Updated: 2026-10-04 · Applies to: zigbee2mqtt 2.14

Zigbee2MQTT

What it is: A standalone service that runs a Zigbee coordinator and translates between Zigbee and MQTT. That lets Home Assistant, Node-RED or anything that speaks MQTT use it. Z2M docs It's an alternative to ZHA. The current version is 2.14.2 (10/2026). Z2M docs

How it works

According to Z2M docs:

• When pairing, Z2M "interviews" the device: what it is, which endpoints and clusters it has. Converters (Zigbee-Herdsman-Converters) then define per model what gets bound and how it maps to MQTT. Most devices use generic converters.
• A device sends a message, Z2M forwards it as an MQTT message, and the MQTT controller (HA, Node-RED) decides what happens.
• Frontend: a web UI for pairing, binding, groups and the network map.

Key features

• Pairing: permit join in the frontend opens for 254 s. You can pick a specific router for the device to join through. Z2M docs
• Binding and groups: devices control each other directly (dimmer → bulb or group), even when HA, Z2M or the coordinator is down. Z2M sets up reporting when binding. Z2M docs
• Network configuration in configuration.yaml:
  • channel: ZLL channels 11, 15, 20 or 25 are recommended.
  • pan_id, ext_pan_id
  • network_key: GENERATE creates a random key.
  • Source: Z2M docs
• Adapters: use a recommended adapter. CC2530 and CC2531 perform poorly. Z2M docs
  • Silicon Labs with EmberZNet (e.g. ZBT-2): adapter: ember. ZBT-2 docs
  • An SLZB network coordinator via a TCP socket; SLZB-OS's configuration generator prints the values. SLZB-OS manual
• Migration to ZHA works with the old adapter or from a Z2M backup (coordinator_backup.json), see Zigbee coordinator migration. ZBT-2 docs

Gotchas

• Changing the network_key requires re-pairing all devices. Changing the channel may require re-pairing some devices and only works with zstack and ember adapters. Z2M docs
• ZHA is active in HA by default. When using Z2M, delete and ignore the discovered ZHA integration. ZBT-2 docs
• Support for Z2M comes from the Z2M community (forum, Discord), not Nabu Casa. ZBT-2 docs
• Z2M doesn't need much in the way of resources, but on weak hardware (e.g. a Raspberry Pi 3 together with HA) performance can suffer. Z2M docs

Integrations

• Home Assistant via MQTT discovery, Node-RED via MQTT, ZHA (migration)

Related

• Zigbee, ZHA, MQTT, Zigbee coordinator migration

Sources

• Z2M docs: Zigbee2MQTT documentation (network, binding, pairing, configuration, adapters).
• ZBT-2 docs: ember adapter, migration to ZHA.
• SLZB-OS manual: network coordinator.