Shelly Gen4: Matter over Thread is coming as a firmware update
Shelly kept quiet about Thread for a long time. Now it’s official: its Gen4 devices are getting Matter over Thread through a firmware update. Shelly’s own wording is “eligible Gen4 devices”, and earlier reports said devices already sold would get it too. That means the popular in-wall relays can connect natively over Thread to your smart home platform of choice, alongside Wi-Fi (or Matter over Wi-Fi) and Zigbee.
Why it’s technically possible
The key is the chipset. Shelly builds Gen4 around Espressif’s ESP32-C6. Its 802.15.4 radio handles Zigbee, and with the right firmware it can run Thread as well. So the hardware has been ready all along. What was missing was official software. A community firmware had already proved that it works.
The catch: flash memory and scripting
It doesn’t come without compromises. Gen4 devices currently ship with two pre-installed firmware variants, and you can switch between them even before adding the device to your network:
- Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / Matter over Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi / Zigbee
According to reports from July, there isn’t enough flash memory for a third variant with Wi-Fi / Thread / Matter over Thread if every existing feature is to stay. The feature mainly affected is local scripting, which power users love. That’s why Shelly is going with a separate firmware. If you want Thread, expect some trade-offs elsewhere. Whether scripting survives on the Thread firmware is still unconfirmed.
Where things stand: the ThreadLink firmware
At IFA on 3 September 2026, Shelly explained how Thread will reach its Gen4 devices: as a separate, free firmware called ThreadLink. It’s opt-in, so you decide for each device whether it runs the standard Wi-Fi firmware or ThreadLink. A device can’t run both at once.
ThreadLink brings the full TCP/IP stack to the Thread mesh. That means more than Matter (Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Home Assistant) runs over Thread. Shelly Cloud works too, as do direct scenes between Shelly devices, which keep running locally if the internet or your Wi-Fi goes down.
You don’t need a Shelly hub. For cloud access and app control, though, you need a Thread border router, for example from Apple, Google or Amazon, or one based on Home Assistant. Shelly has also announced a dedicated module for Home Assistant that goes beyond what Matter exposes.
As for timing, Shelly said the update is planned for “approximately three months” after the announcement, which points to early December 2026. It will arrive through the Shelly app and the web interface. As of 14 November 2026, ThreadLink has not been released, and we found no public beta. Shelly’s official firmware changelog doesn’t mention it. Its latest entry, version 2.2.1 from 13 November 2026, is a bug fix release. Shelly also hasn’t published which Gen4 models are eligible or a fixed release date.
Context
The move doesn’t come out of nowhere. An open-source project had already shown that the Gen4 hardware can handle Thread. The community firmware replaces Shelly’s original firmware entirely and adds a Shelly 1 Gen4, for example, to Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa or Home Assistant natively over Thread. You lose the Shelly web interface, app integration and scripting, though. Above all, it proves the hardware isn’t the problem.
Competitors are likely adding pressure too. Wago’s new in-wall actuators are available with Matter over Thread, and Philips Hue is adding Matter over Thread to its new lights. For Shelly users, official support is still good news. Existing devices can be upgraded by firmware, and Thread is a low-power mesh network that connects battery-powered and always-on devices more reliably than Wi-Fi alone.
The Shelly 1PM Gen4 isn’t currently listed on Amazon UK. The closest alternative there is the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4, a compact in-wall relay from the same Gen4 range. Shelly hasn’t said yet whether it will get ThreadLink.
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Verdict
After a long wait, Shelly is finally serious about Thread, and for the Gen4 range. The flash memory compromise shows the hardware has its limits, but overall Gen4 owners gain a lot of flexibility. If you already have Gen4 hardware installed, there’s no need to rush: the free ThreadLink update is announced and expected around early December 2026. Before you buy new devices specifically for Thread, wait for Shelly’s list of eligible models.
