Home Assistant 2025.1 is here, and with this new version, home automation enthusiasts have much to celebrate. As with every update, this release not only refines existing features but also introduces a series of innovations that promise to transform how we interact with our smart homes. From improvements in the backup system to new navigation and device control functionalities, Home Assistant continues to lead the way toward a fully connected and automated home. In this article, we will explore all these new features in detail and how they can enhance your experience with the platform.
Backups in Home Assistant
In the latest version of Home Assistant, 2025.1, significant improvements have been made to the backup system, marking a milestone in the evolution of this home automation platform. These updates not only simplify how users manage and protect their data but also strengthen the security infrastructure with innovations that automate and encrypt every backup process.
With a host of new and improved features, Home Assistant 2025.1 makes it easier than ever to perform automatic backups, allowing users to configure the frequency of these operations to ensure they always have the most recent version of their data. Additionally, the integration of default encryption and the expansion of storage options provide a higher level of security and flexibility.
This comprehensive approach to backups not only reflects Home Assistant’s commitment to security and reliability but also directly addresses the needs of users looking for greater peace of mind in their home automation experience. Let’s explore each of these improvements in detail and how they can enhance your use of Home Assistant.
Automated Backups 🤖
That’s right! Home Assistant 2025.1 introduces a revolutionary feature with the ability to fully automate backups. You can now configure the system to perform backups automatically at intervals you determine. This functionality represents a qualitative leap in data management, ensuring that you always have a recent backup on hand, freeing you from the worry of performing these operations manually.
When you access the backups section in settings, you will be greeted with a completely revamped summary page showing detailed information about the date and time of the last backup and when the next one is scheduled. Moreover, it is now possible to trigger backups outside the scheduled time with the same configuration as automated backups, which is ideal for times of significant changes.
Encrypted Backups by Default 🔒
In the new era of digital security, Home Assistant 2025.1 has taken an important step forward. All backups are now encrypted by default with AES-128 and a mandatory encryption key. Previously, password configuration was optional and not required, but now encryption has become a standard to strengthen the protection of your data. It is essential to store this encryption key in a safe place, as it will be needed to restore your backups.
Compatibility of Restores Across All Methods
With this update, restoring backups is no longer limited to installations based on Home Assistant OS. You can now restore backups on any installation method, including Docker containers, ensuring a uniform and accessible experience for all users.
Home Assistant Cloud Backups 😎
For Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa subscribers, this update brings a spectacular advantage. You now have the option to store your latest encrypted backup directly in your Home Assistant Cloud account at no additional cost. This integration offers not only convenience but also an additional layer of security by storing your backups in a remote location.
Expandable Backup Locations 🧩
Recognizing the need for flexibility in data management, the backup system now allows integrations to offer additional storage locations. Although no integrations are currently available, future versions are expected to enable storing backups on local NAS, Google Drive, Backblaze B2, or other cloud services. This ensures that you can customize your backup location according to your needs.
Backup Retention 🖹
With the new backup retention feature, you have full control over the number of backups you want to keep. Easily configure the number of backups the system should maintain, and it will automatically delete the oldest ones, ensuring that your storage space is used efficiently and your system remains organized.
Initial Backup Setup 🚀
To facilitate the transition to these new features, the first time you access the backup settings after the update, you will be guided by a setup wizard. This wizard will help you set up your encryption key, configure the backup frequency, and define your retention policy. Once configured, the system will automatically initiate your first backup, ensuring your system is protected from the very beginning.
These improvements to Home Assistant 2025.1 backups not only optimize the protection and management of your data but also elevate the platform to new standards of convenience and security in home automation.
Quick Navigation to Devices
You might already know that you can activate our quick navigation bar anywhere in Home Assistant by pressing the ‘c’ key to move to different places and the ‘e’ key to search and navigate to any entity. But what about devices?
This was an excellent question posed by Andreas Brett that led us to improve. Now, thanks to the new update, simply pressing the ‘d’ key will give you direct access to the quick bar for devices!
Graph Improvements: Zoom and Pan
The history graphs in Home Assistant have always been functional but quite basic. However, there’s always room for improvement! One of the major topics discussed was the ability to zoom and pan in graphs.
Now, thanks to @MindFreeze, you can zoom in on any graph in Home Assistant simply by holding down the control (or command on macOS) key and scrolling your mouse wheel. Additionally, you can click and drag to move around the zoomed-in graph. Micro-animations have also been integrated, making the graphs look more dynamic and less static.
Default Exposure Control for New Entities to Assist
Another important point raised was the default exposure of new entities to Assist. Now, thanks to @jpbede, you can enable or disable this feature in the Home Assistant Voice Assistant settings.
Device Reordering in the Energy Dashboard
A recurring point in discussions was the inability to reorder devices in the energy dashboard. Fortunately, @karwosts took action, and now you can reorder devices individually in the energy dashboard.
Dashboard Background Adjustments
In previous versions, we made it easy to add a background image to your dashboard. In this version, @silamon takes it a step further by adding numerous settings to customize how the background image is displayed. This includes support for tiled backgrounds, transparency, size adjustments, alignment, and the option to have the background scroll with the page or remain fixed. A big thanks to @silamon for these improvements!
Volume Function in the Tile Card for Media Players
A truly useful addition by @simon-zumbrunnen. The Tile card now supports a slider function to control the volume of a media player directly from the card. Great job, Simon! This makes managing the audiovisual environment in our homes simpler and more accessible than ever.
Other Notable Changes
In this version of Home Assistant 2025.1, numerous improvements have been incorporated to make the experience even richer and more functional. Here are some of these notable changes:
- Improved Table Search: Now, when using ctrl+f to search within data tables in your browser, the search field will automatically focus, as the browser’s native search doesn’t work on data tables. Thanks @jpbede!
- Card Addition Dialog Adjustments: @marcinbauer85 has modified the “Add Card” dialog to automatically focus on the search field, allowing you to start typing immediately. A very practical touch!
- Uploaded Image Navigation: Images uploaded through Home Assistant, whether as a background or user profile picture, are now navigable in the media browser. Thanks @karwosts!
- Unit of Measure in Numeric Sliders: The unit of measure is now displayed next to the numeric slider in the more info dialog of numeric entities. Thanks @abmantis!
- Support for New Units of Measure: Home Assistant now supports mWh as a unit of measure for energy sensors and mW for potential electrical power sensors. Thanks @agners!
- Overflow Actions in Automations and Scripts: @wendevlin added overflow settings and actions to the automation and script editor (three-dot menu in the top-right corner), making it easier to access directly from the editor. Brilliant!
- Event Log Card: The logbook card now allows selecting a target for the events it should display. This means you can now choose based on entities, devices, areas, floors, and tags. Thanks, @silamon!
Conclusion
With the arrival of Home Assistant 2025.1, the promise of a smart home becomes more achievable and robust. This version not only enhances the security and efficiency of our automations but also offers more intuitive and flexible tools to customize our experience. The ability to adjust dashboard background settings, manage volume from a Tile card, and quickly navigate through devices are just a few examples of how Home Assistant adapts to the needs of modern users. Additionally, events like the “Month of What the Heck?” reinforce the importance of the community in the continuous development of the platform. As we continue to incorporate these advancements into our daily lives, Home Assistant 2025.1 positions itself as an essential component in the future of home automation, ensuring that our interaction with home technology is increasingly seamless and secure.
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