How to Set Up Home Assistant Behind CGNAT

If you’re trying to access your Home Assistant setup from outside your home network but are stuck behind CGNAT (Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation), you might face some challenges. CGNAT can make remote access to your smart home devices more difficult because it doesn’t provide a unique public IP address for your home network. However, there are ways to work around this and still control your Home Assistant from anywhere.

Here’s a guide on how to do it.

What is CGNAT?

CGNAT is a technology used by internet providers to conserve public IP addresses. With CGNAT, multiple households share a single public IP address, making direct access to your home network from the outside more difficult. This can complicate setting up services like Home Assistant that require remote access.

4 Ways to Get Around CGNAT for Home Assistant 

If you are struggling with CGNAT barriers while setting up Home Assistant, fret not. Here are a few easy ways to get around these roadblocks and access your Home Assistant remotely.

1. Use Home Assistant Cloud (Nabu Casa)

Home Assistant Cloud comes with the Remote UI feature, allowing direct connection to your Home Assistant instance from anywhere. After enabling it, a security certificate is generated for safe communication and a unique URL is provided. You can use this URL to securely access your Home Assistant from any location.

Here is how you can enable it:

1. Open Settings > Home Assistant Cloud and log in to your Home Assistant Cloud account. 

2. In the Remote Control section, toggle on to enable. Activation might take up to a minute as the system generates and validates your security certificate. 

3. A unique URL will then appear, which is your remote access link to Home Assistant. The URL functions only when your local instance connects to the remote UI server. 

4. To control remote access from outside your network, enable Allow external activation of remote control.
5. You can now access Home Assistant from outside your home network using the URL provided.

2. Try a Port Forwarding VPN

Using a port forwarding VPN offers a direct route to connect to your Home Assistant even when CGNAT is in play. By rerouting specific internet ports from its server to your local network, it helps you get around CGNAT limitations in no time. 

Make sure to choose a VPN service that supports port forwarding, and configure it to map the ports Home Assistant uses. This way, you can not only remotely access your Home Assistant but do so securely through VPN encryption.

3. Set Up a Reverse Proxy with VPS

Setting up a reverse proxy with a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is an effective way to manage Home Assistant access behind CGNAT. A reverse proxy acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from your Home Assistant server. It routes traffic from an external network to your internal network without direct exposure.

To implement this, rent a VPS from a reliable provider and configure a reverse proxy server software on it. Point the proxy to your Home Assistant’s IP and ports to access your Home Assistant from any location with an extra layer of security (as your home network’s IP is hidden).

4. Get a Static IP Address

Getting a static (or dedicated) IP address can be a straightforward fix as it remains the same over time, which is essential for reliable remote access to your Home Assistant. Just reach out to your internet service provider (ISP) or VPN provider and ask for a static IP. 

There might be an additional charge, but it is worth it for the ease of connectivity it brings. Once set up, your Home Assistant will always be reachable at the same address, making your connection more stable and predictable.

How to Access Home Assistant Remotely Behind CGNAT with PureVPN

Accessing your Home Assistant remotely behind CGNAT can be streamlined using PureVPN’s Port Forwarding add-on. Here is how you can go about it:

1. Choose a PureVPN subscription, add Port Forwarding to your cart, and complete your payment.

2. Download and install the VPN app for your device and log in with your account credentials.

3. Go to the PureVPN Member Area, click the Subscriptions tab, and then hit the Configure button next to Port Forwarding.

4. Use the Enable specific ports option, enter the ports Home Assistant uses, and click Apply Settings.

5. Connect to a port forwarding-supported server to get around CGNAT barriers and access your Home Assistant remotely!

Host a server with a Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding add-on 

A Dedicated IP allows you to create servers and external IP addresses to connect to your server without any IP mapping issues. You need a dedicated IP with a Port Forwarding add-on if you wish to host a game server, get your IP whitelisted, or want your friends to connect to your at-home devices. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IP address of Home Assistant?

The IP address of Home Assistant is typically on your local network, such as 192.168.x.x. If you are using Home Assistant OS with default settings, you can also access it via http://homeassistant.local:8123 in your browser.

Does Home Assistant have remote access?

Yes, Home Assistant supports remote access, but it requires some configuration. You can use methods like Home Assistant Cloud, a port forwarding VPN, a reverse proxy with a VPS, or a static IP address to securely connect to your instance from anywhere.

How do I connect to Home Assistant from my phone?

You can access Home Assistant from your phone using the Home Assistant Companion app, available for iOS and Android. Log in with your Home Assistant account, and set up remote access for seamless connectivity from anywhere.

Final Thoughts

Although CGNAT can make remote access to your Home Assistant more challenging, there are several ways to overcome these obstacles. Whether you opt for the convenience of Nabu Casa, the security of a VPN, or a reverse proxy, you can easily access your smart home devices from anywhere. Choose the option that best fits your needs and technical expertise, and enjoy the benefits of remote control over your smart home, even behind CGNAT.