The Add Device page allows you to add Z-Wave, Zigbee, or virtual devices to your hub, a process sometimes known as inclusion, pairing, or discovery. Some other devices, such as Lutron and the Philips Hue Bridge, are connected using integration apps, which can be found on the Apps page instead.
Remember that as you connect Zigbee and Z-Wave devices, they will have a limited range. If they are too far from your hub, you will need to add repeating devices (devices that plug in to the wall or are AC/mains-powered) to make the connection. See How to Build a Solid Zigbee Mesh and How to Build a Solid Z-Wave Mesh for more.
The process for adding Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter devices are largely similar. (For virtual devices, see below.) To see the specific process for your type of device, consult the appropriate section:
Here's how to add new Zigbee devices:
Select the Devices menu item from the sidebar, then select Add Device in the upper right:
Select Find by device type (to see compatible devices sorted by type, like dimmer or motion sensor) or Find by brand (to see compatible devices sorted by manufacturer/brand), then continue following the prompts to find your specific device.
Alternatively, under Add a device manually, select Zigbee (or the appropriate protocol for your device).
Put your device in paring mode, according to the device-specific instructions presented in step 2 or the ones included with your device, and follow the prompts.
Additional Zigbee notes:
NOTE: Whether you search by type/brand or manually start pairing or inclusion based on device protocol does not affect the outcome of pairing (as long as you choose the correct protocol if doing so manually). For example, if you have Zigbee device and already know how to pair it, it may be fastest to simply manually select "Zigbee" than to find the brand/model in the menus.
Here's how to add a new Z-Wave device:
Select the Devices menu item from the sidebar, then select Add Device in the upper right:
Select Find by device type (to see compatible devices sorted by type, like dimmer or motion sensor) or Find by brand (to see compatible devices sorted by manufacturer/brand), then continue following the prompts to find your specific device.
Alternatively, under Add a device manually, select Z-Wave (or the appropriate protocol for your device).
Put your device in inclusion mode, according to the device-specific instructions presented in step 2 or the ones included with your device, and follow the prompts.
Non-secure Z-Wave devices will include without any additional action required. You are done! Devices that support S2 security may prompt as described in the next steps.
For Z-Wave devices that support S2, you will see a security popup shortly after pairing begins asking if you want to include with or without security. Choose your desired option:
If you choose to continue with security, you will be prompted to either enter part of the device-specific key (DSK) or confirm that the code you see matches the device, depending on the type of S2 used. This code can usually be found on a sticker on the device or in the packaging.
Are you having problems including a Z-Wave device? See How to Exclude a Z-Wave Device below — try an exclusion and then try including again.
Note that you can include only one Z-Wave device a time. To include another Z-Wave device, start the inclusion process over for the second (or third, etc.) device, and repeat for each device until you are finished.
A note on Z-Wave security: Devices that support security but only the older S0 security will not prompt, as they do not require a DSK. They may pair either securely or not, depending on what the device requests (some devices have different secure and non-secure pairing modes you can select from; others default to security).
Hub model C-5 and earlier does not support S2, and secure devices may pair with either S0 or no security, depending again on the device type (barrier devices like locks require security) and if a specific inclusion mode was selected by either you (on the device) or the hub Z-Wave settings.
It is recommended to avoid S0-only whenever possible, as having a large number of such devices can create lots of Z-Wave traffic.
Here's how to add new Matter devices (available only on hub models C-5 and newer):
Join your Matter device to an existing Matter Fabric (in other words, "commission" it on that network). Examples include Apple Home, Alexa, or Google Assistant.
Select the Devices menu item from the sidebar, then select Add Device in the upper right:
Under Add a device manually, select Matter. (If you have not yet enabled Matter on this hub, follow the prompts, reboot your hub when instructed, and return to this step again afterwards.)
Get a setup code from the commissioning Matter Fabric (hub, etc.), then type or copy/paste that code under "Enter the 11 digit setup code provided by the commissioning hub or bridge device." Then, select the Start pairing button, and wait for the process to complete.
For more tips on using Matter devices with Hubitat Elevation, see: How to use Matter on Hubitat Elevation.
After the hub discovers your device, you can give it a name. This sets the "Device Label" for the device and can be edited at any time after on the device detail page. This how the device name will appear in apps and logs, and it will also be used as the most prominent name on the Devices page.
After providing a label, you can optionally assign the device to a room. This will appear in Rooms in the left-side of the hub UI, show the device listed under the room in the Lights/Switches tab of the mobile app (supported device types only), and allow easier configuration with certain apps that offer room-based selections (e.g., Room Lighting).
If you have a Z-Wave device that will not pair, try a general exclusion with the device, then try again. An exclusion of some kind (or a reset of the device) is always necessary if the device was in use on a Z-Wave network previously. It may also be necessary after a failed inclusion attempt to your hub.
To do perform a general Z-Wave exclusion, select the Z-Wave button or use the Find by... buttons to locate your specific device. Then, select the Start Z-Wave Exclusion button, and put your device in exclusion mode (usually by pressing or holding a specific button or combination of buttons on the device; see the manufacturer's instructions). If successful, you should see a message "Unknown Z-Wave Device was excluded." This means this device no longer is associated with a previous Z-Wave network and can now be paired with Hubitat Elevation.
Virtual devices are useful as "simulated" devices that do not correspond to a real/physical device. For example, a virtual switch device using the "Virtual Switch" driver allows you to send on()
and off()
commands to the device and have the switch
state update as expected, simulating the behavior of a "real" device without actually doing anything. This can be helpful to test app behavior without needing to rely on a real device.
Virtual devices can be created using the Virtual button under Add Device Manually.
(Some LAN or cloud devices can also be manually created like "virtual" devices using a specific driver and setup instructions provided for that device or integration.)
If you have trouble adding a device, here are some potential culprits: