How do I know if my devices are using Matter?

[RY2]

I understand what Matter is (I think), but I have no idea what I have to do to enable it.  I have a ton of Google home hubs, speakers and Chromecast.  I also have Alexa enabled devises along with Phillips Hue as well.  I've been using the Google Home app to control everything (except the Alexa devices), and I know that Matter has been rolled out to a lot of devices at this point.  But how to I get the devices all on the same Matter platform.  What do I have to do to make this happen.  I've tried to add Alexa devices to my Google Home app, but they are not popping up when I add a device.  Nor can I find any mention of Matter anywhere in the app.  Isn't Matter it's own network between devices; if so, how do I add them all to it?  Like I said, I understand the purpose of Matter and why it is needed, I just don't know what I physically have to do to get all my Matter enabled devices on it?

[NestJoke]

Add hue to google home like this : 
https://hueblog.com/2023/09/19/matter-support-for-philips-hue-is-here/ 

[Princesss]

Hey folks,

Thanks for posting in the Community.

Matter is the new, universal smart home industry standard that was created to make it easier for users to know which smart home devices are compatible, set up smart devices quickly and consistently, and enjoy smart home experiences that are more responsive and reliable.

Control Matter devices with the Home app

To control a 3rd party Matter-enabled device with the Google Home app or Google Assistant, you need a Google device that acts as a hub for Matter. These Google devices have received software updates so they can work as a hub for Matter:

• Speakers: Google Home, Google Home Mini, Nest Mini, Nest Audio
• Displays: Nest Hub (1st gen), Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max
• Wi-Fi routers: Nest Wifi Pro (Wi-Fi 6E)

Shop for these devices on Google Store.

Hope this info helped. 

By the way, thanks to @NestJoke for helping out on this thread.

Best,

Princess

[RY2]

Sorry, but I'm still confused.  I thought Matter was it's own network, similar to WiFi Direct.  I have a Google Nest Home Hub, but I didn't do anything when the Matter update came through.  I thought everything would have to be moved to a network.  I'm reading about how WiFi outages won't affect Matter, yet when my WiFi is out I do lose speakers, Chromecasts, etc...

I really feel uneducated about this.  I thought Matter would end me having to place all my devices on the same WiFi (5 vs 2.4), not rely on WiFi and other perks.  Thus far, I see no difference with anything.  Can someone please explain to me Matter for Dummies ... I'm so confused as to how to actually use Matter and set it up.  For example, if I have a Google Home Hub and a Chromecast with Google TV on the same WiFi network, is there anything I have to do?

[Princesss]

Hi there,

Sorry for the late response. We'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out our Contact Us Form with all the needed information then let me know once done.

Best,

Princess

[Princesss]

Hello RY2,

Chiming in-- have you had the chance to fill out the form? Let me know if you're done filling it out so we can check it.

Best,

Princess

[Mckillio]

You need at least one Matter Hub for your Matter devices to connect to. If the internet goes out then the devices can still communicate to each other but they can only access things that are local to them. For instance, if you have a light set to turn on at 5 pm, it will still turn on if the internet goes out. 

[RY2]

Thanks, this is pretty straight forward and makes sense.  Does the Google Home Hub have a similar setting where I can switch Matter on?

[Mckillio]

No, there's no setting to turn it on or off. 

[Markb31936]

So I am not seeing that the original post has been answered.  I also have questions.

First I do understand some about Matter and Thread.  

Mater is a protocol (or language) that talks over a network.  Typically today that would be the Wi-Fi radio networks.  Thread is a different radio network that Matter can also work over.  Matter can also communicate over a wired Ethernet network.

I understand that the Matter protocols / language is still evolving adding support for new features on a regular basis.

So here is what I cannot find any information on:

I have various "smart" devices in my home.  Most do not support Matter.  I have started purchasing devices that do support Matter.

For example, I now have several Leviton switches and dimmers. I have Nest Mini speakers.

When first installing the new Leviton switch, it connects by standard wi-fi using the Leviton app.  Adds to Google Home on my Android with no issue.  AFTER the initial install, the Leviton firmware updates to enable Matter. 

So now with Matter enabled on several devices and having my Nest Minis, are they now using the Matter protocol?  Where can I look to confirm the devices are using Matter?

I sometime lose my Internet so I am expecting that I will still be able to control my Matter devices with voice using the Mini.  Or am I mistaken.

Thanks

[Mckillio]

I don't believe there is a way to confirm that, at least not through the Google Home app. My Thread based lightbulbs did show that they use Thread though. 

[Lastsion20]

Wow nobody ever answers any questions on here

[RY2]

I don't think anyone knows.  And if they do, I don't think they can explain it at a "Matter for Dummies" level ... because I don't see how it matters (no pun intended) unless you are using multiple platforms.  Otherwise, it seems like Matter's importance was way overblown.

[Markb31936]

Perhaps I am wrong/misinformed/etc, but I thought that one advantage of Matter was it did not need to hit the cloud for every request.  Meaning that if I lost my Internet, I could still ask Google, Alexa, Home Kit or others to turn lights on or off etc.
My experience thus far with Matter enabled devices and Nest Mini Speakers is I am told "I can't connect to the Internet... ".

[Mckillio]

One of the main points of Matter is so that there is one standard for all devices and ecosystems to support instead of multiple standards that they don't all support. You buy a device, set it up and it just works. Not that there haven't been some growing pains. 

[RY2]

I too had read that somewhere, but I experience the same outages with my devices that are connected to Matter (at least I think they are ... not sure how to check).