I turned my Raspberry Pi into a voice assistant: here’s how (2025)

Home Assistant is a popular platform for bringing various smart devices together under one roof. Setting up a voice assistant within Home Assistant allows you to control your home using simple, hands-free commands. This can be especially helpful when you are busy cooking or have your hands full and want immediate access to lights, thermostats, or other automation features. A Raspberry Pi provides a reliable and budget-friendly way to host Home Assistant, and it can integrate well with a wide range of add-ons and hardware. With the correct setup, you can create a seamless experience that feels natural and easy to use.

Whether you are entirely new to smart home automation or simply curious about the benefits of local voice control, this guide will help you get started. Installing a voice assistant in Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi may seem involved, but it can be a rewarding project with the proper steps. Following the outlined instructions, you can manage your home environment with minimal fuss and maximum convenience. You will soon find that a voice assistant can be a valuable addition to your setup, enhancing efficiency and user experience.

Reasons to add voice control at home

A voice assistant can simplify daily tasks by allowing you to issue commands even when you are in a different room. This technology can make your home more accessible to family members who may be uncomfortable using touchscreen interfaces or smartphones. A voice assistant allows you to handle chores, check the weather, or play music without pressing a single button. It can also introduce a fun and modern element to your home that impresses visitors. In addition, local control on a Raspberry Pi ensures more privacy compared to cloud-based solutions.

The items you need for this setup are not extensive, but each part plays a vital role in a smooth installation. You will need a Raspberry Pi (preferably a newer model for better performance), a microSD card with sufficient storage capacity, and a USB microphone or speaker-microphone combination.

You should also have a reliable power supply, Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connection, and a monitor or display for the initial configuration process. Your Home Assistant installation will benefit from up-to-date software, so have a computer handy to download any necessary images or updates. It is a good idea to verify that your Raspberry Pi is working correctly before proceeding with the voice assistant installation.

I tested this using both a Raspberry Pi 4B and a Raspberry Pi 5, and the Pi 5 definitely came closest to a performant voice assistant. In my testing on the 4B, it often took 8 to 10 seconds for the voice assistant to respond to queries.

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  Raspberry Pi 4

  $85 at Amazon

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  Raspberry Pi 5

  $89 at Amazon (8GB)

Steps to install the voice assistant

You will download and configure the required software to get started and then integrate a suitable voice assistant add-on into your existing Home Assistant setup. This process involves setting up your Raspberry Pi for Home Assistant, installing a voice recognition add-on, and testing the final configuration to ensure it works properly. Take your time to ensure that each component is updated to the latest version and functions as expected.

1. Install Home Assistant on your Raspberry Pi. Follow these instructions to use the official Home Assistant image on the Home Assistant website or within the Raspberry Pi Imager and flash it onto your microSD card using software such as Balena Etcher. For more detailed instructions, we’ve got a handy guide to get you started.
2. Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi, connect a monitor, attach a USB microphone or speaker-microphone, and connect your Raspberry Pi to the Ethernet port of your router. This is essential since the initial configuration of Home Assistant requires an Ethernet connection.
3. Next, power on the Raspberry Pi and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial Home Assistant setup.
4. Once Home Assistant is running, navigate to the dashboard’s Settings -> Add-ons section.

   

5. Click on the Add-on Store button at the bottom right.

   

6. Install the Whisper and Piper add-ons from the Add-On Store. If you want a custom wake word, install the openWakeWord add-on.

   

7. Start the add-ons, then go to Settings -> Devices & Services. In the Discovered section, you should see tiles for Piper and Whisper.

   

8. Click Add for Whisper and Piper, and configure them according to your setup.

   

Both add-ons communicate using the Wyoming Protocol. Whisper converts your speech into text, while Piper converts text to speech.

With the add-ons installed and running, we can install the voice assistant.

1. Go to Settings -> Voice Assistants.

   

2. Open the configuration panel for the newly installed add-ons and adjust the settings. As prompted by the add-on's documentation, specify your microphone device, language preferences, wake word, and any other relevant details.

   

3. Save your changes, restart the voice assistant add-on, and verify it is correctly connected to Home Assistant. Test your wake word and voice commands to confirm that lights, switches, and other devices respond correctly.
4. To find the ideal balance, make any necessary tweaks to your microphone sensitivity, hot word detection, or response times. Experiment with different microphone and speaker placements to ensure clear and accurate voice recognition.

Key points to keep in mind

Configuring a voice assistant on your Raspberry Pi is a practical way to boost convenience in your everyday life. You can tailor the assistant’s settings to match your personal preferences and interact with all connected devices at the sound of your voice. Keeping your software updated is essential to maintaining the best performance and taking advantage of new features or fixes. Once you gain experience, you might explore advanced automation options or additional add-ons for more sophisticated control. With planning and the right combination of hardware and software, your home will respond seamlessly to your spoken requests.

Home Assistant

See at Apple App StoreSee at Google Play StoreSee at Home Assistant