Accessing Home Assistant Remotely
Getting Started
Beginner
5 min read
Published: May 7, 2026
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Home Assistant runs entirely on your local network, meaning you can't check if you left the garage door open while at work unless you configure remote access. Here are the two best ways to do it.
Overview
Because smart home dashboards contain highly sensitive access to your house (door locks, cameras, alarms), you should never expose Home Assistant directly to the public internet using standard port forwarding without extreme precautions. Instead, we use secure tunnels.
Method 1: WireGuard VPN (Free & Most Secure)
Since your LocalNode already has WireGuard built-in, this is the recommended approach. It is entirely free and completely invisible to hackers.
- Set up WireGuard VPN on your LocalNode and phone.
- Turn on the VPN on your phone while away from home.
- Open the Home Assistant app (or navigate to
192.168.1.50:8123in your browser). - Your phone securely accesses the dashboard as if you were standing in your kitchen.
The downside: You have to remember to turn the VPN on (or configure Split Tunneling to leave it on 24/7). Furthermore, this method does not allow you to connect Home Assistant to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, as those cloud servers cannot connect to your private VPN.
Method 2: Nabu Casa (Easiest)
If you want instant remote access without dealing with VPNs, and you want to be able to say "Alexa, turn off the lights" while using Home Assistant, you should subscribe to Home Assistant Cloud (Nabu Casa).
Nabu Casa is a service run by the founders of Home Assistant. For $6.50/month, they create an encrypted, reverse-tunnel to your LocalNode. It requires zero router configuration.
- Open your Home Assistant dashboard.
- Go to Settings > Home Assistant Cloud.
- Click Start your free 1-month trial.
- Create an account.
- Once logged in, look for the "Remote Control" section and toggle it on.
- You will be given a long, randomized URL (e.g.,
https://ab123xyz.ui.nabu.casa).
You can bookmark that secure URL on your phone to access your smart home from anywhere, instantly, without a VPN. The monthly fee also directly funds the open-source development of Home Assistant.
Setting up the Mobile App
Whether you use WireGuard or Nabu Casa, you should install the official "Home Assistant Companion App" from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.
- Download the app and open it while connected to your home Wi-Fi.
- It will automatically discover your Home Assistant server. Tap to connect.
- Log in with your username and password.
- The app will ask for permission to track your location. If you allow this, your phone becomes a "Presence Sensor" in Home Assistant.
💡 Tip: Using the Companion App's location tracking allows you to create incredible automations, like "When my phone leaves a 1-mile radius of the house, arm the security system and turn off the AC."
Next Steps
Need help? Email hello@localnode.tech or visit localnode.tech/contact.