Yes—an old Android phone can work as a dedicated Home Assistant dashboard if it still supports the Companion app and its screen is readable where you plan to use it. You can set Home Assistant as the phone’s home app, choose a dashboard for that device, and keep the screen awake while the app’s WebView is active. That makes a spare phone a practical reuse option, but it does not prove it is better than every inexpensive tablet.
When an old phone makes sense
A phone is worth trying when its Android version can run the current Home Assistant Companion app, its display is legible from the intended viewing distance, and you can mount and power it conveniently. These are checks for your particular device, not a comparative performance ranking.
Home Assistant’s getting-started documentation lists Android 6 or newer and Home Assistant 0.104.0 or newer as requirements. App support can change: in a post dated July 23, 2025, Home Assistant said Android 5.0 and 5.1 would stop receiving new app updates as dependencies moved to Android 6.0/API 23. Check your phone’s Android version and whether the app is currently available for it before planning a permanent installation. The article also said fewer than 0.3% of installs were on Android versions below API 23; that figure describes the app’s install base in that context, not phone-versus-tablet performance. Home Assistant’s Android app update
Phone or inexpensive tablet: compare the actual devices
Home Assistant documents dedicated dashboards and wall-mounted device setups, including tablet use, but does not publish a measured comparison of old phones and inexpensive tablets. Decide based on the two devices you could actually use, rather than assuming one category is universally better.
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| What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Screen size and readability | Check whether the controls and status information are easy to see at the intended viewing distance. |
| Android version and app availability | Confirm the Companion app can be installed and updated on the candidate device. |
| Physical fit and orientation | Make sure the device fits its mount and can be positioned the way the dashboard will be viewed. |
| Power access and placement | Check whether you can supply power neatly where the device will be used. |
These criteria help you judge fit for your room and setup; they are not evidence that one device type is faster, more reliable, or cheaper to run.
Set up the phone as a Home Assistant dashboard
1. Install and connect the Companion app
Install the Home Assistant Companion app and connect it to your Home Assistant instance with your credentials. The documented minimums are Android 6+ and Home Assistant 0.104.0 or newer; verify current app availability for your particular handset.
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2. Set Home Assistant as the home app
In the Android Companion app settings, choose the Home Assistant home app or launcher option, then set it as the device’s home app when Android prompts you. Pressing the Home button will then return to Home Assistant. The exact Android prompt or wording can vary by device. See Home Assistant’s Android Home App (launcher) instructions.
3. Give the dashboard only the controls needed there
Create a dashboard suited to the phone’s location—for example, the controls you need in that room—and set it as the default dashboard for the user signed in on the device. Home Assistant suggests using a separate user for a kiosk device when it needs a different default dashboard. This keeps the wall display focused on its intended use. The launcher documentation explains the dedicated-dashboard approach.
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4. Keep the display awake if needed
In the Companion app settings, enable Keep screen on if you want the dashboard to remain visible. Home Assistant documents this setting as applying while the WebView activity is active; it is not a guarantee that every phone is suitable for continuous powered display use. See the Android WebView documentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the installation before mounting it
- Confirm software support: Check the phone’s Android version and current Companion app availability.
- Check visibility: Try the dashboard at the actual viewing distance and in the room’s lighting.
- Check fit and orientation: Confirm the phone’s dimensions and preferred orientation work with the mount and location.
- Plan power access: Make sure the cable and power source can reach the intended position.
- Consider long-term use: The documented screen-awake setting does not establish battery or thermal suitability for your specific handset.
Home Assistant describes wall-mounted device use, but its documentation does not validate a particular phone mount. If you choose a wall installation, check that a mount fits your exact phone and orientation before buying or fixing it in place.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
