5 Android apps I run on my Raspberry Pi to improve my home

Running Android on a Raspberry Pi opens up some unexpected ways to extend your smart home. With the proper setup of Waydroid, which allows you to run Android apps on your Raspberry Pi, you can turn your SBC into a more robust hub for automation, dashboards, and device control. I’ve found that a handful of Android apps run surprisingly well and make a real difference in how I interact with my smart home.

5

Shelly Smart Control

Manage Shelly devices with a full dashboard

Shelly devices are great for local control and reliability, and the Shelly Smart Control app brings them together in one well-organized place. While I don’t use any Shelly smart home devices, clients I’ve worked with love how it provides an always-on view of their Shelly relays, switches, and sensors. It syncs instantly with the cloud if needed, but still functions properly in local-only mode, which is ideal for privacy-focused setups.

Running this app on a Pi provides a larger dashboard than a phone, making it easier to monitor features such as energy usage and device status. It’s also handy for wall-mounted displays or touchscreens. Everything updates in real time, and you can easily jump between rooms or devices with just a few taps.

I’ve also used it as a gateway for non-Home Assistant users in smart homes I’ve set up. They can interact with lights or check sensor values without having to go through a complicated interface. The app is smooth, responsive, and keeps improving with regular updates.

4

Home Connect

Control appliances from Bosch, Siemens and others

If you’ve got smart appliances from Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau, or Neff, Home Connect is a must. I installed it on a Raspberry Pi that doubles as my client’s kitchen control panel. From there, she can monitor the dishwasher, preheat the oven, or check if the fridge door was left open.

The app feels more responsive on a Pi touchscreen than I expected. It also helps keep appliance notifications in one place, separate from your phone. My client even used it to create Home Assistant automations that trigger based on appliance states pulled via Home Connect.

It’s not just for show either. Being able to adjust settings, start wash cycles, or receive maintenance alerts has made a big difference. While some features still rely on cloud connectivity, the app adds real value to any smart kitchen.

3

Fully Kiosk Browser

Turn your Pi into a wall-mounted dashboard

Fully Kiosk Browser is hands-down the best way to run a smart home dashboard on an Android-powered Raspberry Pi. I use it to display my Home Assistant Lovelace UI, and it auto-launches on boot with no need to touch a keyboard. It supports features such as motion detection via webcam, full-screen mode, and automatic screen dimming. You can control the browser remotely, reload pages on demand, or change settings via the built-in web interface.

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Fully Kiosk Browser is ideal for creating a touch interface in shared spaces, such as hallways or living rooms. I use it to show who’s home, upcoming calendar events, and the current weather. Fully Kiosk supports device management options, such as remote reboot and screen locking, which helps maintain stability over time. It’s one of those apps that just works and keeps your dashboard running smoothly without needing much attention.

2

Aqara Home

Control Zigbee sensors and hubs locally

If you’re already using Aqara sensors or hubs in your smart home, the Aqara Home app on Android brings a convenient layer of control. Running the app on a Raspberry Pi provides quick access to features like temperature readings, contact sensors, and smart plugs. It’s especially helpful when I want to test automations or check signal strength without reaching for my phone.

The app also integrates nicely with Home Assistant. Even if I mostly use Home Assistant for automations, having the Aqara app open on a Pi tablet gives me a direct interface for firmware updates or device troubleshooting. It can also show battery levels and connectivity stats that Home Assistant sometimes misses.

Aqara’s UI is clean and fast, and it feels lightweight enough to run without bogging down the system. It’s a nice complement to a Pi that’s already handling Zigbee communication through a USB coordinator or an Aqara hub in bridge mode.

1

Home Assistant Companion

Give your Pi seamless access to your smart home

Naturally, I had to include the Home Assistant Companion app. Running it on a Raspberry Pi lets me access my Home Assistant instance using a native Android experience. That includes push notifications, location tracking, and access to any dashboards or panels you’ve created in Lovelace.

I’ve set it to boot directly into the Home Assistant app on startup. This gives it a dedicated control terminal feel rather than just a generic tablet. I also appreciate being able to log in with my user profile, which keeps controls scoped to the devices and rooms I care about most.

It supports sensor updates, background syncing, and even camera streaming if configured correctly. In my setup, this is the anchor app that ties everything together. Whether it’s monitoring automations or running scripts with a single tap, this one gets the most daily use.

These apps make the Raspberry Pi shine

Running Android apps on a Raspberry Pi might not be the most common use case, but it works well with the right combination of apps and hardware. These five tools helped me build an interactive smart home interface that anyone in the house can use. With a little effort, the Pi becomes more than just a server or automation hub. It turns into a real touchpoint for everything happening around the home.

CPU

Arm Cortex-A76 (quad-core, 2.4GHz)

Memory

Up to 8GB LPDDR4X SDRAM