2025.1: Finishing backups section
@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
|
||||
layout: post
|
||||
title: "2025.1: Beta release notes"
|
||||
description: "Beta release notes for Home Assistant 2025.1"
|
||||
date: 2024-12-23 00:00:00
|
||||
date: 2025-01-03 00:00:00
|
||||
date_formatted: "January 3, 2025"
|
||||
author: Franck Nijhof
|
||||
author_twitter: frenck
|
||||
@ -69,23 +69,31 @@ Don't forget to [join our release party live stream on YouTube](https://www.yout
|
||||
|
||||
Home Assistant 2025.1! 🥂
|
||||
|
||||
Enjoy the (beta) release!
|
||||
Happy New Year! I and the whole team wish you and your loved ones a fantastic
|
||||
and healthy 2025! ❤️
|
||||
|
||||
This year is starting with a bang!
|
||||
|
||||
Enjoy the release!
|
||||
|
||||
../Frenck
|
||||
|
||||
<!--more-->
|
||||
|
||||
- [Better backups!](#better-backups)
|
||||
- [Overhaul of the backup system](#overhaul-of-the-backup-system)
|
||||
- [Automated backups 🤖](#automated-backups-)
|
||||
- [Encrypted backups by default 🔒](#encrypted-backups-by-default-)
|
||||
- [Triggering an off-schedule automated backup](#triggering-an-off-schedule-automated-backup)
|
||||
- [Home Assistant Cloud backups 😎](#home-assistant-cloud-backups-)
|
||||
- [Backup locations are extendable by design 🧩](#backup-locations-are-extendable-by-design-)
|
||||
- [Encrypted backups by default 🔒](#encrypted-backups-by-default-)
|
||||
- [Restoring backups available to all installation methods 🤗](#restoring-backups-available-to-all-installation-methods-)
|
||||
- [Backup retention 🗑](#backup-retention-)
|
||||
- [Setting up backups for the first time 🚀](#setting-up-backups-for-the-first-time-)
|
||||
- [Time to get serious about backups](#time-to-get-serious-about-backups)
|
||||
- [Month of "What the Heck?!"](#month-of-what-the-heck)
|
||||
- [Setting category and labels when creating automations and scripts](#setting-category-and-labels-when-creating-automations-and-scripts)
|
||||
- [Quickly navigate to a device](#quickly-navigate-to-a-device)
|
||||
- [Zooom \& Pan for charts](#zooom--pan-for-charts)
|
||||
- [Zoom \& Pan for charts](#zoom--pan-for-charts)
|
||||
- [Controlling the default exposure of new entities to Assist](#controlling-the-default-exposure-of-new-entities-to-assist)
|
||||
- [Reordering individual devices on the energy dashboard](#reordering-individual-devices-on-the-energy-dashboard)
|
||||
- [More "What the Heck?!" improvements](#more-what-the-heck-improvements)
|
||||
@ -101,108 +109,173 @@ Enjoy the (beta) release!
|
||||
- [Backward-incompatible changes](#backward-incompatible-changes)
|
||||
- [All changes](#all-changes)
|
||||
|
||||
## Better backups!
|
||||
## Overhaul of the backup system
|
||||
|
||||
This release brings big updates to the backup system in Home Assistant. We have
|
||||
fully revamped the whole backup experience and added a lot of new features to
|
||||
make it easier to use, but more importantly, it will provide you with a lot
|
||||
more ease of mind when it comes to your backups.
|
||||
Let’s talk about backups. Let’s be honest: they’re one of the most important yet
|
||||
often overlooked tasks. But when disaster strikes, like a hardware failure,
|
||||
having a reliable backup can save the day. You would love to have your home back
|
||||
up and running quickly after such an event, right?
|
||||
|
||||
While Home Assistant's previous backup system has proven to be solid
|
||||
and reliable over the years, it didn't exactly make following best
|
||||
practices—like regular backups, encryption, and off-site
|
||||
storage—easy. Many of you had to rely on custom add-ons, automations,
|
||||
or blueprints for backups to fill the gaps.
|
||||
|
||||
**That changes with this release! 🎉**
|
||||
|
||||
We've completely reworked the Home Assistant backup experience to help you set
|
||||
up a solid backup strategy, using best practices in just a few clicks;
|
||||
giving you a peace of mind when it comes to your backups.
|
||||
|
||||
No worries, if you are using any custom solution for backups, they will continue
|
||||
to work today. Even with everything new, we've made sure to keep everything
|
||||
backward compatible.
|
||||
|
||||
So, without further ado, let's dive into the new backup system!
|
||||
|
||||
### Automated backups 🤖
|
||||
|
||||
Yes! You've read that title correctly! Home Assistant now has the ability to
|
||||
automatically create backups for you on a configurable frequency!
|
||||
Yes, you read that right—Home Assistant now supports automated backups!
|
||||
|
||||
This is a major improvement for the backup system, as it will now ensure you
|
||||
always have a recent backup available, without you having to worry about it.
|
||||
Using a schedule, backups will be created on a regular basis without you having
|
||||
to lift a finger. This ensures you always have a recent backup available,
|
||||
without having to worry about it.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="The new backup overview page shows you exactly when your last backup took place" src="/images/blog/2025-01/temp-backup-window.png" />
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Screenshot showing the bew backup overview page which shows you exactly when your last backup took place" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-status.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
When you now navigate to your backups in the setting screen, you will be
|
||||
When you navigate to your backups in the settings menu, you will be
|
||||
greeted with a new overview page that shows you exactly when your last backup
|
||||
took place, and when the next one is scheduled. Instant peace of mind!
|
||||
took place and when the next one is scheduled. Instant peace of mind!
|
||||
|
||||
That said, if anything does go wrong while creating a backup, Home Assistant
|
||||
will raise an issue in the repair center to ensure you are aware of it.
|
||||
Automated backups are taking place at 4:45 AM. So, while everyone in your home
|
||||
is sleeping, Home Assistant makes sure your data is safe and sound. At this
|
||||
time, Home Assistant also finished internal database maintenance, ensuring your
|
||||
backup is as compact as possible.
|
||||
|
||||
### Encrypted backups by default 🔒
|
||||
If something ever goes wrong during the automated scheduled backup process,
|
||||
Home Assistant will notify you through the repair center, ensuring you are
|
||||
aware of it and can take action.
|
||||
|
||||
All backups are now encrypted by default. Previously, it was possible to
|
||||
optionally set a password for your backups. However, this was not enforced and
|
||||
could be skipped.
|
||||
### Triggering an off-schedule automated backup
|
||||
|
||||
As of this release, we've prioritized the security of your backups and have
|
||||
replaced the optional password with a mandatory encryption key. This key is
|
||||
required to restore your ([AES-128] encrypted) backups, and it is essential to
|
||||
keep it safe and ensure your privacy is protected.
|
||||
Automated backups on a schedule are great, but sometimes, you might want to
|
||||
trigger a backup right now! Maybe you are about to make big changes or upgrade
|
||||
a whole bunch of things during an evening of tinkering.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="The new backup overview page shows you exactly when your last backup took place" src="/images/blog/2025-01/temp-backup-encryption-key.png" />
|
||||
No worries! You can now trigger an off-schedule automated backup from the backup
|
||||
page at any time. This will immediately create a backup with the same
|
||||
configuration as your scheduled automated backups.
|
||||
|
||||
The first time when you set up your backups, and encryption key will be
|
||||
generated for you. Make sure to store this key in a safe place, as you will
|
||||
need it to restore your backups. To make this easier, you can download the
|
||||
encryption key as an emergency kit directly when you set up your backups,
|
||||
but you can also download it at any time from the backup settings page.
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Screenshot showing the backup now button + dialog that allows you to trigger an off-schedule backup at any time" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-backup-now.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
[AES-128]: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard
|
||||
The ability to trigger an off-schedule regular backup is excellent, as it covers
|
||||
everything you have in a single go. However, the ability to create manual
|
||||
backups also still exists. This allows you to create a very specific backup with
|
||||
the exact contents you want to have in it.
|
||||
|
||||
### Home Assistant Cloud backups 😎
|
||||
|
||||
Are you a Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa subscriber? Then you're in for a
|
||||
treat! You can now store your latest encrypted backup in your Home Assistant
|
||||
Cloud account storage up to 5GB!
|
||||
treat! You can now automatically store your latest, fully encrypted, backup in
|
||||
your Home Assistant Cloud account.
|
||||
|
||||
**This feature is added to all existing and new Home Assistant Cloud
|
||||
subscribers without any additional costs! 🎁**
|
||||
**This feature provides 5GB of storage at no extra cost, offering fully
|
||||
encrypted off-site protection for your data! 🎁**
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Home Assistant Cloud is now a backup target location, that is included with the Home Assistant Cloud subscription" src="/images/blog/2025-01/temp-backup-home-assistant-cloud.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
So not only, are your backups automatically created and encrypted, but also
|
||||
automatically uploaded to an off-site location for you, ensuring you always
|
||||
have a safe backup available.
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Home Assistant Cloud is now a backup target location, that is included with the Home Assistant Cloud subscription at no additional costs" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-home-assistant-cloud.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
The backup can be downloaded from Home Assistant itself, but also from the
|
||||
Home Assistant Cloud account page @ Nabu Casa in case you need it.
|
||||
|
||||
Again, make sure to keep your encryption key safe, as you will need it to
|
||||
restore your backups. The encryption key is not stored anywhere else, not even
|
||||
in Home Assistant Cloud, to ensure your privacy is protected.
|
||||
Home Assistant Cloud account page @ Nabu Casa in case you need it. This way,
|
||||
you can always access your latest backup, even in case you Home Assistant
|
||||
hardware failed completely.
|
||||
|
||||
### Backup locations are extendable by design 🧩
|
||||
|
||||
So, automated backup can be backed up to your local disk to Home Assistant
|
||||
Cloud, but what if you want to store your backups somewhere else?
|
||||
|
||||
As one expects from Home Assistant, we want to make everything as flexible as
|
||||
possible without any vendor lock-in. Therefore, the backup system is designed
|
||||
to be extendable, meaning integrations can now provide additional backup
|
||||
locations.
|
||||
Choice is an important aspect of Home Assistant; we want to make everything as
|
||||
flexible as possible without vendor lock-in. Therefore, the backup system
|
||||
is designed to be **extendable**.
|
||||
|
||||
Right now, everything is brand new ✨ **no integrations provide this yet**, but
|
||||
we are sure we see more integrations providing backup locations in the future.
|
||||
Integration could provide a backup location to store backups on a, for example,
|
||||
a NAS, Google Drive, Backblaze B2, or any other storage provider.
|
||||
This means **integrations** can offer new storage locations—such as NAS devices,
|
||||
Google Drive, Backblaze B2, or other storage providers—in the future.
|
||||
|
||||
Choice is an important aspect of Home Assistant, and this is how we have made
|
||||
that aspect count for the backup system as well.
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Screenshot showing an potential example storage provider provided by an integration" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-integration-location.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
Currently, this feature is brand new ✨, so **no** integrations offer additional
|
||||
location yet. But we are sure we see a few more integrations providing
|
||||
backup locations in the next release.
|
||||
|
||||
This extensibility ensures you can store your backups where you want them,
|
||||
giving you the flexibility and choice to choose the storage solution you
|
||||
prefer and trust.
|
||||
|
||||
### Encrypted backups by default 🔒
|
||||
|
||||
With the addition of Home Assistant Cloud as an off-site backup location, and
|
||||
the potential for integrations to offer even more (off-site) backup locations,
|
||||
security has become more important than ever. Noone should be able to access
|
||||
the contents of your backups! **Ever!**
|
||||
|
||||
That is why all backups are now encrypted by default. We have prioritized your
|
||||
backups' security and replaced the previous optional password with a mandatory
|
||||
encryption key.
|
||||
|
||||
This key is required to restore your ([AES-128] encrypted) backups, and it is
|
||||
essential to keep it safe and ensure your privacy is protected.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="The new backup overview page shows you exactly when your last backup took place" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-encryption.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
When you set up your backups for the first time, an encryption key will be
|
||||
generated for you. Make sure to store this key in a safe place, as you will need
|
||||
it to restore your backups. To make this easier, you can download the key as
|
||||
part of an emergency kit during setup—or anytime later from the backup settings
|
||||
page. Keep it safe! 🔑
|
||||
|
||||
[AES-128]: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard
|
||||
|
||||
### Restoring backups available to all installation methods 🤗
|
||||
|
||||
More good news—restoring backups is now supported across
|
||||
**all installation methods!** 🎉
|
||||
|
||||
Previously, only Home Assistant OS installations could restore backups. But
|
||||
with this release, this feature is now available for all installation methods!
|
||||
No matter how you run Home Assistant, even if you use our containers in a Docker
|
||||
environment, you can now restore your Home Assistant backups.
|
||||
|
||||
This also means you can restore backups from local storage, Home Assistant
|
||||
Cloud, or any future backup locations added through integrations.
|
||||
|
||||
As a matter of fact, all backup features, including everything we release today,
|
||||
will be available regardless of the installation method you are using. We want
|
||||
everyone to have a solid backup strategy.
|
||||
|
||||
### Backup retention 🗑
|
||||
|
||||
Our previous backup system would just make backups, which was good, but...
|
||||
eventually you'd annoyingly run out of disk space. 😬
|
||||
Our previous backup system made solid backups, which was good, but if you didn't
|
||||
clean them up manually, eventually, you'd annoyingly run out of disk space. 😬
|
||||
|
||||
So! Backup retention is now a thing! You can now configure how many backups you
|
||||
want to keep, and the system will automatically clean up old backups for you.
|
||||
want to keep, and Home Assistant will handle the rest.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="You can now configure a retention policy for your backups, allowing Home Assistant to clean it up automatically" src="/images/blog/2025-01/temp-backup-retention.png" />
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="You can now configure a retention policy for your backups, allowing Home Assistant to clean it up automatically" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-retention.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
This cleanup will happen automatically after each backup. If you create a backup
|
||||
manually, for whatever reason, those will remain untouched, giving you full
|
||||
control over special cases and workflows.
|
||||
|
||||
### Setting up backups for the first time 🚀
|
||||
|
||||
When you navigate to the backup settings for the first time after upgrading
|
||||
to this release, you will be greeted with a new setup wizard that will guide
|
||||
you through the process of setting up your backups in the new system.
|
||||
Getting started with the new backup system is quick and easy!
|
||||
|
||||
The first time you open the backup settings after upgrading, you will be greeted
|
||||
by a **setup wizard** that will guide you through setting up your backups
|
||||
step-by-step.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="Screenshot of the our friendly wizard that will help you setting up your backups" src="/images/blog/2025-01/backups-wizard.png" />
|
||||
|
||||
The wizard will help you set up your encryption key, configure your backup
|
||||
frequency, and set up your backup retention policy. And when it is ready, it
|
||||
@ -210,6 +283,17 @@ will immediately kick off your first backup!
|
||||
|
||||
All set! One less thing to worry about 🎉
|
||||
|
||||
### Time to get serious about backups
|
||||
|
||||
We are super excited about this new backup system! As we enter the new year,
|
||||
we encourage you to get serious about your backups.
|
||||
A good New Year’s resolution, maybe? 😉
|
||||
|
||||
So, stop what you are doing right now and set up your backups! Go ahead and set
|
||||
up that 3-2-1 backup strategy. Not sure what that is?
|
||||
|
||||
**You can read all about it in our [Time to get serious about backups blog post](/blog/2025/01/06/time-to-get-serious-about-backups/)**
|
||||
|
||||
## Month of "What the Heck?!"
|
||||
|
||||
We had the Month of "What the Heck?!" in December, and it was a blast! 🎉
|
||||
@ -258,7 +342,7 @@ keyboard.
|
||||
|
||||
<img class="no-shadow" alt="If you press the d on your keyboard, it will pop up the Quickbar for devices." src="/images/blog/2025-01/391675502-36f624b7-786f-486b-89a6-e86bc0a5f9fc.png"/>
|
||||
|
||||
## Zooom & Pan for charts
|
||||
### Zoom & Pan for charts
|
||||
|
||||
KNXBroker raised the the following WTH topic:
|
||||
|
||||
|
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-backup-now.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 112 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-encryption.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 99 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-home-assistant-cloud.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 76 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-integration-location.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 89 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-retention.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 98 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-status.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 69 KiB |
BIN
source/images/blog/2025-01/backups-wizard.png
Normal file
After Width: | Height: | Size: 147 KiB |
Before Width: | Height: | Size: 76 KiB |
Before Width: | Height: | Size: 71 KiB |
Before Width: | Height: | Size: 89 KiB |
Before Width: | Height: | Size: 59 KiB |