Nanoleaf is a Canadian smart lighting brand, best known for modular wall light panels such as Shapes, Canvas, Elements and Lines. It also sells Essentials bulbs, downlights, light strips and a ceiling light. One app sets up and controls the range. In May 2026 OneRobotics announced a deal to acquire the company, to be completed in stages over 24 months.
Nanoleaf has two connection styles. The panel ranges connect over Wi-Fi and work with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings, and they also expose a local API on the home network. The Essentials range and newer lights use Matter, over Thread with Bluetooth for setup, or over Wi-Fi on the newer Wi-Fi products. Matter over Thread needs a Thread border router, and Nanoleaf Lines, Shapes and Elements controllers can act as one.
That suits anyone who wants lighting inside Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa or SmartThings, or who wants local control from tools such as Home Assistant. It is less clear-cut for mixed households, because compatibility differs by product line: the 2020 Essentials work with HomeKit only, and we could not confirm Matter on the panel ranges.
Connection
Wi-Fi (panels), Thread and Bluetooth (Essentials)
Voice assistants
Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home and SmartThings
Matter
Yes, on Essentials and newer lights
Open platforms
Home Assistant, Homey, openHAB and a local API
What can be connected
Light panels Light Panels, Canvas, Shapes, Elements, Lines and Blocks
Bulbs and strips Essentials bulbs, downlights, light strips and string lights
Other Screen mirror and 4D, Skylight, Sense+ smart switch and a ceiling light
The main app for setup and control of the whole range: scenes, schedules, room grouping, community scenes and an AR layout assistant for panels. The App Store listing names Apple Home, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings, and says cloud control with Apple Home needs an Apple home hub. Published by Nanoleaf.
A desktop app for Windows and macOS. It was released as a beta in 2019, and Nanoleaf's API documentation still refers to a Nanoleaf Desktop App. We could not find a current download page or feature list.
Official supported by the brandCommunity built by someone elseNot found searched, nothing foundUnconfirmed sources conflict or could not be opened
Platform
Status
What it means
Sources
Connection
Wi-Fi
Yes
The panel ranges (Light Panels, Canvas, Shapes, Elements, Lines) connect over Wi-Fi, and openHAB's binding states it supports only Wi-Fi devices. Newer Matter products can also use Wi-Fi: Nanoleaf's API documentation covers Matter Wi-Fi Essentials, and the 2026 ceiling light supports Matter over Wi-Fi.
The Nanoleaf app pairs and controls Essentials lights over Bluetooth and Thread using Nanoleaf's own protocol, preferring Thread when a border router is online. For Matter, Bluetooth is used only for pairing.
Essentials lights use Thread. Separately, Nanoleaf Lines, Shapes and Elements can act as Thread border routers, with firmware 8.5.2 and app 9.1.0 or later. Nanoleaf says they are not a home hub, so each ecosystem's own hub is still needed for Matter.
Neither is mentioned on the Nanoleaf pages we opened. The Hue wall light module that links to Shapes panels is a Philips product; we could not confirm which radio it uses.
Essentials lights work with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings over Matter. The first-generation 2020 Essentials will not be updated to Matter and work with HomeKit only. Matter also applies to Wi-Fi products such as the 2026 ceiling light. We could not confirm Matter on Shapes, Elements, Lines or Canvas. Nanoleaf's border routers are not Matter controllers or bridges.
The Nanoleaf app lists Google Assistant. Matter devices such as Essentials are added in the Google Home app, with a Google hub such as a Nest Hub (2nd gen) acting as the border router.
The Nanoleaf app lists Alexa, and Nanoleaf's support pages name Alexa among the Matter ecosystems, with an Echo (4th gen) as a border router. Nanoleaf says Alexa does not share Thread credentials through the phone credential store, so Nanoleaf's routers cannot join Amazon's Thread network.
The Nanoleaf app lists SmartThings, and Nanoleaf's pages name SmartThings among the Matter ecosystems, with the SmartThings Station, 2018 Hub or Aeotec hub as border routers.
Philips says Shapes Hexagons, Triangles and Mini Triangles can be added to the Hue app with a Hue wall light module, with up to 100 panels. A Hue Bridge is not required but unlocks more features. Other Nanoleaf products are not supported in the Hue app. Press coverage says that through a Hue Bridge, Apple Home and Google Home see the panels as ordinary Hue lights without gradients or effects.
A built-in Nanoleaf integration covers Light Panels, Canvas, Shapes, Elements, Lines and Essentials, and is listed as local push. Essentials do not push state changes, so app changes can take up to a minute to appear. Essentials can also be controlled over Thread and Bluetooth through the HomeKit Controller integration, and Matter devices through Home Assistant's Matter integration.
Nanoleaf Ltd publishes an official Homey app. It lists Matter devices (downlight, bulbs, light strips, string lights) and LAN devices (Aurora, Blocks, Canvas, Elements, Lines, Shapes, Skylight, 4D screen mirror, display case), all marked as needing a Homey Bridge. The listing does not name Essentials, and its last update was about two years ago when we checked.
A Nanoleaf binding is in openHAB's documentation for Light Panels, Shapes, Elements, Lines and Canvas. It supports Wi-Fi devices only, needs firmware 1.5.0 or later, finds controllers locally and uses a token generated by holding the controller's power button. Thread devices are not supported.
TapHome publishes a template that talks to Nanoleaf's local API over the LAN with no cloud. It covers the Wi-Fi products and Matter Wi-Fi Essentials, and not Thread-only Essentials or Skylight.
Nanoleaf publishes Open API documentation: a REST and JSON interface for local networks that covers Light Panels, Matter Wi-Fi Essentials and the USB Light-strip. The community integrations above use the local API on port 16021 with a token created by holding the controller's power button for 5 to 7 seconds. The documentation page does not describe authorization itself.
Nanoleaf announced an MCP server on 30 September 2026 that lets AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Codex and Gemini CLI control its lights. Pre-built ChatGPT and Claude integrations were scheduled for October 2026. The reports do not list compatible models or requirements.
Checked 11 November 2026 against the brand's own pages, app store listings and each project's own page. “Not found” means we searched and found nothing, not that it is impossible. Compatibility changes often. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.
Common questions about Nanoleaf
Does Nanoleaf support Matter?
Yes. Essentials lights work with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings over Matter. The first-generation 2020 Essentials will not be updated to Matter and work with HomeKit only. Matter also applies to Wi-Fi products such as the 2026 ceiling light. We could not confirm Matter on Shapes, Elements, Lines or Canvas. Nanoleaf's border routers are not Matter controllers or bridges.
Does Nanoleaf work with Alexa?
Yes, officially. The Nanoleaf app lists Alexa, and Nanoleaf's support pages name Alexa among the Matter ecosystems, with an Echo (4th gen) as a border router. Nanoleaf says Alexa does not share Thread credentials through the phone credential store, so Nanoleaf's routers cannot join Amazon's Thread network.
Does Nanoleaf work with Google Home?
Yes, officially. The Nanoleaf app lists Google Assistant. Matter devices such as Essentials are added in the Google Home app, with a Google hub such as a Nest Hub (2nd gen) acting as the border router.
Does Nanoleaf work with Apple Home (HomeKit)?
Yes, officially. The Nanoleaf app lists HomeKit and says cloud control needs an Apple home hub. Matter devices can be added to Apple Home on iOS.
Does Nanoleaf work with Home Assistant?
Yes. A built-in Nanoleaf integration covers Light Panels, Canvas, Shapes, Elements, Lines and Essentials, and is listed as local push. Essentials do not push state changes, so app changes can take up to a minute to appear. Essentials can also be controlled over Thread and Bluetooth through the HomeKit Controller integration, and Matter devices through Home Assistant's Matter integration.
Does Nanoleaf work with SmartThings?
Yes, officially. The Nanoleaf app lists SmartThings, and Nanoleaf's pages name SmartThings among the Matter ecosystems, with the SmartThings Station, 2018 Hub or Aeotec hub as border routers.
Does Nanoleaf work with Homey?
Yes, officially. Nanoleaf Ltd publishes an official Homey app. It lists Matter devices (downlight, bulbs, light strips, string lights) and LAN devices (Aurora, Blocks, Canvas, Elements, Lines, Shapes, Skylight, 4D screen mirror, display case), all marked as needing a Homey Bridge. The listing does not name Essentials, and its last update was about two years ago when we checked.
Does Nanoleaf work with Hubitat?
Unconfirmed. We could not confirm a Hubitat driver for Nanoleaf; no source was found among the pages we opened.
Answers come from the sourced table above. See how Nanoleaf compares with all brands on the smart home brand statistics page.