What is the Matter Protocol's Bluetooth Provisioning?
The Matter Protocol created a set of standards for smart home device manufacturers to follow, allowing your devices to all work together and in a similar fashion.
The protocol includes instructions on how Matter-Certified Devices and Controllers can be configured and added to platforms – allowing your devices to be directly added to another platform using this common set of instructions. For Matter, it was determined that a Bluetooth connection would be used as the preferred method for device configuration.
Provisioning: The Matter Specific Term to Describe Matter’s Setup Process and Standard (aka Onboarding)
Why Does Matter Use Bluetooth for Device Setup?
A few years ago, you may have seen a few smart devices rolling around the market offering control via a Bluetooth Connection; it was even included in the first plans for matter as a control method. Since then, control of Smart Devices via Bluetooth has largely been disregarded due to better alternatives such as Zigbee or even Wi-Fi. Instead, Bluetooth has found a home in helping to provision or set up your IoT devices.
Why Bluetooth Instead of Wi-Fi?
There are actually a few reasons why Bluetooth was chosen as the preferred setup method for Matter. First, while Bluetooth operates at a relatively similar frequency to Wi-Fi connections, it uses much less power and cannot reach as far – making it an ideal candidate for communicating directly with a nearby device.
Wi-Fi has seen many different generations of technology, and devices may oftentimes experience difficulties during setup if your network has an unsupported technology. Bluetooth allows your device to receive the wireless credentials and instructions before attempting to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Most Importantly, using Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi to set up your devices also prevents your mobile device from switching between your home Wi-Fi and the device's setup Wi-Fi, since it can only connect to one network at a time. This helps to streamline the process and helps your phone to communicate the wireless credentials over a stable wireless connection.
Is Bluetooth Provisioning Secure?
Improving the security of IoT devices and your data has always been a priority for the Matter Protocol and is one of the principles guiding its development. The setup proccess is no different and is just as secure, if not more secure than using Wi-Fi to configure your devices.
Because of its lessened range, others are less likely to try to connect to your device while it is being set up. Bluetooth connections also follow their own set of standards, and communications are secured via the Matter Protocols guards on data security and encryption.
After setup is complete, your device will stop broadcasting its Bluetooth signal; otherwise, it will stop broadcasting its Bluetooth Connection after a set period. If you would like to learn more about the principles and steps the protocol is making to protect your devices from bad actors on the CSA’s White pages on Matter Security:
Bluetooth Provisioning Methods:
Device Discovery via Phone OS – You can add it to any compatible app on your device via your camera app or phone's built-in local device discovery feature.
Device Setup via Tapo App – Device Can Be Shared to Another Platform after the Fact via Matter’s Multi-Admin Control
Initiated Device Setup via Third-Party Matter App – Can Be Directly Added to another App, or Shared to another platform
Learn More About the Different Provisioning Methods in our Article: What You Need to Get Started with the Matter Protocol
Follow Along with the Guided Setup for Matter Devices in the Following FAQ:
Adding Your Compatible Matter Devices to a Third-Party Platform
Official Matter Resources:
Learn More About Matter on our Official Spotlight
Check our Official List of Matter-Compatible Devices
Community Matter Resources:
Matter and TP-link: What is Matter?
What You Need to Get Started with Matter
Bluetooth Provisioning and Matter Devices
Adding Your Compatible Matter Devices to a Third-Party Platform
Survey Results: What Matter Device Would You Like to See Next?
Add Your Sub-G Sensors to Another Platform via Matter Bridging
Splash into a Smarter Summer Community Event