HACAW features

What it does: Signs in to your Home Assistant instance securely and keeps you logged in automatically.

User benefit: Sign in once and forget about it. Tokens refresh in the background.

How it works: Your credentials are encrypted and stored locally on your Windows account.

Good to know: Sign-in happens during the guided setup. Just enter your Home Assistant URL.

Limitations: Credentials are tied to the current Windows user account.

What it does: Registers your PC as a companion device in Home Assistant.

User benefit: Your PC shows up as a device in Home Assistant, ready to receive notifications and commands.

How it works: After sign-in, HACAW automatically registers itself. No manual configuration needed in Home Assistant.

What it does: Delivers Home Assistant notifications to your desktop the moment they happen.

User benefit: No delays, no polling - notifications arrive instantly, just like on your phone.

How it works: HACAW keeps a live connection open and automatically reconnects if it drops.

What it does: Shows beautiful, stackable desktop notifications with images and click actions.

User benefit: Richer and more flexible than standard Windows notifications, with support for media and interaction.

Good to know: Notifications stack neatly, pause on hover, and can be replaced by tag.

Limitations: Action buttons inside custom notifications are still planned.

What it does: Optionally sends notifications through the standard Windows notification system.

User benefit: If you prefer your notifications in the Windows Action Center, HACAW supports that too.

Limitations: Windows system notifications have fewer customization options than the rich notification mode.

What it does: Reports battery level, CPU usage, memory, and other PC metrics to Home Assistant.

User benefit: Use your PC status in automations, for example to get notified when the battery is low.

Configuration: Choose which sensors to share and how often they update (from every 10 seconds to once an hour).

What it does: Launch apps, open URLs, run scripts, and trigger actions on your PC from Home Assistant.

User benefit: Your Windows desktop becomes part of your smart home automations.

Configuration: Control exactly what is allowed: set up an allowlist, require confirmations, or block scripts entirely.

What it does: Create, test, and manage reusable commands through a visual interface.

User benefit: Build powerful automations without writing any code.

Good to know: Commands can be tested before use, duplicated, and shared via import/export.

What it does: Gives you fine-grained control over which remote commands are allowed.

User benefit: Enable the automation features you want while keeping your machine secure.

Configuration: Commands are off by default. You choose what to allow, and can require confirmation for sensitive actions.

What it does: Keeps a complete log of every command that has been run.

User benefit: Review what happened, when, and what the result was - with full export support.

Good to know: Search, filter, view output inline, export to CSV, or clear the history.

What it does: Access your Home Assistant dashboards directly inside HACAW, always signed in.

User benefit: No more juggling browser tabs to check your smart home.

Limitations: Falls back to software rendering on systems without modern graphics support.

What it does: Opens live camera windows from notifications or automations.

User benefit: See doorbell or motion events on your desktop the moment they happen.

Limitations: Requires the Home Assistant Stream integration. PTZ controls are not yet supported.

What it does: Organize all your preferences across four clear tabs: connection, notifications, sensors, and commands.

User benefit: Change any setting without editing files or restarting the app.

What it does: Walks you through connecting to Home Assistant, choosing your features, and activating your trial.

User benefit: Go from download to a fully working setup in just a few minutes.

Good to know: Includes a system check to make sure everything is ready before you start.

What it does: Try the full app free for 14 days, then activate with a purchased license.

User benefit: Evaluate everything before you buy. Once licensed, HACAW works offline.

Limitations: Each license covers a single PC.

What it does: Checks for new versions and installs them automatically.

User benefit: Always up to date without downloading installers manually.

What it does: Runs quietly in the system tray when you close the main window.

User benefit: Notifications and connections stay active in the background; HACAW is always ready.