Matter 1.4.1 Update Brings Easier Smart Home Setup With New QR Code and NFC Features

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has announced the availability of Matter 1.4.1 bringing improvements to enhance ease-of-use and setup simplicity with features like Enhanced Setup Flow, Multi-Device Setup QR code, and Onboarding Info in NFC Tags.

These features represent the next step forward for Matter setup, enhancing both compliance and user experience. Device makers and end users alike will benefit from the streamlined processes and increased flexibility. Together, these enhancements reinforce Matter's commitment to delivering a more seamless, secure, and user-friendly smart home experience.

Here's a look at the new features...


Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF)
The Enhanced Setup Flow (ESF) is an update to the core commissioning process. It now supports the display of a manufacturer's terms and conditions (T&Cs) directly in the commissioner app, including enabling the collection of customer consent. These responses are transmitted to the device being set up, enabling the device to adjust functionalities as outlined in the T&Cs.

Previously, devices requiring T&C acceptance, for instance to comply with GDPR, would need to direct users to first connect to it using a dedicated app, a process known as Custom Commissioning Flow (CCF) in Matter. With ESF, T&Cs can be localized, displayed, and updated for user acceptance within the commissioner app (such as that from a smart home ecosystem), streamlining the setup process. If a commissioner does not support ESF, the process can still revert to CCF.

For device makers, this means T&Cs can now be shown on interfaces beyond the manufacturer's app, helping to meet regulatory requirements in various regions. For end users, this enables a streamlined, continuous setup journey without hopping between apps just to manage T&Cs.

Multi-Device Setup QR Code
Many Matter devices utilize a QR code on the device or in the packaging to enable simple and secure setup. For popular multi-packs of devices like light bulbs and smart plugs, it's not always clear which code is for which device, and adding devices requires scanning the QR codes one by one and waiting for completion of the steps for that device before scanning the next one. With support in Matter for multi-device QR codes, users will be able to scan a single QR code to set up multiple devices at once, with compatible commissioners.


Onboarding Info in NFC Tag
The Onboarding Info in NFC Tag feature allows manufacturers to embed the same information found in Matter QR codes into NFC tags. This expands options for embedding onboarding information into products, making it ideal for devices difficult to move or reorient, such as lightbulbs in fixtures or light switches whose QR codes might be hidden once installed. Users can simply tap their cell phone to the device for commissioning. This mechanism will be used alongside QR and manual (numeric) setup codes.

For device makers, this provides an additional method for delivering onboarding information, complementing QR codes and numeric setup codes. For end users, it offers convenience and flexibility, making setup easier in a variety of real-world situations.

Developers can find the Matter 1.4.1 specification and test plan at the link below...

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