Thread Direct Aims to Simplify Matter Setup Challenges

The Thread networking protocol is rolling out a new feature called Thread Direct, which simplifies the onboarding process for devices without needing a Thread border router. This means users can set up Thread-enabled gadgets like smart plugs and locks using just a mobile device that has a Thread radio. Many recent smartphones, including various iPhones, newer Pixel models, and the latest Samsung flagships, come equipped with this capability.

Thread is a key player in the smart home interoperability standard known as Matter. It’s a low-power, low-latency mesh networking protocol that allows devices to communicate locally within your home, while Matter governs how these devices interact. Major platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant all support Matter.

Traditionally, setting up Thread devices required a compatible Thread border router—devices like Apple TV, Eero Wi-Fi routers, Google Nest Hubs, or certain Amazon Echo models. These always-on devices connect a Thread network to other networks and the internet. While many smart homes already have a border router, a significant number do not, creating a frustrating barrier for new users. This issue was highlighted when Matter launched in 2022 and remains relevant today.

This has led to a common scenario: a user purchases a Thread-enabled device, like a smart lock, only to find they can’t set it up due to the absence of a Thread border router. Thread Direct aims to bridge that gap.

Matter is a smart home interoperability standard that enables connected devices to communicate locally without needing a cloud connection. It’s designed to be secure, private, easy to set up, and widely compatible. Developed by a coalition of tech giants, Matter serves as an open-source, IP-based connectivity layer for smart home devices. It operates over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and the low-power mesh networking protocol Thread, supporting a wide range of device types, including lighting, thermostats, locks, and more.

Devices featuring the Matter logo can be set up and used within any Matter-compatible ecosystem through a Matter controller, and they can be managed by multiple platforms thanks to a feature called multi-admin. Major smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home support Matter, along with numerous device manufacturers.

While Thread Direct doesn’t eliminate the need for a Thread border router, it does reduce the dependency on it for initial device setup. According to Thread Group’s head of marketing, this feature aims to streamline the process of setting up and managing Thread devices directly from a mobile device, with potential applications extending to smart shades and other devices. Users can pair these devices using a Thread-enabled phone.

With Thread Direct, a mobile device can directly communicate with a Thread device during setup, allowing users to add products to their smart home app. Although a Thread border router will still be necessary for full functionality—like remote access and automations—these can be integrated later.

This approach mirrors how Apple’s HomeKit functioned before Matter, where Bluetooth devices could be set up and controlled locally with an iPhone, but required a Home hub for remote access and automations. While most smartphones support Bluetooth, only a few have Thread capabilities. Apple and Google, early supporters of Thread, have started integrating Thread radios into their devices, beginning with the iPhone 15 Pro and Google Pixel 8 Pro, and now extending to their latest models.

Apple continues to support HomeKit and Bluetooth while expanding its Matter and Thread capabilities. The introduction of Thread with the HomePod Mini in 2020 and the recent update to tvOS 27, which includes Thread 1.4 for Apple TVs, showcases this commitment. With iOS 18, iPhones can now directly control Matter and Thread devices in Apple Home, and Thread Direct seems poised to enhance onboarding across more Thread-enabled mobile devices.

Thread Direct is anticipated to be included in the upcoming Thread specification update, likely Thread 2.0, though a release timeline has yet to be announced.