Voice control depends on more than the microphone
Every voice command goes through several steps: hearing the wake word, turning speech into text, working out what you meant, controlling the device and speaking a reply. Home Assistant Assist works through the companion app, dedicated Home Assistant Voice hardware and suitable ESPHome devices.
Each step can run locally, in the cloud or a mix of both. Choose based on privacy, how well it understands your language, speed, hardware and support, rather than treating ‘local voice’ as a single tick box.
Start with a few commands that work reliably
Room-aware commands for lights, curtains, aircon and scenes are far easier to get right than an open-ended chatty assistant. Clear device names, rooms, nicknames and choosing what voice can reach matter more than a clever prompt.
Don’t expose every behind-the-scenes setting. Voice should reach the controls your household actually uses, and leave admin tasks behind a login.
Running voice locally needs more processing power
Fully local speech processing can need extra computing power, especially for larger language or speech models. Low-powered official hardware can use Home Assistant Cloud for accurate processing, while a separate, more capable machine can run chosen local models.
Keep heavy AI jobs off the main automation server if combining them would make your home harder to update or recover.
Make sure the room still works when nobody wants to talk to it
Voice shouldn’t be the only way in. Keep wall switches, remotes and the Home Assistant or Apple Home app available. Include a visible mute button, and let everyone know where their audio is processed.
Test in the actual room, with normal background noise, accents and the words your family really uses. A quiet demo doesn’t prove every room will hear you.
Where to read more
Quick answers to common questions.
Can Home Assistant voice run entirely locally?+
Yes. Suitable local speech and intent components can be used, but accuracy, languages and speed depend on the hardware and models you choose.
Does Home Assistant Voice require Home Assistant Cloud?+
No, but cloud processing is one supported option and can give strong accuracy on lower-powered hardware. You can choose local, cloud or a mix.
Can Apple Home or Google speakers remain in use?+
Yes. Home Assistant can stay in the middle while your household uses another supported voice assistant for selected controls.
Should an LLM control every device?+
No. For important routines, fixed commands and automations are more predictable. A conversational AI model should only get limited, deliberately chosen access.