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You can reuse an older Android phone or tablet as a household dashboard without replacing it: display a Home Assistant page in a kiosk browser or dedicated app, keep the Companion App’s WebView awake, or use Google Home Controls as a screen saver on supported Android versions. The right route depends on the device’s Android version and hardware, how much kiosk control you need, and whether you want an interactive screen or an idle screen saver.
Choose a setup that fits your device and use
Before installing anything, check the tablet’s Android version, hardware architecture if required by the app, and whether it can reach your Home Assistant instance over the network. Then decide whether you want the screen to remain an interactive dashboard, need kiosk or remote-management controls, or would rather show controls from a screen saver while the device is locked and charging.
Home Assistant supports multiple dashboards, so you can select or configure a display suited to a particular device. That flexibility does not guarantee every third-party website will work in an old browser. Home Assistant dashboard documentation
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches1. Use Fully Kiosk Browser for kiosk and device controls
Fully Kiosk Browser is a dedicated Android kiosk browser that can display a chosen start URL. Its Home Assistant integration can expose device information and controls such as plugged-in status, battery level, screen state, brightness, and screensaver behavior. It is a fit when you want more than a browser tab and value device monitoring or screen management. Home Assistant’s Fully Kiosk integration documentation
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Keep the licensing distinction clear: the browser and the remote administration feature are separate considerations. The Home Assistant integration requires Fully Remote Admin, which in turn requires the paid Fully Plus license. The integration’s charging and battery information can help you monitor the device; it does not establish a universally safe charge range or guarantee the lifespan of an aging battery.
2. Install Superdash if the tablet meets its requirements
Superdash is a full-screen Home Assistant wall-panel app. Its published requirements are Android 9 or newer, an arm64 tablet, and a Home Assistant instance reachable from the tablet’s network. The architecture requirement matters: an older tablet running a compatible Android version may still not meet the stated hardware requirement. Superdash project documentation
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3. Consider Dashie as another Home Assistant-focused app
Dashie’s publisher describes it as a full-screen way to display a Home Assistant dashboard, with optional screensaver and voice functions. It is an alternative to investigate if those features suit your setup, rather than a compatibility guarantee for every older Android device. Check the publisher’s current requirements and whether the app supports your particular tablet before relying on it for a permanent panel. Dashie
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4. Keep the Home Assistant Companion App’s WebView awake
If you already use the Home Assistant Companion App, its Android WebView has a setting to keep the screen on while the WebView activity is active. Enable that setting for a simple always-awake display when the app is showing the dashboard. This is scoped to the active WebView; it is not a system-wide promise that the screen will stay on in every app or system state. Home Assistant Companion Android WebView documentation
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5. Use Google Home Controls as a screen saver on Android 15 or newer
Google documents a Home Controls screen saver for Android 15 or higher. It can turn a phone or tablet into an always-on smart-home controller while the device is locked and charging. If your older device is below Android 15, this documented option does not apply; consider one of the kiosk or Companion App approaches instead. Google Home Controls screen saver help
Compare the five approaches
| Approach | Requirements or scope | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Fully Kiosk Browser | Android kiosk browser; Home Assistant integration requires Fully Remote Admin, which requires paid Fully Plus. | Displaying a URL with additional device monitoring and screen controls. |
| Superdash | Android 9 or newer, arm64 tablet, and network access to Home Assistant. | A dedicated full-screen Home Assistant wall panel on supported hardware. |
| Dashie | Publisher describes Home Assistant display plus optional screensaver and voice functions; check compatibility for your tablet. | Trying a Home Assistant-focused alternative with those optional functions. |
| Companion App WebView | Screen-on behavior applies while its WebView activity is active. | A straightforward option when the dashboard is already open in the Companion App. |
| Google Home Controls screen saver | Android 15 or higher; screen saver use while locked and charging. | Showing smart-home controls as an idle screen rather than keeping a general dashboard interactive. |
Set up the display for everyday use
Whichever route you choose, first confirm the dashboard is reachable on the tablet and that its layout is usable at the distance and orientation where it will sit. If wall-mounting it, check the mount against the tablet’s dimensions and orientation, and make sure its buttons, charging port, and cable remain accessible. The sources do not establish a universal charging schedule or safe continuous-charging rule for older batteries; inspect the condition of the particular device and use its status controls where available.
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Fully Kiosk devices can also be targeted by Home Assistant’s start-application action, which documents a way to launch an app on those devices through automation. Home Assistant start-application action
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