How to setup the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2

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(ZHA + Thread/Matter Support)

The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is an official Zigbee and Thread adapter designed by Nabu Casa to give you a powerful, stable, and future-proof smart home network. It combines a high-performance Zigbee coordinator with a full Thread Border Router in one compact device — ideal for users who want the fastest, most reliable way to connect Zigbee devices today and Matter-over-Thread devices tomorrow.

This guide walks you through setting up the ZBT-2 in Home Assistant using ZHA, and enabling Thread/Matter support for compatible devices.

What You’ll Need

  • Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2
  • A HAS, Home Assistant Green, Yellow, or any HA OS system
  • A free USB-A port
  • Home Assistant 2024.6 or newer
  • A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network (for Thread/Matter devices, not for the ZBT-2 itself)

Step 1 — Plug In & Discover in Home Assistant

  1. Insert the ZBT-2 into a USB-A port on your Home Assistant machine.
  2. Wait a few seconds — Home Assistant will automatically discover it

  1. Click Add.
  2. Do you want to configure this adapter for Zigbee or Thread?

This is where you choose which radio mode you want to start with, each device can only support one. 

Step 2 — Zigbee (ZHA Setup)

If you select Zigbee:


For ZHA use recommended installation, this is the easiest way to set up a zigbee network. If you need Zigbee2MQTT use custom. 

It does not automatically install ZHA — so you need to add it manually:

Install ZHA


Choose the ZBT-2 when prompted, follow the steps and it will be automatically set up.

Your ZBT-2 is now your primary Zigbee coordinator.

Step 3 — Thread Setup (Thread Border Router + Matter Support)

If you select Thread when first configuring the ZBT-2:

  1. Home Assistant will automatically install the required add-on
  2. It configures the ZBT-2 as an Open Thread Border Router
  3. No manual setup is needed — it is fully automatic
  4. A Thread network now appears under Settings → Devices & Services

Step 4 — How to Change Between Zigbee ↔ Thread Later

If you selected the wrong mode or want to switch:

Go to Hardware in Home Assistant

  1. Open Settings → System → Hardware

  2. Configure the ZBT-2 from the hardware list

     
  3. Pick the new protocol you want. 

Choose your new mode.

⚠️ Note: Thread requires the OpenThread firmware. If installation fails, you may need to unplug the ZBT-2 and use the official Web Flasher — you can do that here. 

FAQ

Can the ZBT-2 run ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT at the same time?
No — only one Zigbee integration per adapter.

Does the ZBT-2 require Wi-Fi?
No.
It connects via USB and provides Zigbee + Thread radio directly to Home Assistant.

Is this device future-proof?
Yes. This is the newer model for HA and will receive support for a long time.

ZBT-2 is not being detected?
Unplug the ZBT-2 and restart Home Assistant, once it is fully booted reinsert the ZBT-2. Try stay away from USB hubs as they can cause issues. 

Where should the antenna be placed?
The antenna functions best in a vertical position, try and find a space where you can place the adapter upright. 

The device also needs to be placed in a central location, and away from devices that block radio transmission or could cause interference. This includes: wire mesh, wireless transmitters, thick walls or bodies of water. 

Does it matter what USB port I plug it into?
Yes. Avoid USB 3.0, these are typically blue ports. 

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