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How to share a Matter device between Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant

Matter's multi-admin feature lets one device join several platforms at once, so the same light, lock, or sensor can live in Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, and Home Assistant simultaneously. You don't reuse the code printed on the box for the second app — you open the app the device is already in, generate a temporary sharing code or QR code, then add it in the second app before the code expires. Each platform needs its own Matter hub, and each app adds the device as its own entry that you set up there.

How Matter multi-admin works

Under the hood, Matter devices connect to something called a fabric. The Connectivity Standards Alliance describes a Matter fabric as "a private virtual network over which Matter Devices, Admins, and Controllers communicate with each other," and notes that apps sometimes call fabrics "services" instead. A single Matter device can be connected to one or more fabrics at a time, each managed by its own administrator — that's what makes multi-admin possible.

Home Assistant's docs say the standard describes that each device should be able to support at least 5 different fabrics at once, and SmartThings states plainly that "each device can only be connected to 5 different services." You also need one Matter hub per platform — Google's help page says "each app requires their own device that works as a hub for Matter with that app." One useful tip from Google's multi-admin steps: while several platforms can control the device, only one platform actively controls it at a given moment — if you turn off a light in Google Home, the status updates to "off" in the other app too.

Before you start

• The Matter device is already set up and working in the first app. Sharing starts from the app where the device currently lives.
• The second app is installed and set up. SmartThings says you "must have that service's app installed and set up," and Google says the same for its link flow.
• Each platform has its own Matter hub on the network. Check our Matter hub and Thread border router guide if you're unsure what counts.
• Your router has IPv6 enabled. Google lists this as a requirement for Matter with Google Home.
• Your phone, hub, and Matter device are on the same network — not a guest network, IoT VLAN, or separate subnet. TP-Link's troubleshooting FAQ (maker guidance) calls this "the most important part of the configuration," and Home Assistant warns that VLANs, multicast filtering, and malfunctioning IGMP snooping can break Matter.
• Don't plan to use the printed code on the box or device for the second app. Amazon's help page says that code is "only for use when initially setting up your device or after a factory reset," and SmartThings says the sharing code "is different than the QR code physically on your device."
• Keep the code screen open in the first app while you enter or scan it in the second. TP-Link's FAQ also warns against creating pairing codes in several apps back to back — if the first code hasn't been used or expired, later codes are invalid.

Where to find the sharing code in each app

Every platform buries the sharing option in a slightly different place. Here's the at-a-glance map.

Share from Apple Home

Apple's own Matter page doesn't describe this step; these steps come from TP-Link's FAQ, a device maker's guidance.

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to the device's settings page.
3. Tap Turn On Pairing Mode, then tap Copy Code.
4. Open the second app and follow its steps to enter or scan the code.

Two caveats from TP-Link's maker FAQ: if you tap Dismiss on the code screen, you must wait 5 minutes before creating a new code — or restart the device to generate one immediately. The pairing code expires after 5 minutes, a figure TP-Link states; Apple's own support page doesn't give a time limit. Apple's page does describe the receiving side: in the Home app, tap Add Accessory, then More options for an accessory previously paired to another app. See TP-Link's Apple Home sharing steps and Apple's Matter accessory page.

Share from Google Home

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Tap Home, then All devices, then touch and hold the device's tile.
3. Tap More or Settings, then Linked Matter apps & services.
4. Tap Link apps & services.
5. Choose the platform app you want to share with. If it's installed, Google Home opens it automatically and shares the device details.
6. Alternatively, tap Use pairing code or Share with QR code to generate a temporary code. The QR option needs a second phone with the destination app installed to scan it.

TP-Link's FAQ adds two practical notes: keep the pairing code page open in Google Home while you enter the code elsewhere, and the pairing code expires after 3 minutes — a figure from TP-Link, not Google. Read Google's full multi-admin steps and TP-Link's Google Home sharing steps.

Share from Alexa

1. Open the Alexa app.
2. Select Devices.
3. Select your Matter device.
4. Select Other Assistants and Apps.
5. Select Add another.
6. Copy the 11-digit pairing code that's generated.
7. Open the other voice assistant's app and follow its instructions for entering the code.

Amazon states the 11-digit code is valid for 15 minutes. TP-Link's FAQ adds that if the timer runs out, you'll need to reset the device to renew it. See Amazon's official sharing steps and TP-Link's Alexa sharing notes.

Share from SmartThings

1. Open the SmartThings app.
2. Select the Matter device you want to share.
3. Select More (⋮) and choose Share with other services. The Connected Services section shows where the device is already shared.
4. Choose Share device.
5. The app generates a QR code and setup code on screen. This code is specifically for sharing and differs from the one physically on the device.
6. Open the third-party app and follow its steps to add a Matter device.
7. Scan the QR code or enter the setup code from SmartThings.

TP-Link's FAQ notes a small Android/iOS difference: on Android you tap the settings icon in the top right corner, then Share with other services, then Share; on iOS the flow is Share with other services, then Share device. TP-Link also says the SmartThings pairing code expires after 15 minutes — SmartThings' own support page doesn't state a time limit. Read SmartThings' Matter integration guide and TP-Link's SmartThings sharing steps.

Share from Home Assistant

1. In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Connectivity > Matter and select Devices.
2. From the list, select the device you want to share.
3. Select Share device, then in the dialog select Share device again.
4. In the other platform's app, scan the QR code or enter the sharing code and follow its instructions.

There's no need to press a hardware button on the device to put it into commissioning mode. After sharing, you can check it worked: next to the Share device button, select the three-dots menu, then Manage fabrics. The new platform should appear in the list — for example, if you shared with Google Home, it lists Google LLC. Home Assistant's Matter docs don't state a code lifetime. Then finish in the other app, as described below.

Adding the shared device in the second app

Once you have a code from the first app, the receiving side varies by platform:

• Apple Home: Open the Home app, tap the Add button, tap Add Accessory. If the accessory was previously paired to another app, tap More options and select your accessory. Apple's Matter accessory page.
• Home Assistant: Go to Settings > Connectivity > Matter, select Add device, then in the dialog select Yes. It's already in use. and pick the controller it's already connected to — for example, Google Home. Home Assistant's Matter docs.
• SmartThings: Tap Add (+) > Add Device, then scan the QR code or enter the setup code. SmartThings notes each third-party app has its own way of sharing devices out. SmartThings' Matter guide.
• Google Home: Open the add-device option in the Google Home app and enter the pairing code or scan the QR code you generated. That's Step 3 of Google's multi-admin steps.
• Alexa: Amazon's developer docs say Alexa's guided setup falls back to secondary commissioning, and its "Discover My Devices" journey can detect an already-commissioned device and guide you through opening a secondary commissioning window. Amazon's commissioning best practices.

There are two commissioning methods behind all this. The Enhanced Commissioning Method is what you're using when you generate a new temporary code from the current admin — the Matter spec requires all devices and commissioners to implement it. The Basic Commissioning Method reuses the original QR or numeric code from the box after device-specific manual steps, and it's optional for manufacturers. Each code in the table above is a new temporary code from the app the device is already in, so that's the enhanced method. Amazon's developer docs describe both.

A shared device only does what each platform supports

Sharing a device to a second platform doesn't magically add features that platform lacks. Google's help page puts it plainly: "All Matter-certified smart home platforms and apps update to support different Matter-enabled device types and categories at different times." In MatterCheck's matrix, 16 of the 24 tracked device types pair on all five platforms, but several are uneven:

• Water shut-off valves only work on SmartThings and Home Assistant — not Apple Home, Google Home, or Alexa. See Matter water valve support.
• Matter energy meters aren't supported on Alexa at all, and only partially on Apple Home. See Matter energy meter support.
• Speakers, pumps, and pressure sensors aren't supported on Apple Home or Alexa. Speaker support, pump support, pressure sensor support.
• Water heaters only work on SmartThings and Home Assistant. Water heater support.
• Leak sensors are only partially supported on Alexa. See Matter leak sensor support.

Home Assistant's docs give a concrete example: Philips Hue over Matter only provides basic light controls, while the native Hue integration brings scenes and entertainment mode. Sharing is about access, not feature parity. Compare all five platforms.

Troubleshooting sharing

• The printed code won't work for the second app. Amazon says the box code is only for initial setup or after a factory reset; SmartThings says the sharing code differs from the one physically on the device. Generate a new code from the first app.
• The code expired. Amazon states 15 minutes for Alexa's 11-digit code. TP-Link's FAQ states 5 minutes for Apple Home, 3 minutes for Google Home's pairing code, and 15 minutes for SmartThings — figures from TP-Link, not Apple, Google, or Samsung. Home Assistant's docs don't state one.
• You created codes in two apps back to back. TP-Link warns that if the first code hasn't been used or expired, subsequently created codes are invalid. Use one code at a time.
• "Ready to pair" but "Pairing failed" or "This device is already commissioned." Amazon's developer docs list common causes: a hidden "bound" state from prior commissioning, BLE advertising failures, misconfigured network settings, or an expired commissioning window. Factory reset is the last resort.
• The device is already on 5 services. SmartThings says each device can only connect to 5 different services; remove it from one before sharing again.
• No hub for the second platform. Google says each app requires its own Matter hub. Check our hub guide.
• VLANs or guest networks. TP-Link says the controller and device must stay on the same local network, and Home Assistant warns that VLANs, multicast filtering, and malfunctioning IGMP snooping can break Matter. IPv6 must be enabled for Google Home.
• Home Assistant Matter OTA updates fail for Thread devices behind Apple border routers. Home Assistant's docs say you'll typically see "Target node did not process the update file" because Apple border routers don't forward the mDNS packets needed. See Home Assistant's troubleshooting notes.

Removing a device from one platform without breaking the others

Each platform removes its own connection from a different place:

• Apple Home: Open Settings > General > Matter Accessories. You can remove from individual connected services, all connected services, or from iCloud Keychain. Apple syncs paired Matter accessories through iCloud Keychain. Apple's Matter accessory page.
• Home Assistant: Go to Settings > Connectivity > Matter > Devices, select the device, open the three-dots menu, then Manage fabrics. Remove the controller of interest. If you want to remove Apple Home, also remove the Apple Keychain entry. To remove the device from Home Assistant itself, select Delete. Home Assistant's Matter docs.
• SmartThings: To remove access to a device you shared out, SmartThings says to follow the steps in the third-party app — removal happens on the receiving side. SmartThings' Matter guide.
• Google Home: Tap Home > All devices, touch and hold the tile, tap More or Settings > Remove device. Google's tip: if you no longer use the device, factory reset it after removal.

A factory reset is not the same as removing the device from one app. Google's tip to factory reset applies when you stop using the device entirely — don't reach for it just to unshare from one platform.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Matter device be in Apple Home and Google Home at the same time?

Yes. Google's help page says multi-admin lets you use Matter devices "simultaneously in different Matter-certified apps like Google Home, Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa, and more." Home Assistant's docs give the same example: "simultaneously add it to Google Home, Apple Home, and Home Assistant."

How many platforms can one Matter device join?

Home Assistant's docs say the standard describes that each device should be able to support at least 5 different fabrics at once. SmartThings states "each device can only be connected to 5 different services." Apple, Google, and Amazon don't document per-platform limits in the sources we checked.

Why doesn't the QR code on the box work for the second app?

Amazon says the printed code is "only for use when initially setting up your device or after a factory reset." SmartThings says the sharing code "is different than the QR code physically on your device." For a second app, you generate a new temporary code from the app the device is already in.

How long is a Matter pairing code valid?

Amazon states 15 minutes for Alexa's 11-digit code. TP-Link's FAQ states 5 minutes for Apple Home, 3 minutes for Google Home's pairing code, and 15 minutes for SmartThings — those three come from TP-Link, a device maker, not from Apple, Google, or Samsung. Home Assistant's docs don't state a lifetime.

What is Matter enhanced multi-admin?

The phrase "enhanced multi-admin" isn't a term the sources use. What they describe is the Enhanced Commissioning Method: the current administrator opens a commissioning window and generates a new temporary code, which you use to add the device to a new fabric. It's required by the Matter spec. The optional Basic Commissioning Method reuses the original box code after manual steps. Amazon's developer docs explain both.

Do I need a hub for each platform?

Yes. Google's help page says "each app requires their own device that works as a hub for Matter with that app." Check our Matter hub guide for what counts per platform.

Does sharing a device to Alexa give it Alexa features it doesn't support?

No. Sharing doesn't add device-type support a platform lacks. For example, Matter water shut-off valves only work on SmartThings and Home Assistant, and Matter energy meters aren't supported on Alexa at all. See the full platform comparison.

More MatterCheck guides

• Matter multi-admin reference — the short version of this page.
• Matter device not pairing? — fixes for "pairing failed" on all five platforms.
• Does Matter work without internet? — what keeps working offline on each platform.
• Matter bridges explained — how Zigbee, Hue, IKEA, Aqara and SwitchBot bridges work on each platform.
• Matter hub and Thread border router guide — what each platform needs on the network.
• Apple Home vs Google Home vs Alexa vs SmartThings vs Home Assistant — which supports the most Matter device types.
• 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.

How we checked

Steps come from Apple, Google, Amazon, SmartThings, and Home Assistant's own support or developer pages and the CSA, fetched 2026-10-19. Apple's share step and three code lifetimes come from TP-Link's maker FAQ (last updated 2026-08-28) because the platforms don't state them. Device-type support comes from MatterCheck matrix v1.15. MatterCheck hasn't bench-tested sharing between every pair of platforms. See our methodology.

Last reviewed 2026-10-19. App menus move between updates; if a menu name differs, look in the device's settings page for Matter, linked services or sharing.