Update HACS before updating to Home Assistant 0.118

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With the release of Home Assistant 0.118, many users are eager to explore the new Grid and Logbook cards. However, it's crucial to update HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) to version 1.6.2 before diving into the new version to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Contents

What is HACS?

HACS, or Home Assistant Community Store, is an essential tool for Home Assistant users. It allows you to easily manage, install, and update custom integrations, plugins, and themes that enhance the functionality and appearance of your Home Assistant setup. By providing a streamlined way to access community-created content, HACS expands the capabilities of Home Assistant beyond its out-of-the-box features. This makes it easier for users to tailor their smart home system to their specific needs and preferences.

The Importance of Updating HACS

Skipping the HACS update can lead to missing custom cards and a Home Assistant menu without HACS. This is not the kind of issue you want to face with the new Home Assistant 0.118. If you've already updated Home Assistant without updating HACS first, don't worry! There's an easy fix to get everything back to normal.

Screenshot of a tweet by HACS (@HACSIntegration) advising to upgrade HACS to version 1.6.2+ before upgrading to Home Assistant 0.118.0. The tweet quotes an earlier post from Home Assistant (@home_assistant) dated November 18, 2020, announcing the release of Home Assistant Core 0.118.0 with new features like Grid & Logbook Lovelace cards and support for Shelly live push updates. The quoted tweet includes an image with the text 'Home Assistant Release 0.118' and 'Making things easier!' overlaid on a blue background with a white circuit-like design, indicating technological advancement and ease of use.

Manually Updating HACS

The process of manually updating HACS isn't as clearly documented as one might expect. But, it's straightforward and ensures that you won't lose any of your settings. Here's a simple way to update HACS:

  1. Download the Latest Release: Get the latest release from the HACS GitHub page.
  2. Unzip the Folder: Unzip the downloaded folder.
  3. Copy the Contents: Copy the contents of the unzipped folder.
  4. Navigate to the Configuration Folder: Go to your Home Assistant configuration folder and navigate to custom_components.
  5. Locate the HACS Folder: Find the folder named hacs in the custom_components directory.
  6. Replace the Contents: Delete the existing contents of the hacs folder and paste the new files.
  7. Restart Home Assistant: Restart your Home Assistant container.

Following these steps will bring HACS back to your Home Assistant menu, ready to help you make the most of the new Home Assistant 0.118 features.

Summary

Before upgrading to Home Assistant 0.118, ensure that you update HACS to version 1.6.2 to avoid missing custom cards and other potential issues. Manually updating HACS is a straightforward process that ensures a smooth transition to the latest Home Assistant version. Follow the steps outlined above to update HACS and enjoy the new features of Home Assistant 0.118 without any hiccups.

A portrait photo oif Liam Alexander Colman, the author, creator, and owner of Home Assistant Guide wearing a suit.

About Liam Alexander Colman

is an experienced Home Assistant user who has been utilizing the platform for a variety of projects over an extended period. His journey began with a Raspberry Pi, which quickly grew to three Raspberry Pis and eventually a full-fledged server. Liam's current operating system of choice is Unraid, with Home Assistant comfortably running in a Docker container.
With a deep understanding of the intricacies of Home Assistant, Liam has an impressive setup, consisting of various Zigbee devices, and seamless integrations with existing products such as his Android TV box. For those interested in learning more about Liam's experience with Home Assistant, he shares his insights on how he first started using the platform and his subsequent journey.

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