Choose your setup
Start with the system that already knows your rooms and devices. Apple Home uses the native iOS app. Home Assistant uses a Hauser server, with a web interface and optional pairing to the native app.
Apple Home
Section titled “Apple Home”You need an iPhone or iPad with iOS 17 or newer, a configured Apple Home, and access to the Hauser beta through TestFlight. Grant Hauser permission to read and control your home. Home Assistant and a Hauser server are not required.
Open the iOS setup guide. Apple Intelligence features have additional device and OS requirements; they are optional and are not needed to operate your rooms.
Home Assistant
Section titled “Home Assistant”No Home Assistant yet? Start with your AI agent to choose hardware and work through installation together.
You need a working Home Assistant installation, somewhere to run Hauser, and a current browser on a device that can reach it.
| Where Home Assistant runs | Install Hauser with |
|---|---|
| Home Assistant OS or Supervised | The Home Assistant App — the connection is automatic, with no token to create. |
| Home Assistant Container, a NAS or another Docker host | Docker Compose — the wizard asks for your Home Assistant URL and a long-lived access token. |
Both server packages support amd64 and aarch64. After installation, the
setup wizard discovers your devices.
Assigning them to Home Assistant Areas first gives the clearest starting
point. You can review and arrange the proposed rooms before activating them.
For the native iOS app, install the server first and then pair by QR code.
Optional services
Section titled “Optional services”None of these is required to switch a light or open a room. Enable only the services you want to use; their availability also depends on your platform.
| Service | What it adds | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Jellyfin | Film and series library | A reachable Jellyfin server and your login. |
| Paperless-ngx | Private documents | Optional bridge with extra host requirements; see its guide before installing. |
| Notion | Alternative shopping-list source | An external cloud service with its own account and integration token. |
| Room-image providers | Illustrations from your photos | Your own provider access; selected photos are processed externally. Costs and limits depend on the provider. |
| Weather and street map | Weather information and an optional standby map | Requests to external public-data services, without a Hauser account. |
You can keep the supplied illustrations or upload existing pictures without connecting an image provider.
Network rules
Section titled “Network rules”The Hauser server is designed for a trusted home network. Its web port has no separate login: devices that can reach it can operate the home. Do not forward the port through your router. Read the remote-access guide for the separate, paired-device path.
Before you begin
Section titled “Before you begin”Hauser is in public beta. Read the release notes for your server version and the TestFlight notes for the native app. Keep a backup before updating an existing installation.