How to Get Free Security Alerts With Home Assistant and Telegram

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Telegram is free, fast, and works globally — making it an excellent notification channel for Home Assistant security alerts. Unlike push notifications via the Companion app, Telegram notifications work on any device where Telegram is installed, including multiple family members without sharing your Home Assistant login.

Why Telegram for Security Notifications?

  • Free: No limits on messages, photos, or videos
  • Multi-recipient: Send to a group with all household members
  • Rich media: Send camera snapshots and video clips directly
  • Two-way communication: Send commands back to Home Assistant via the Telegram bot
  • Global reach: Works anywhere with internet access, no VPN required

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot

  1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
  2. Send /newbot
  3. Follow the prompts to name your bot (e.g., “Home Security Bot”)
  4. BotFather will send you an API token — copy it and store it securely

Step 2: Get Your Chat ID

Search for @userinfobot on Telegram. Send it any message — it replies with your Chat ID (a number like 123456789). For a group: create a group, add your bot to it, then use @userinfobot in the group to get the group chat ID.

Step 3: Configure Telegram in Home Assistant

Add to your configuration.yaml:

telegram_bot:
  - platform: polling
    api_key: "YOUR_BOT_API_TOKEN"
    allowed_chat_ids:
      - YOUR_CHAT_ID

notify:
  - platform: telegram
    name: telegram_home
    chat_id: YOUR_CHAT_ID

Restart Home Assistant after saving.

Step 4: Create Security Alert Automations

Motion Alert With Camera Snapshot

alias: "Security - Telegram Motion Alert"
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.front_door_person_occupancy
    to: "on"
condition:
  - condition: state
    entity_id: alarm_control_panel.home_alarm
    state: armed_away
action:
  - service: notify.telegram_home
    data:
      message: "Person detected at front door"
      data:
        photo:
          - url: "http://localhost:8123/api/camera_proxy/camera.frigate_front_door"
            caption: "Front Door"

Step 5: Two-Way Commands

Add a Telegram chatbot automation to control Home Assistant by sending commands to your bot. When you send /status to your bot, receive an instant security status update showing the alarm state and all sensor states.

Useful Commands to Implement

  • /status — Security system overview
  • /lock — Lock all doors
  • /arm — Arm alarm in away mode
  • /cameras — Get snapshots from all cameras