UniFi for smart-home fans: Matter and Thread devices in Network 11
Network 11 can monitor your Matter devices alongside your other clients, showing each one's battery level, firmware and signal strength, with custom alerts for critical devices. It works alongside the Matter controller you already use: you share each device to UniFi with a pairing code.
You'll need
- A UniFi gateway on UniFi OS 6.0.10 or later, running Network 11.0.83 or later. Version 11.0.94 improves Thread connectivity.
- A Matter controller where the devices already work, such as Apple Home, Google Home or Home Assistant.
- At least one Thread border router, such as an Apple TV, HomePod or smart-home hub.
- mDNS turned on, and IPv6 turned on for the network the border routers sit on.
Step 1: Prepare the network
Home Assistant's Matter guide recommends keeping your Matter controller, border routers and Matter devices on one network, because VLANs often cause problems. If they must span VLANs, also follow the cross-VLAN section further down.
-
Turn on IPv6 for that network under Settings › Networks › [network], if it isn't on already. Matter doesn't need IPv6 internet access or DHCPv6, so a private (ULA) prefix such as
fd12:3456:789a:1::1/64works when your ISP doesn't provide IPv6. If the network already gets IPv6 from your ISP, leave it as it is. - Check mDNS, which is on by default for new networks. If your Matter gear spans VLANs, set the gateway's mDNS proxy to Custom and include every Matter VLAN.
- Restart your hubs, border routers and any Home Assistant server so they pick up their IPv6 addresses.
Step 2: Get a pairing code from your current controller
| Ecosystem | Where to find the pairing code |
|---|---|
| Google Home | Touch and hold the device tile › Settings › Linked Matter apps & services › Link apps & services › Use pairing code |
| SmartThings | The device › More (⋮) › Share with other services › Share device |
| Home Assistant | Settings › Connectivity › Matter › Devices › the device › Share device › Share device |
Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and IKEA Home smart also let you share devices with another controller; look in the device's settings in those apps for an option to pair it with another app or service. Pairing codes are temporary, so generate one just before you use it.
Step 3: Add the device to UniFi
- In UniFi Network, find the Matter section and choose to add a device. Ubiquiti hasn't published the exact menu path, so look under Settings.
- Enter the pairing code and wait for the device to be added.
- If nothing is found, recheck the versions, IPv6 and mDNS.
Check it worked
- The device appears in UniFi with its battery level, firmware and signal strength.
- It still works normally in its original app.
If your Matter devices span VLANs
- Give every Matter VLAN IPv6, each with its own /64 prefix.
- Keep a Thread border router on the controller's network. Home Assistant's Matter guide says border routers belong on the same network as the controller.
- Allow the traffic you need. In Settings › Policy Table › Create New Policy, allow the hub or border router (picked as a single device) to reach your Matter controller's IP address, with Auto Allow Return Traffic on. Matter uses UDP port 5540, so once it works you can narrow the rule to that port plus ICMPv6.
- Avoid multicast "optimisation". Home Assistant warns that multicast optimisation and misbehaving IGMP snooping can break Matter discovery. Keep IGMP Snooping off on Matter networks, and turn off Multicast to Unicast on the Wi-Fi network your Matter devices use.
Watch out for
- Devices that aren't found usually point to IPv6 or mDNS, which are both requirements. Generate a fresh code for each attempt.
- Controller slots. Matter devices support at least five controllers, and UniFi uses one of them.
- Thread first. Ubiquiti's release notes describe Matter Thread monitoring; support for Wi-Fi or Ethernet Matter devices isn't confirmed.
- Alerts. Ubiquiti mentions custom alerts for critical IP and Thread devices but hasn't documented where they're set; start in Alarm Manager (see our new-device alerts guide).
- 2.4 GHz overlap. Thread shares the 2.4 GHz band with Wi-Fi, so keep your Wi-Fi channels clear of your Thread channel (see our Wi-Fi settings guide).
If it still won't connect
- Download the device's diagnostics in Home Assistant.
- From the controller, ping the device's IPv6 address (
ping -6). - Turn on Flows Logging for your block policies, then check Insights › Flows for dropped traffic.
Sources: Network 11 announcement · Network release notes · Configuring IPv6 · mDNS proxy · Zone-based firewalls · Traffic flows · Home Assistant Matter integration · Google Home: link Matter devices · SmartThings and Matter
Disclaimer: This guide reflects UniFi software and official documentation as of 22 October 2026. Menus, features, plans and policies change, so check each step on your own equipment and back up first. It's general information, not legal advice, and you use it at your own risk. UniFi is a trademark of Ubiquiti Inc., and other names belong to their owners.