1. Install Home Assistant OS

Follow: https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/raspberrypi

  1. Download and install HAOS through Raspberry Pi Imager
  2. Plug in to Pi and connect network cable
  3. Connect to homeassistant.local with web browser
  4. Create New system
  5. Create my username / password
  6. Settings / Network, and set SSID and Password for Wireless
  7. You can also change the 'homeassistant' hostname to something else if you wish
  8. Disconnect network cable
  9. Reboot system

2. Some Basic Tools

2.1 Install File Editor

Apps / Search / File Editor
Install, start, and select 'show in sidebar'

2. Enabling External Access

2.1 Enabling remote access with Cloudflare

Create a Cloudflare account, and ensure that you have a domain (either hosted with cloudflare, or with the DNS root server entry pointing to cloudflare).

2.2 Install and Configure Cloudflared

Open Apps / Add Applicarion, and click the ... in the top right corner.  Add new repository, and type the following: https://github.com/brenner-tobias/ha-addons
Cloudflared now becomes available for access and installation - select it

Under documentation, find the Home Assistant configuration section, and copy the http proxy and forwarding snippet, which looks something like this:
http:
  use_x_forwarded_for: true
  trusted_proxies:
    - 172.30.33.0/24
Use file editor, and paste these lines into the bottom of the configuration.yaml file and save it

Whilst in the configuration.yaml, you may also enable 2 factor authentication:
homeassistant:
  auth_mfa_modules:
    - type: totp

Finally, select Settings / Developer Tools / Check Configuration, and if everything is OK, re-start

Open Apps / Cloudflared / Configuration, and add the domain name for the external home-assistant calls.

Then on the Info tab, start Cloudflared

Next, check the log, and at the bottom, there is a link just below: "Please open the following URL and log in with your Cloudflare account".

Copy the link into a web browser, log into cloudflared, click on your domain, and select "authorise"

2.3 Creating Cloudflare Polcies



3. Installing Apps

3.1 Enabling SSH

Connect to http://homeassistant.local:8123, log in and select: Settings / Apps / Advanced SSH & Web Terminal.
Once installed, select "Configuration' and ensure that zsh is disabled
And in advanced settings, add a username / password
Then select 'Start'
You can add an authorized_keys entry in the yaml configuration if you wish to be able to log in without needing to enter a password, for example
ssh:
  username: myusername
  password: mypassword
  authorized_keys:
    - >-
      ssh-rsa
      AAAABxxxF6I8=
      myemail@mydomain.com
  sftp: false
  compatibility_mode: false
  allow_agent_forwarding: false
  allow_remote_port_forwarding: false
  allow_tcp_forwarding: false
zsh: false
share_sessions: false
packages: []
init_commands: []
After you've changed this file, don't forget to re-start the SSH server

You can then log in with 'ssh username@homeassistant.local'

3.2 Install HACS

The Home Assistant Community Store is not accessible through the standard menus, and must be side-loaded.

Connect to the Pi using SSH, then:
$ sudo bash
# wget -O - https://get.hacs.xyz | bash -

INFO: Creating HACS directory...
INFO: Unpacking HACS...
INFO: Verifying versions
INFO: Current version is 2026.2.1, minimum version is 2024.4.1
INFO: Removing HACS zip file...
INFO: Installation complete.
INFO: Remember to restart Home Assistant before you configure it
Reboot the Pi

Once Rebooted, Select:

Settings / Integrations / Add / HACS

You will be directed to the Github pages for authorisation - remember that Github 2 factor authorisation takes a 6 digit code from the authorisation app - this is NOT where you should put the 8 digit code given to you by the HACS install - that comes next.

3.3 Music Assistant

Select Settings / Apps / Music Assistant

Once installed, select 'Start'

The server can be accessed through homeassistant through 'Settings / Apps / Music Assistant / Open Web UI'

In the Web UI, add some providers, for example:
  • BBC Sounds
  • Chromecast
Note DLNA server can be added to Home Assistant but is not supported by Music Assistant

3.3 Hyundai Bluelink

Select HACS / Kia Uvo / Hyundai Bluelink

From the HACS menu, search for the Kia Uvo / Hyundai Bluelink and download.
Once downloaded, restart Home Assistant (Settings menu)
Kia Uvo / Hyundai Bluelink will now appear in:

Settings / Integrations / Add / Kia Uvo / Hyundai Bluelink

Install the integration, and enter your username, pin and token.

If you do not already have it, this guide will show you how to get the car token.

Setting up Google API

Settings / Integrations / Add / Google / Google Gemini

Launch the integration install, and follow the link provided to get an API key.
Paste in the API key.
Now go to Voice Assistants, and add Google Gemini to the list of assistants

Settings / Integrations / Add / Google / Google Calendar