Connection instability when switching between LAN, VPN, and Nabu Casa remote access

[RichHB619]

I wanted to report an issue I encountered with the Home Assistant iOS app related to connection handling when using a single server configuration with both local and Nabu Casa access.

Environment:

• Home Assistant OS
• Core: 2026.4.4
• Supervisor: 2026.04.2
• Frontend: 20260325.8
• iOS Companion App: 2026.4.1 (2026.1904)
• iOS: 26.4.2

Issue:
When using a single server entry (with both internal and external URLs), the app had difficulty switching between local (LAN/VPN) and remote (Nabu Casa) connections. I experienced:

• App getting stuck on “Connecting” or losing connection
• WebSocket failing to establish or reconnect reliably
• Login/auth webview occasionally failing to hand off back to the app
• In some cases requiring app restart or even device restart to recover
• Inconsistent behavior when switching between LAN, VPN, and remote access

Browser access (both local and via Nabu Casa) worked consistently, so the issue appears isolated to the mobile app’s connection/session handling.

Workaround (Resolved):
I created two separate server entries in the iOS app:

• One using the local URL (LAN)
• One using Nabu Casa (remote)

With this setup:

• The app reliably selects the correct endpoint based on reachability
• WebSocket connections remain stable
• No more connection drops or login issues
• No need to restart the app or device

Feedback:
It seems the auto-switching logic within a single server configuration may cause instability in environments with:

• VPN usage
• frequent network changes (LAN ↔ WAN)
• larger or more active HA setups

You may want to review:

• WebSocket reconnection handling
• auth handoff from webview → native app
• internal vs external URL switching logic within a single server profile

Happy to provide logs or test further if helpful.

Thanks!

[bgoncal]

The app is designed to handle connection in this order:

• If connected to local network SSID (defined in companion app settings > server name > internal URL), use internal URL
• If not, use external URL
• If external URL does not exists fallback to internal URL IF it is https (not http) or the connection security level is set to "less secure"

Does this explanation helps your setup?

[RichHB619]

Thanks, that explanation helps for how the app selects between internal and external URLs. However, I’m also seeing a separate issue that seems unrelated to SSID selection. Even when I am fully connected to my local network (correct SSID, internal URL in use), I’m experiencing intermittent connection instability in the iOS app: The app occasionally fails to connect or reconnects unexpectedly This happens without switching networks (no VPN, no SSID change) Restarting the app or reconnecting sometimes resolves it temporarily My setup: UniFi network (multiple APs, stable LAN) Home Assistant with Nabu Casa enabled Internal URL configured and reachable This seems like the app may be incorrectly handling connection state or retry logic even when LAN conditions are stable. Are there any known issues with LAN connection stability on iOS, or additional logging I can provide to help diagnose?Sent from my iPhoneOn May 4, 2026, at 6:53 AM, Bruno Pantaleão Gonçalves ***@***.***> wrote:bgoncal left a comment (home-assistant/iOS#4605) The app is designed to handle connection in this order: If connected to local network SSID (defined in companion app settings > server name > internal URL), use internal URL If not, use external URL If external URL does not exists fallback to internal URL IF it is https (not http) or the connection security level is set to "less secure" Does this explanation helps your setup? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[bgoncal]

My setup is very similar to yours, I'm not sure I am following what is wrong, can you describe what you see when the issue happens in the app?

Also you can disable: companion app setting > general > "Refresh after 5min inactive"

[RichHB619]

Thanks — happy to clarify. When the issue happens in the app (while on LAN): The app either: Spins on “Lost connection…” for a few seconds, or Loads partially, then fails to update entities Sometimes it eventually connects, sometimes it requires closing/reopening the app In some cases, I’ve had to restart my phone entirely to restore a stable connection This happens without any network change (no SSID switch, no VPN toggle). Additional context: I am connected to the correct local SSID Internal URL is configured and reachable UniFi network (multiple APs, stable coverage) Nabu Casa is enabled, but this occurs even when clearly on LAN It feels like the app is: Not consistently recognizing it should use the internal URL, or Losing connection state and not retrying cleanly I’ll also try disabling “Refresh after 5min inactive” and report back.Sent from my iPhoneOn May 4, 2026, at 12:34 PM, Bruno Pantaleão Gonçalves ***@***.***> wrote:bgoncal left a comment (home-assistant/iOS#4605) My setup is very similar to yours, I'm not sure I am following what is wrong, can you describe what you see when the issue happens in the app? Also you can disable: companion app setting > general > "Refresh after 5min inactive" —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>