Lovelace Virtual Keys

Create login link for Home Assistant that you can share with guests.

Description

Lovelace Virtual Keys is a Home Assistant plugin that allows you to create login links that can be shared with guests. These links provide access to specific entities in Home Assistant for a limited time.

Installation

Both Virtual Keys integration and the Lovelace plugin need to be installed.

HACS installation

You need to install HACS first.

1. Install the Virtual Keys integration.

2. Add "Custom repositories" to HACS, paste the URL of this repository and select "Dashboard"/"Plugin" as category.

3. Go to HACS -> Integrations, Explore and Download Repositories, search for "lovelace virtual keys" and install it.

4. Add the following to configuration.yaml:

panel_custom:
  - name: virtual-keys-panel
    require_admin: true
    url_path: virtual-keys
    sidebar_title: Virtual Keys
    sidebar_icon: mdi:key-variant
    module_url: /local/community/lovelace-virtual-keys/virtual-keys.js

6. Restart Home Assistant.

Use case

I want to share a "virtual key" with my friends that is valid for a limited time and that they can use to access specific entities in Home Assistant like the front gate. The key is actually a link to my Home Assistant that can be opened in a browser.

To make this work, I need to make some additional steps (after installing Virtual Keys):

1. Create a new user in Home Assistant, e.g., "guest".

2. Create a new group, e.g., "guests", and add the user "guest" to it, and also the devices you want to give access to, e.g., "cover.front_gate". Instructions here.

3. Create a new View (tab) in the default Lovelace UI and add the entities you want to give access to, e.g., "cover.front_gate", set the visibility to only show to user "guest".

4. Install kiosk-mode and configure it to set "kiosk" mode for user "guest".

That's it, you can now create Virtual Keys and share the link.