Understand Smart Home Matter Support
You can connect your smart home device locally to Alexa using the Matter connectivity protocol. Matter is an Internet Protocol (IP) wireless connectivity technology designed to enable interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers. With Matter, smart home devices can connect directly to Alexa without a separate hub or smart home skill. This connection allows Alexa to control your device locally, reducing latency and improving reliability. For more details about Matter, see the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) introduction to Matter.
Matter-supported Amazon Echo devices can connect and control Matter smart home devices seamlessly. After a customer sets up a compatible Echo, they can add a Matter device using the Alexa app. The Echo device is the Matter administrator used to discover and connect Matter devices to Alexa locally.
If your existing skill connects Matter-enabled devices to Alexa, either native Matter devices or non-Matter devices exposed by a Matter Bridge, you must report Matter attributes from your skill. For details, see Skill requirements for Matter-enabled products.
Specifications
Matter-compatible Echo devices support the Matter 1.3 Software Development Kit (SDK), enabling support for a subset of Matter 1.3 and lower device types. These Echos support smart home devices connected using Matter over Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread. For details about Matter 1.3, see the Matter 1.3 specifications.
Thread is an IPv6 wireless-mesh-networking technology designed for security, reliability, and scalability. The IP-based open-standard mesh network broadens network coverage to keep smart home devices working even if one device goes offline. Thread-enabled Amazon Echo and eero devices act as border routers to provision and secure Thread networks. Before connecting devices using Matter over Thread, a Thread Border Router must commission Thread-based smart home devices. For more details about Thread, see The Thread Group.
Get started with Matter
To get started with Matter, your product should use the latest Matter SDK and be in one of the Alexa-supported device categories. In addition, your product must implement required Matter clusters for your device category. For details, see Supported device categories and cluster types.
Test your Matter integration with a Matter-enabled Echo or eero device. Verify that Alexa can discover and control your device over the local Wi-Fi or Thread network. To test with a local Thread network, you need a Thread-enabled Echo or eero device.
Connection types
Alexa supports the following connection types for Matter devices:
- You can connect your device directly to Alexa with Matter over Wi-Fi or Matter over Thread. As part of the discovery and commissioning process, Alexa uses Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) to pass the credentials of the Wi-Fi or Thread network to your Matter device.
- You can connect Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) devices to Alexa with the ACK SDK for Matter. The SDK supports Matter over Wi-Fi. For more details, see Introducing ACK SDK for Matter.
- You can add another connection to Alexa from your skill-connected devices with Matter. This option enables Alexa to control your device locally during Internet outages or when your skill isn't available.
- You can use the Matter Multi-Admin feature to connect your device to multiple smart home platforms, including Alexa.
These connection types apply to native Matter devices that connect directly to the Matter fabric and non-Matter devices exposed as bridged devices through a Matter bridge.
Obtain the Works with Alexa badge
Works with Alexa (WWA) is a certification program that establishes your product's high-quality compatibility with Alexa. This certification makes sure that customers have a better smart home experience. For details about the WWA program, see Works with Alexa Overview.
Before you apply for WWA certification for your Matter device, your product must implement the Matter clusters for your device category. When you register for WWA certification, select the Alexa capability interfaces that correspond to these clusters as a supported capability. Also, if your product supports any of the optional features and implements the associated Matter clusters, specify the corresponding Alexa capability interfaces when you register your product. For details, see Supported device categories and clusters.
To apply for certification, make sure that your Matter-enabled device meets the Matter requirements for WWA certification. After you have thoroughly tested your product with the Echo or eero device, you can submit your product for WWA certification. For details, see Apply for Works with Alexa Certification.
Compatible Amazon Echo and eero devices
The following Amazon Echo and eero devices support Matter.
The following Amazon Echo and eero devices also have a built-in Thread Border Router.
Supported device categories and clusters
Alexa supports many device types from the following Matter device categories: Matter hubs, lighting and smart plugs, generic buttons, sensors, closure devices (door locks, window coverings), thermostats, fans, air purifiers, appliances (room air conditioners, dishwashers), and robotic vacuums. For details about devices in these categories, see Matter Device Library Specification, Version 1.3.
Matter-enabled Echo and eero devices support Matter clusters in the following device categories. For details about clusters, see Matter Application Clusters, Version 1.3.
Appliances
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the appliances category.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter cluster | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dishwasher |
Set mode and operational state, monitor alarms |
Dishwasher Mode, Dishwasher Alarm, Operational State, Temperature Control | |
|
Room air conditioner |
Turn on power, turn off power, Set temperature |
On/Off, Thermostat |
Closure
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the closure category.
Alexa.RangeController with semantics in home security devices, such as door locks.| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter cluster | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Door lock |
Set lock, unlock |
Door Lock | |
|
Window Covering, such as exterior and interior blinds |
Open and close blinds |
Window Covering |
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the HVAC category.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter cluster | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Air purifier |
Set temperature, monitor temperature, humidity, and air quality, control fan speed, monitor filter status |
Thermostat, Temperature Measurement, Relative Humidity Measurement, Air Quality, Fan Control, HEPA Filter Monitoring, Activated Carbon Filter Monitoring |
|
|
Fan |
Control the speed of a fan |
Fan Control, Fan Controller Capability |
|
|
Thermostat |
Set temperature, query current temperature |
Thermostat |
|
Lighting, smart plugs, and outlets
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the lighting and smart plugs/outlets categories. These clusters provide essential functionality for controlling lighting devices, including turning the device on and off, adjusting the brightness levels, and managing color settings, if applicable.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter cluster | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
On/Off light or plug |
Turn on power, turn off power |
On/Off | |
|
Dimmable plug |
Control the brightness of the device |
Level Control | |
|
Dimmable light |
Control the brightness of the device |
Level Control | |
|
Lamp |
Control the mode settings of the device |
Mode Select | |
|
Light bulb with enhanced color control |
Change the color (hue, saturation, brightness) of the device |
Color Control | |
|
Light strip |
Change the color temperature (shade of white) |
Color Control | |
|
Power strip |
Turn on power, turn off power |
On/Off |
Robotics
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the robotics category.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter cluster | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robotic vacuum cleaner |
Control the mode settings of the device, such as idle, cleaning, mapping. |
RVC Run Mode |
Sensors
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the sensors category.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter clusters | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Air quality sensor |
Monitor and measure ambient air parameters |
Air Quality, Temperature Measurement, Relative Humidity Measurement, Carbon Monoxide Measurement, PM2.5 Measurement, Volatile Organic Compounds Measurement |
|
|
Contact sensor |
Detect and report contact |
Identify, Boolean State | |
|
Humidity sensor |
Detect and report humidity |
Relative Humidity Measurement | |
|
Light sensor |
Detect and report the amount of light in an area |
Illuminance Measurement |
— |
|
Motion detector |
Detect and report motion |
Occupancy Sensing | |
|
Smoke CO alarm |
Sense smoke, carbon monoxide, or both |
Smoke CO Alarm, Temperature Measurement, Carbon Monoxide Measurement | |
|
Temperature sensor |
Detect and report temperature |
Temperature Measurement |
Switches and Controls
The following table shows the required Matter clusters and associated Alexa capabilities for devices in the switches and controls category.
| Example device | Required feature | Required Matter clusters | Corresponding Alexa capability interface |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Generic switch (button) |
Generic switch |
Switch |
Related topics
- WWA Certification Requirements
- Understand Smart Home Bluetooth® Mesh Support
- Understand Smart Home Thread Support
- Understand Smart Home Zigbee Support
Last updated: Jan 24, 2025