for Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant.
• Platform comparison — which platform supports the most Matter device types.
• Apple Home Matter support — every Matter device type on Apple Home, checked.
• Google Home Matter support — every Matter device type on Google Home, checked.
• Alexa Matter support — every Matter device type on Alexa, checked.
• SmartThings Matter support — every Matter device type on SmartThings, checked.
• Home Assistant Matter support — every Matter device type in Home Assistant, checked.

How we checked

What keeps working offline comes from Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung/SmartThings, Home Assistant and CSA pages fetched 2026-10-19 (Apple support articles dated 2025-09-15 to 2026-05-07, plus the iOS 27 iPhone User Guide; Samsung's update announced 2026-10-06; Home Assistant docs 2026.10.2). Where a platform doesn't say, we say so instead of guessing. MatterCheck hasn't run an internet-outage test on every platform, so check the behaviour in your own home — see our methodology.

Last reviewed 2026-10-19. Platforms change what runs locally between updates; if your setup behaves differently, check the platform's own page linked above.