Some static IP address devices do not show up in list of network devices in Google Home app

[ZainA]

Home Assistant OS + Google Wifi = Dedicated IP address problems

STATIC IP address PROBLEM

I have been using a raspberry pi 4 for years now with Home Assistant OS running on it, and I have always had a problem when setting Home Assistant OS on the pi with a static IP address. The problem is that when I have a static IP address set in Home Assistant OS, then the device does not show up in my list of network devices in the Google Home app. Without seeing it on the list of network devices, I'm unable to select it for port forwarding, and I'm therefore not able to access the Home Assistant instance outside of my house. I should mention that I am able to access Home Assistant on the static IP address on my browser, but I just don't see it in the Google Home app for port forwarding purposes. This seems to only happen with Home Assistant devices. My other static IP address devices show up fine. So I've resorted to using DHCP reservation to get the assigned IP address. This is how I've been using home assistant on Pi4 for years now. The static IP address matter is still an issue, but I've lived with the workaround.

DHCP reservation PROBLEM

Now I've upgraded to Home Assistant Yellow, and it also has the static IP address problem but now it ALSO is not respecting the DHCP reservation I've set up for it in Google Home app. It just picks a random IP address instead of using the IP address I reserved for it.

WHAT I HAD TO DO

Due to both of the above problems, I've had to revert back to using RPI4 with Auto IP and using DHCP reservation on Google Wifi. It is the only combination that works for me.

SUMMARY

Home Assistant OS on RPI4: Auto IP with router DHCP Reservation works; Static IP works, but Yellow is not visible in Google Home app and can therefore not be port forwarded for external access

Home Assistant OS on Home Assistant Yellow: Auto IP with router DHCP Reservation does not work. Yellow grabs a random IP address instead of the IP address reserved for it; Static IP works, but Yellow is not visible in Google Home app and can therefore not be port forwarded for external access.

[ZainA · Accepted solution]

Ok, so I eventually got the dedicated IP address working, but it took jumping through hoops. Google really needs to fix this issue. 

Now first of all, somehow the DHCP reservation issue resolved itself. I have no idea how, but I was able to get the new home assistant device to use automatic IP address for the target IP address.

Once I had automatic IP address working with the target IP address, I was able to take the following steps to get the static IP address to port forward and then also to show up on the list of devices in Google Home app:

1. On the home assistant device's network settings, set the network IP to automatic
2. In the Google Home app, I did a DHCP reservation to give the device the target address 
3. Rebooted Home Assistant
4. Now the target address will be set through DHCP reservation.
5. Then port forward the ports for the newly set device with the target IP address
6. Go back to home assistant device's network settings and set it to Static IP
7. Reboot Google Home
8. Delete the DHCP reservation
9. Reboot Google Home
10. Leave the device connected for a few days that previously had my target IP address 
11. Put my home assistant device to receive network address automatically (i.e. DHCP)
12.  

[Dan_A]

Hi ZainA,

We apologize for the delay, and we thank you for your input and resolution. This will help a lot of users who have the same concern, and we appreciate you taking the time to show us the work that you did. Hats off to you!

If you have other questions or concerns, you know where to find us. We're here to help.

Best,

Dan