Home Assistant 2025.2: Improved Backups and More Control
Home Assistant 2025.2 is here, bringing significant improvements to the backup system based on community feedback. This update makes backups more flexible, adds customization options, and introduces new storage integrations like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Synology DSM.
More Flexibility with Backups
Unencrypted Backups for Local Storage
Previously, all backups were encrypted by default, which made it difficult for users who wanted to extract specific files. Now, you can disable encryption for certain backup locations, such as a local NAS. However, backups stored in Home Assistant Cloud will remain encrypted to ensure privacy and security.
Additionally, all backups downloaded through the Home Assistant interface will now be unencrypted, regardless of where they are stored. This means you can easily access individual files using any archive tool.
Customizable Backup Scheduling
Previously, automated backups ran at 4:45 AM, which wasn’t ideal for everyone. Now, you can set your own backup time and choose specific days for weekly backups.
For even more control, a new backup.create_automatic action allows you to trigger backups through automations. This means you can schedule backups based on specific conditions, such as ensuring your NAS is online before starting the process.
Smarter Backup Handling for Updates
Backup Toggle Returns for Updates
The ability to create a backup before updating Home Assistant was removed in the last release, but it’s back with improvements. Now, when updating Home Assistant, you’ll see the last time a backup was made, helping you decide whether a new one is needed.
For add-ons, enabling the backup toggle will now create a backup of only that add-on and its data. To prevent storage issues, only the most recent add-on backup is retained, while manual backups remain untouched.
Easier Backup Management
Human-Readable Filenames
Backups previously had cryptic filenames that were difficult to identify. This update improves filenames by including the date and time of creation, making it much easier to find the backup you need.
New Storage Locations
Home Assistant now supports Google Drive, OneDrive, and Synology DSM as backup storage locations. This makes it even easier to store and manage your backups in the cloud or on a local NAS.
Final Thoughts
Home Assistant 2025.2 makes backups more user-friendly and customizable while adding new storage integrations. Whether you need unencrypted backups, more scheduling options, or better update handling, this release provides greater flexibility and control.
For a full list of changes, check out the official blog post and the changelog.