Quick Answer: To install HACS, the Home Assistant Community Store, you download it, restart Home Assistant, then add it as an integration and sign in to GitHub. On Home Assistant OS you install it as an app from the hacs/addons repository. On Container and Core you run one script in a terminal. It needs Home Assistant 2024.4.1 or newer and installs community code that Home Assistant says it is not responsible for.
HACS adds a store for community-made integrations, dashboard cards and themes. The steps depend on how you installed Home Assistant. If you are unsure of your type, stop here and read what Home Assistant is and the install types it lists. If you have not installed it yet, start with our Raspberry Pi install guide.
What is HACS in Home Assistant?
HACS stands for Home Assistant Community Store. The HACS site, checked in October 2026, describes it as a custom integration that provides a UI to manage custom elements in Home Assistant. Its prerequisites page adds that HACS itself is not an app and does not contain any apps.
The code it installs comes from community repositories on GitHub. Home Assistant's 2021 security bulletin states that some custom integrations had security issues, and that Home Assistant is not responsible for custom integrations. You use them at your own risk. Treat HACS as a tool for people who are comfortable with that.
What do you need before you install HACS?
You need a supported install and some access. The HACS prerequisites page, read in October 2026, lists these.
- Home Assistant version 2024.4.1 or newer, on a supported installation.
- Access to the file system where the configuration files live, and a way to read the log file.
- A stable internet connection that does not block outgoing requests to GitHub or Cloudflare.
The download page opens with a warning: if you do not know what type of Home Assistant installation you are running, you should not use HACS. Take a backup first, as in our Raspberry Pi backup guide.
How do you install HACS on Home Assistant OS?
Add the HACS app repository, install the app, start it and read its logs. The steps below follow the HACS download page.
- Add the repository
https://github.com/hacs/addons. Home Assistant's common tasks page says to go to Settings, Apps, Install app, open the three dots menu in the top right, choose Repositories, paste the URL and select Add. - Go to Settings, Apps, Install app, select Get HACS and install it.
- Start the app.
- Open the app logs and follow the instructions there.
- Restart Home Assistant.
That common tasks page also warns that Home Assistant cannot guarantee the quality or security of third-party apps, and to use them at your own risk.
How do you install HACS on Container or Core?
You run the HACS download script in a terminal. For Container, open a shell inside the Home Assistant container first. On a Pi you will usually reach the terminal over SSH, as in our SSH guide, and Docker basics are in our Docker guide.
docker exec -it <name of the container running homeassistant> bash
wget -O - https://get.hacs.xyz | bash -On Core, skip the first line, switch to the user that runs Home Assistant and run only the second. The script comes from the HACS project. Piping a download straight into bash runs whatever it fetches, so open the address in a browser first if you want to read it. Then restart Home Assistant.
| Installation type | Method | Source (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Assistant OS or Supervised | Get HACS app from the hacs/addons repository | hacs.xyz download page |
| Container | Run the script inside the container | hacs.xyz download page |
| Core | Run the script as the Home Assistant user | hacs.xyz download page |
How do you set up HACS after installing?
Add it as an integration and authorize it on GitHub. The HACS configuration page gives these steps once you have restarted.
- Go to Settings, Devices & services and clear your browser cache. HACS will not show up unless you clear it or hard refresh.
- Select Add integration, search for HACS, select it, acknowledge the statements and select Submit.
- Copy the device code, open github.com/login/device, sign in to GitHub and enter the code.
- Select Authorize HACS, return to Home Assistant, assign an area and select Finish.
When should you not install HACS?
When the built-in integrations already do what you want. Every custom repository is extra code you must trust and keep updated. Install only what you need, read a repository's page first, and remove things you stopped using.
Frequently asked questions
What is HACS in Home Assistant?
It is the Home Assistant Community Store, a custom integration with a UI for managing community-made custom elements. It is not part of Home Assistant itself.
How do I install HACS on Home Assistant?
Download it for your install type, restart Home Assistant, then add the HACS integration and authorize it with GitHub. OS and Supervised use an app, while Container and Core use a script.
Do I need a GitHub account for HACS?
The setup steps have you sign in to GitHub and enter a device code. If you are not signed in, the page says you need to sign up or sign in to continue.
Is HACS an app?
No. The prerequisites page says HACS itself is not an app and does not contain any apps. On Home Assistant OS you install a helper app to download it.
Why is HACS not showing in my integrations list?
Clear your browser cache or do a hard refresh. The configuration page says HACS will not appear in the list until you do. Also confirm you restarted Home Assistant after downloading.
Which Home Assistant version does HACS need?
Version 2024.4.1 or newer, according to the prerequisites page checked in October 2026.
Is it risky to use HACS?
It can be. Home Assistant says it is not responsible for custom integrations. Back up first, add only what you need, and remove anything you stop using.