Home Assistant 2026.8 Eases New Setup

Single-source brief: Home Assistant says 2026.8 makes new Home Assistant OS installs easier to reach.

What changed

Home Assistant released version 2026.8 on August 5.

New Home Assistant OS installs now use a normal web address by default. According to Home Assistant, users no longer need to remember :8123.

This change only applies to new Home Assistant OS installs. Home Assistant says current setups keep their existing port and need no action.

Users can now change the port from the interface. That screen also includes network and trusted-proxy settings.

What it means for smart-home buyers

This is a software update, not a robot or new hardware launch. Its main benefit is less setup friction for first-time users.

Home Assistant says its OS is the recommended install type for most users. It can run on single-board computers or virtual machines.

The company also said an ESPHome Starter Kit will launch the following week. An official launch event was set for August 12.

Cost and verdict

No price, bundle contents, or U.S. availability were provided.

Verdict: Wait if you are shopping for the ESPHome Starter Kit. Its total cost and included hardware remain unknown.