Matter’s new update looks to fix the often-tricky smart home setup experience

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the group behind the Matter smart home standard, just announced the latest specification update: Matter 1.4.1. If that “.1” designation gives you pause, you’re right – this isn’t a huge leap forward with tons of new device categories. Instead, this “minor release” (the first of its kind for Matter) focuses on addressing one of the biggest smart home pain points: the sometimes frustrating device setup process.

While easier setup was a core promise of Matter from the beginning, the reality over the past two years has often been… hit or miss. So anything that makes onboarding devices less painful is a genuinely welcome update, even if we wish it had arrived sooner.

Making setup smoother

So, what exactly is changing with 1.4.1 to ease setup woes? There are three key additions developers can now implement:

• Multi-device QR codes: This is great for those multi-packs of smart bulbs or plugs. Instead of scanning individual QR codes on each device (which can be tedious), a single QR code on the packaging can now be used to onboard the entire pack simultaneously within your chosen Matter app (Google Home, Apple Home, Alexa, etc.).
• Tap-to-pair setup using NFC: Forget scanning codes altogether! This update introduces the option for tap-to-pair setup using NFC. Just bring your phone close to the device, tap, and you should be good to go. This could be a lifesaver for devices where QR codes are in awkward spots – like trying to scan the tiny code on a smart bulb after you’ve already screwed it into a fixture (speaking from painful, eye-straining experience). While NFC setup isn’t brand new (Apple HomeKit and Nanoleaf have used similar methods), its inclusion in the Matter spec will hopefully drive much wider adoption.
• Enhanced setup flow: We’ve all been there – you’re setting up a device in Google Home or Apple Home, and suddenly get kicked over to the manufacturer’s app just to accept their Terms & Conditions. This update allows those T&Cs to be presented and accepted directly within the main controller app, streamlining the process and reducing app-hopping. This seems partly driven by regulatory needs (like GDPR) but could pave the way for more manufacturer-specific info appearing directly in primary smart home apps.

No new Matter devices yet

As mentioned, this is version 1.4.1, officially labeled the Spring 2025 “minor release.” The CSA confirmed they’re sticking to a bi-annual release cadence following version 1.4 last November. What this means practically is that we won’t see support for major new device categories like security cameras or smart speakers added to the Matter standard until late 2025 at the absolute earliest (likely with version 1.5). While that might be disappointing for those of us eager for broader Matter support, it does align with the CSA’s stated goal for 2025: focusing on improving the reliability and performance of the existing standard.

The Matter 1.4.1 spec and SDK are available to developers now, but it always takes time for manufacturers to build these features into new hardware and for smart home platforms like Google Home, Apple Home, Alexa, and SmartThings to update their apps and hubs to support them. So, while the groundwork is laid, don’t expect to be tap-pairing everything tomorrow – it’ll likely be a gradual rollout over the coming months and into next year.

Still, these setup improvements are crucial for Matter’s long-term success. Making the initial onboarding experience truly seamless is key to fulfilling the standard’s promise of simple, interoperable smart homes. Let’s hope these changes make a real difference.