Home Assistant Yellow Hub Not Working

Home Assistant Yellow is an official home automation hub with built-in Zigbee/Thread radio and Compute Module 4. This guide covers common setup and operational issues.

Common Symptoms

  • Unable to access Home Assistant web interface
  • Zigbee devices not pairing
  • System running slowly or freezing
  • Network connectivity issues
  • Storage or boot problems

Initial Access

Finding Home Assistant

  • Access via homeassistant.local:8123 in browser
  • If not found, check router for device IP
  • Ensure Ethernet cable is connected properly
  • Wait 5-10 minutes after first power-on for initial setup

LED Status

  • Heartbeat LED indicates system activity
  • Steady blinking = normal operation
  • No LED or solid = potential issue

Network Issues

No Network Connection

  1. Check Ethernet cable connection at both ends
  2. Try different Ethernet cable
  3. Verify router port is working
  4. Check router for Yellow's IP address

Can't Access Web Interface

  • Ensure accessing port 8123 (homeassistant.local:8123)
  • Try IP address directly if .local doesn't resolve
  • Clear browser cache
  • Try different browser or incognito mode

Zigbee Issues

Built-in Zigbee Radio

Home Assistant Yellow includes Silicon Labs EFR32 radio:

  • Supports Zigbee and Thread
  • Use ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT for Zigbee
  • Don't run both ZHA and Z2M simultaneously

Zigbee Devices Not Pairing

  1. Enable pairing mode in ZHA/Z2M
  2. Factory reset the device to be paired
  3. Keep device close to Yellow during pairing
  4. Check Zigbee channel isn't conflicting with WiFi

Zigbee Network Issues

  • Add Zigbee router devices (plugs) to extend mesh
  • Avoid USB 3.0 devices near Yellow (causes interference)
  • Check ZHA integration for device status

Thread/Matter Setup

Enable Thread

  1. Install OpenThread Border Router add-on
  2. Configure for built-in radio
  3. Enable Matter integration
  4. Note: Can't run Zigbee and Thread simultaneously on same radio

Multi-protocol Option

  • Use Silicon Labs Multiprotocol add-on
  • Enables simultaneous Zigbee and Thread
  • Requires specific firmware

Performance Issues

System Running Slowly

  • Check available storage (Settings > System > Storage)
  • Review running add-ons—disable unused ones
  • Check CPU usage under Settings > System
  • Clear old recorder data if database is large

NVMe Storage

If Yellow has NVMe drive installed:

  • Verify NVMe is recognized in hardware settings
  • Move data partition to NVMe for better performance
  • Check NVMe isn't overheating

Backup and Recovery

Create Regular Backups

  1. Go to Settings > System > Backups
  2. Create full backup including add-ons
  3. Download backup to external storage
  4. Automate backups with add-on

Restore from Backup

  1. Access Supervisor if web interface works
  2. Upload backup file
  3. Select components to restore
  4. For failed boots, use USB recovery method

System Won't Boot

Recovery Options

  1. Download latest HAOS image
  2. Flash to USB drive using balenaEtcher
  3. Boot Yellow from USB to reinstall
  4. Restore from backup after reinstall

Power Supply

  • Yellow requires included power supply
  • Insufficient power causes instability
  • Don't use generic USB power adapters
  • Power supply issues can cause random reboots

When to Contact Support

Contact Home Assistant/Nabu Casa support if:

  • Hardware failure (radio, Ethernet, CM4)
  • Power supply issues with included adapter
  • Physical damage
  • Yellow is under warranty