Today’s post is about a tool that isn’t directly related to Home Assistant, but thanks to the Add-on function (or as it’s recently been called: “Apps”), you can install it right inside Home Assistant. We’re talking about Nextcloud, paired with Collabora.
Nextcloud has been around forever. For those who don’t know it: it is a tool for data storage. However, Nextcloud’s real strength lies in its apps. Additional tools can be installed that turn Nextcloud into a genuine alternative to the Microsoft Office package or Google Suite. Mail, calendar, files, photos, video calls, documents… all of that is possible with Nextcloud. And the best part: it’s completely free.
Step-by-Step: Installing Nextcloud in Home Assistant
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Nextcloud in Home Assistant: Your Free Microsoft Office Alternative
Today’s post is about a tool that isn’t directly related to Home Assistant, but thanks to the Add-on function (or as it’s recently been called: “Apps”), you can install it right inside Home Assistant. We’re talking about Nextcloud, paired with Collabora.
Nextcloud has been around forever. For those who don’t know it: it is a tool for data storage. However, Nextcloud’s real strength lies in its apps. Additional tools can be installed that turn Nextcloud into a genuine alternative to the Microsoft Office package or Google Suite. Mail, calendar, files, photos, video calls, documents… all of that is possible with Nextcloud. And the best part: it’s completely free.
Step-by-Step: Installing Nextcloud in Home Assistant
To install Nextcloud, you need to add the alexbelgium repository. You might already know this one from my post about Portainer.
- In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Add-ons > Add-on Store.
- Click the three dots in the top right corner and select Repositories.
- Add the following link:
https://github.com/alexbelgium/hassio-addons - You can then find Nextcloud via the search bar in the Add-on Store and install it from there.
Nextcloud will then be accessible via the URL: http://homeassistant.local:8099
When you visit the page for the first time, you will be asked to create an admin account and configure the databases. Although database configuration might sound complicated, most settings can simply be left as default. You just need to assign the passwords.
Nextcloud Apps
As mentioned before, the apps are the heart of Nextcloud. With Mail, you can link your email accounts and use Nextcloud as a mail client. By default, the calendar unfortunately cannot integrate online calendars, but there are apps available to make that possible. For chat and video calls, you use the “Talk” app—you can even invite external guests. You can find the apps by clicking on your initials (or profile picture) in the top right and selecting “Apps.”
Collabora
But what is a Microsoft Office alternative without functions like Word or Excel? In Nextcloud, this is solved via “Collabora” (also known as Nextcloud Office). Collabora can also be installed in Home Assistant via the alexbelgium add-ons. No complex configurations are necessary here either.
By default, port 9980 is used. In Nextcloud, click on your avatar, then go to Administration Settings > Administration > Office. Select “Use your own server,” enter the following URL, and click “Save”: http://homeassistant.local:9980
Only now will you be able to create and edit Word and Excel documents directly within Nextcloud.
Endless Possibilities
It doesn’t stop at being a simple “Microsoft Teams replacement.” Through apps, Nextcloud can do so much more: password managers, opening CAD projects, shift schedules, facial recognition in photos, virus scanners, and much more. There is even an app that lets you play Doom inside Nextcloud.
Conclusion
Nextcloud is a fantastic solution if you are looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. Once you have equipped Nextcloud with the necessary apps and invited your users, it serves as an all-in-one office suite and more. Mail, calendar, chat, calls, notes, contacts, files, photos—everything an office heart desires.
There are also smartphone apps for Nextcloud that round out the office experience.
Have you already integrated Nextcloud into your smart home? Tell me about your experiences in the comments!
