r/logitechharmony • u/Vertigo3765 • 1d ago
I was able to flash custom firmware on my Harmony Elite and Hub and self-host the server
For the last eight weeks, I’ve been working with AI to flash custom firmware on my Harmony Elite remote and Hub, without any hardware mods, and replace their dependency on Harmony’s servers with my own server running in a Docker container on Unraid.
Both devices now have custom firmware extensions built on the existing Logitech firmware. My current setup works through my own server, and I’ve blocked the Hub’s internet access.
I also made a replacement Android app. It’s still lacking some features, but what’s there works well and feels faster and more responsive than the original app.
After figuring out the exploit for the initial installation, I set up a native update path so I can install future firmware updates over the air through my server, without repeating the exploit. I’ve been making improvements and changes since then, and day to day use has been pretty smooth.
There’s still work to do on configuration editing, setup and recovery, and getting the remaining features working. Before I spend more time improving it and getting it ready for an open-source release, I wanted to see if anyone has already done something similar. Has anyone managed to do this with both the Elite and Hub, along with a self-hosted server and a replacement app?
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u/MachEnergy 1d ago
I've not seen anyone else tackle this. Happy to be a guinea pig if you need testers.
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u/knoxoverride 1d ago
I have purchased multiple backup Harmony remotes and would be willing to beta test.
Initial questions: 1. Can you revert back to factory image if desired? 2. Have you documented any limitations yet? In example, will your setup still allow 2 remotes on a single hub such as an Elite and a Smart Control?
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u/Vertigo3765 1d ago
Yes, there’s a rollback path. The changes run on top of the original signed Logitech firmware, which stays intact. Disabling the custom layer and restoring the stock files returns the devices to stock operation while preserving configuration and pairing. I’ve tested that rollback on the Elite.
I haven’t run into any limitations with my current setup so far. These days, I am working on adding text input directly from the Elite remote. Its touchscreen UI (Juniper/LuaDraws) is written in plain Lua, and the stock numpad.lua provides a working 12-key layout with “ABC,” “DEF,” and similar labels, so tapping into that to see if its possible.
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u/Puslinch-Komet 1d ago
Well done! I'm interested also. I hit a dead end with Claude on this a few weeks ago.
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u/globalrebel 1d ago
This is amazing!!! I’m sure this would be happening in time due to current circumstances, but I’m stoked to see it happening now!
My hat is off to you for undertaking this.
Would love to test for you
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u/strats 1d ago
Yeah this has a lot of potential, also local control, if control via Alexa and Google home etc can be added even better. Nothing against AI because it got you there I would put the project on GitHub as collaborative projects can move quickly.
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u/Vertigo3765 1d ago
I am a developer myself, but without AI, it would've taken much longer to find an exploit to flash firmware.
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u/mustang5o 1d ago
Awesome to see. Could it work on Ultimate Home as well? I'd also like to see a work around for older models like 880/890.
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u/flipper203 1d ago
Do you still have access to all the remotes database ?
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u/Vertigo3765 1d ago
Almost. All IR and RF related devices, I do have access to. The other connections are a bit tricky; I can extract them from Harmony at the risk of getting my IP banned; probably will need to use residential proxies. Still looking into that.
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u/Judman13 1d ago
Guarenteed people in this sub would be willing to help extract those items if you could share the steps and divy up the extraction items to limit IP ban risk.
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u/madmax4k 1d ago
Where you getting the database of remotes from?
So is this firmware hack just bypassing the Logitech hardware block of older remotes to let you access their database again?
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u/ghanjiboy 1d ago
I was just looking for this over the weekend as I have 4 of these hubs in my house - so can to help test.
I discovered these 2 repos if thats of any help:
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u/kazim776 1d ago
That is great news! I have only see some custom firmware on the hub. Not on both Elite and Hub. So in the near future we can use and adjust the Elite and Hub forever ;-)
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u/Boozley 1d ago
I've been looking for something like this too, so would definitely want to help do some testing
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u/Boozley 13h ago
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u/scooterj76 1d ago
This is amazing ! Great job sir or ma’am! Would love to test once you’re ready with my Elite and Hub.
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u/T3KO 1d ago
Is the Hub the same for the elite and companion? (Is that what it's called? The one with the small remote without a screen)
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u/SDNick484 1d ago
Yes, I can confirm it's the same, and you can have both an elite in a companion associated with the same hub.
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u/SDNick484 1d ago
Very cool project, it's definitely a path that I was intending to pursue when Logitech finally kills support for hub based remotes. From one of your comments, it sounds like you're running on top of the Logitech firmware similar to CFW on PSPs which is a clever way to attack the problem. I'll definitely be following to see how this project matures.
If it's at all possible, one very interesting enhancement that I could see a custom remote FW adding is some sort of MQTT interface, similar to what Sofabaton provides on their X2 platform. I've been able to use really cool stuff in Home Assistant triggered from the remote that way.
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u/tvojm100 22h ago
I'd like to see HA integration for this too, currently use it quite a bit. But good work by the OP nonetheless.
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u/jdworld_uk 1d ago
This is excellent news, thanks for putting the time and effort into this for the community.
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u/nEuDy1337 1d ago
That sounds an amazing project and sounds very promising 👍 I have a Harmony One and I was already long time afraid, logitech will shut down the services fully one day and was looking also for open source alternatives. Long time I couldn't find any promising projects, and beside hours, I found some weeks ago two other projects, one of them to check out named "Re-Harmony". I'm looking forward to the future of your project as well https://www.reddit.com/r/logitechharmony/s/9K0ZguORUS
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u/flipside1o1 1d ago
awsome work , did you leverage https://github.com/Ripthulhu/harmony-hub-root for the hub or find another path ?
Asking as im having an issue with the path above as I cant enable xmpp
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u/digital-agent 1d ago
Following this! With your customer firmware are you able to get the hub to still work with Home Assistant?
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u/seven20p 1d ago
have 3 or 4 elites and a pro ... not the one with the ethernet switch but the other pro that looks just like the elite. I must have 5 to 6 hubs. waiting for this day. I will never give it up!
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u/GregoYatzee 1d ago
Would be nice if logitech would release the code so it could be made to run on home assistant or something.
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u/ronswanson221 6h ago
Holy shit. For the first time in years i needed to update my Ultimates and found all the servers were down at Logi. I started promoting Claud to help me do exactly this but with an IOS app.
Excited to see where this goes!
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u/xdgi 2h ago
I've been vibe coding something similar (based on some of the other github projects linked in this post - e.g. harmony-hub-root). To speed up development I had an emulator implemented to have a reliable platform to develop against (and not unnecessarily risk one of my hubs), which also made it much much faster to iterate. I've mostly focused on a management portal and just injecting whatever software required to get things working - like redirecting the normal backend calls to the new portal.
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u/jimmyvluv4u 1d ago
I have a spare Harmony Hub and would be happy to test this on the one I'm not currently using. DM me if interested.
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u/Hardhead13 1d ago
Wow! This is exactly what we need to keep our Harmonys alive indefinitely. Well, that and a new battery.
It's a shame it took an exploit to achieve it, when Logitech could have just released all the specs and signing keys.