Remote Assistant for Home Assistant

Two components are required to use Remote Assistant, the Remote-RED version for remote access to Home Assistant. A custom component within Home Assistant that opens the SSH tunnel to the Remote-RED servers and provides you with the access data. The second component required is the Android or iOS app. This accesses the Remote-RED servers via the Internet, which in turn redirect you to your Home Assistant dashboard at home.

Costs

Remote Assistant is financed via InApp purchases. This is only $10 per year, the exact price varies from country to country due to VAT and similar charges. The InApp purchase is only required after some time and then begins with a free trial week.

Set up the custom component in Home Assistant

You can install the ‘Remote Assistant’ custom component in three different ways. You can choose the way that suits you best. Installation and updates are possible via HACS and via an extra installer add-on. If you have Home Assistant Container or Core, you can install the Custom Component via a script.

HACS

Installing via HACS is ideal if you already have HACS installed. At the moment Remote Assistant is not in the default reprository, but you can use this button to add this reprository to HACS:

Open your Home Assistant instance and open a repository inside the Home Assistant Community Store.

After adding the repository you can search for ‘Remote Assistant’ and install it throgh HACS. If you have not yet installed HACS, you can follow these instructions: HACS User Documentation or use a alternativ way to install Remote Assistant.

Installer Addon (for HA OS/Supervised)

Install script (for HA Containter/Core)

Configure the Custom Component

Before you can connect the app, you have to configure and start the Custom Component.

  • In Home Assistant go to ‘Settings > Devices and services > Integrations’.
  • Use ‘Add integration’ and search for ‘Remote Assistant’.
  • Select a server location. A location matching to your country should be preselected.
  • Use ‘OK’ and wait some seconds.
  • A QR code will be generated. You will need this in the next step inside the app.
  • Remote Assistant will start serving as soon as this dialog is closed. But wait for that until you scanned the QR Code.

Add connection in the app

Install the ‘Remote Assistant by Remote-RED’ app from the Apple AppStore or Google PlayStore:

On the main page of the app there is the function ‘Add Home Assistant instance’. The QR code scanner will open, which requires access to your camera. Simply scan the QR code from the last step and the connection will be established.

Add another app or reconnect app

Within Home Assistant, you can open the existing configuration of Remote Assistant under ‘Devices and services’. Go to ‘Configure’ here to create another QR code.

Troubleshooting

Not connected after scanning the QR code

The connection between Home Assistant and the Remote-RED servers is only established as soon as you close the dialog with the QR code. Confirm the dialog with ‘OK’ and wait a few seconds. The connection should then be possible.

API error within Home Assistant

The computer on which Home Assistant is installed needs Internet access. If a ‘Network Error’ or ‘API Error’ is displayed when connecting to an app, your Home Assistant computer most likely cannot reach the remote RED servers. If you are using a firewall, port 443 (https) and port 22 (ssh) must be allowed outgoing.