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Install HACS on Home Assistant Docker - Synology NAS

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    Simply Smart House
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🎥 Follow along with the video tutorial below:

What is HACS?

HACS (Home Assistant Community Store) is an add-on for Home Assistant that offers a user-friendly interface for discovering and installing custom elements. Think of it as an app store for Home Assistant, but created by the community. With HACS, you can easily browse and install:

  • Custom dashboards and cards
  • Custom integrations for devices not yet supported by core Home Assistant
  • Themes to personalize your Home Assistant interface
  • Automations and scripts shared by the community

Prerequisites

  • Home Assistant running in Synology Container Manager (or Docker package for DSM 6.x)
  • Synology DSM 7.x (recommended) or DSM 6.x
  • A GitHub account (required for HACS authentication)

Synology NAS Installation

Step 1: Access Synology DSM

Log in to your Synology DSM interface using your credentials.

Step 2: Open Container Manager

Open the Container Manager package from the Synology main menu.

Synology Container Manager

Step 3: Access Container Terminal

  1. Click on the Container tab in Container Manager
  2. Find your Home Assistant container in the list
  3. Right-click on it and select Open Terminal

Step 4: Install HACS

When the terminal opens, click Create and choose bash, then run the installation command:

wget -O - https://get.hacs.xyz | bash -

Step 5: Restart the Container

  1. Close the terminal window
  2. Return to the Container list
  3. Right-click on your Home Assistant container
  4. Select "Action" → "Restart"

Setting Up HACS in Home Assistant

After installation and restart, you'll need to configure HACS within Home Assistant:

Step 1: Open Integrations

  1. Open your Home Assistant dashboard
  2. Go to Settings → Devices & Services

Open your Home Assistant instance and show your settings menu.

Home Assistant Settings

Open your Home Assistant instance and show your integrations.

Devices and Services

Step 2: Add HACS Integration

  1. Click the Add Integration button in the bottom right corner
  2. Search for "HACS" and select it

Open your Home Assistant instance and start setting up a new integration.

HACS Selection

Step 3: Accept Terms and Conditions

Review and accept the HACS terms and conditions by checking all boxes, then click Submit.

HACS Terms

Step 4: GitHub Authentication

  1. Copy the device code shown on screen
  2. Click the link to open GitHub authorization
  3. Log in to your GitHub account if needed
GitHub Activation

Step 5: Authorize HACS

  1. Paste the code you copied into the GitHub device activation page
  2. Click Authorize HACS
GitHub Device Activation Authorize HACS

Step 6: Complete Setup

  1. Choose an area for the HACS integration (optional)
  2. Click Finish
HACS Success

Step 7: Access HACS

After installation, you should see the HACS icon in your sidebar.

HACS Logo

Can't see the HACS icon? Perform a hard refresh of your browser:

  • Windows/Linux: CTRL+F5
  • Mac: CMD+SHIFT+R

Synology-Specific Notes

For DSM 7.x users:

  • Make sure Container Manager is updated to the latest version

For DSM 6.x users:

  • Use the Docker package instead of Container Manager
  • Consider upgrading to DSM 7.x for better container support

Permission Issues:

  • If you encounter permission issues, ensure your container is running with appropriate user permissions
  • Check that the Home Assistant container has write access to the configuration directory

Alternative Installation Methods

If Container Manager doesn't work reliably or you need other options:

Using HACS

Now that you've installed HACS, you can browse for:

  • Integrations: Add support for devices and services not included in core Home Assistant
  • Frontend: Add custom cards and elements to enhance your dashboards
  • Themes: Change the appearance of your Home Assistant interface

Each element in HACS comes with its own documentation for configuration and use.

Conclusion

You've now successfully installed HACS on your Home Assistant running on Synology NAS! The Container Manager provides a convenient way to manage your Docker containers directly from DSM.

With HACS, you can expand Home Assistant's capabilities with community-created integrations, dashboards, and themes.

Explore the available components and enjoy customizing your smart home experience.

If you encounter any issues or have questions, feel free to leave a comment below!