How to Set Up Your Home Assistant Yellow

What's in the Box

The Home Assistant Yellow is a modular smart home hub built around a Raspberry Pi Compute Module. Depending on the variant you purchased, the box includes the Home Assistant Yellow carrier board, a power supply, an Ethernet cable, and a pre-installed or separately included Compute Module 4. Some kits also include an NVMe SSD for expanded storage and a heatsink for thermal management. The Yellow stands out because it has a built-in Zigbee radio (Silicon Labs chip), so you don't need a separate USB dongle for Zigbee devices.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A router with an available Ethernet port (the Yellow uses wired Ethernet for network connectivity)
• A computer, phone, or tablet connected to the same network with a web browser
• A stable internet connection for downloading the Home Assistant operating system and updates
• If you purchased the kit without a pre-installed Compute Module, you'll need to seat the CM4 onto the carrier board following the included hardware assembly instructions

Step-by-Step Setup

1. If your kit requires hardware assembly, install the Compute Module 4 onto the carrier board by aligning the connectors and pressing firmly until seated. Attach the heatsink to the CM4 using the included thermal pad. If you have an NVMe SSD, install it into the M.2 slot on the underside of the board.
2. Connect the Ethernet cable from your router to the Yellow's Ethernet port.
3. Plug in the power supply to the Yellow. The board will power on and begin its first boot process, which includes flashing the Home Assistant operating system to the eMMC or SSD.
4. Wait five to ten minutes for the initial installation to complete. The first boot takes longer than subsequent boots because the OS is being installed and configured.
5. On your browser, navigate to http://homeassistant.local:8123. If the hostname doesn't resolve, check your router's DHCP client list for the Yellow's IP address and use http://[IP_ADDRESS]:8123 instead.
6. Complete the onboarding wizard by creating your administrator account, setting your location and timezone, and reviewing any automatically discovered devices on your network.

Enabling the Built-In Zigbee Radio

The Yellow's integrated Zigbee chip needs to be activated through Home Assistant. Go to Settings > Devices & Services and look for the automatic discovery prompt for Zigbee Home Automation (ZHA). Accept the setup and Home Assistant will configure the built-in radio as your Zigbee coordinator. You can then start adding Zigbee devices directly — no USB dongle required. This built-in radio supports Zigbee 3.0 and is based on the same Silicon Labs chip used in the SkyConnect.

Smart Home Integration Tips

• The Yellow's built-in Zigbee radio is positioned to minimize interference, but keep the hub away from Wi-Fi routers and other 2.4 GHz devices for optimal Zigbee performance.
• If you need Z-Wave support, add a Z-Wave USB dongle to one of the Yellow's USB ports. The Yellow will detect it and offer to configure the Z-Wave JS integration.
• For remote access outside your home network, consider subscribing to Home Assistant Cloud (Nabu Casa) or setting up a reverse proxy. All configuration is done through the Home Assistant web UI — no separate app is needed for hub management.
• Use the NVMe SSD option for faster database operations, especially if you plan to record extensive sensor history or run many automations.

Quick Troubleshooting

If the Yellow doesn't boot after assembly, verify the Compute Module is fully seated on the carrier board. Check that the power supply provides adequate wattage (the included supply is rated correctly). If the Zigbee radio isn't detected, go to Settings > System > Hardware to verify the radio is recognized. A full reboot of the Yellow often resolves detection issues. For hardware assembly problems, consult the detailed assembly guide on the Home Assistant Yellow documentation page.