OpenThread
OpenThread released by Google is an open-source implementation of Thread®. Google has released OpenThread to make the networking technology used in Google Nest products more broadly available to developers, in order to accelerate the development of products for the connected home and commercial buildings.
With a narrow platform abstraction layer and a small memory footprint, OpenThread (OT) is highly portable. It supports both System-on-Chip (SoC) and Co-Processor (RCP, NCP) designs.
With a narrow platform abstraction layer and a small memory footprint, OpenThread (OT) is highly portable. It supports both System-on-Chip (SoC) and Co-Processor (RCP, NCP) designs.
Thread Certified component
OpenThread implements all features defined in the Thread Specification. This specification defines an IPv6-based reliable, secure, and low-power wireless device-to-device communication protocol for home and commercial building applications.
Features
OpenThread implements all Thread networking layers (IPv6, 6LoWPAN, IEEE 802.15.4 with MAC security, Mesh Link Establishment, Mesh Routing) and device roles, as well as Border Router support.
Application services
- IPv6 configuration and raw data interface
- UDP sockets
- CoAP client and server
- DHCPv6 client and server
- DNSv6 client
Enhanced Features
- Child Supervision
- Inform Previous Parent on Reattach
- Jam Detection
- Periodic Parent Search
Co-Processor support
- Spinel, a general purpose Co-Processor protocol
- OT Daemon, a user-space Radio Co-Processor network interface driver/daemon
- Sniffer support via Spinel nodes
Border Router
- Bidirectional IPv6 reachability between Thread and Ethernet/Wi-Fi
- Bidirectional DNS-based service discovery between Thread and Ethernet/Wi-Fi
- Extending Thread mesh over Ethernet/Wi-Fi links
How will you use OpenThread?
If you're interested in contributing to the ongoing development of OpenThread, then the OpenThread GitHub repository is for you. There you will find all the code, including information on how to contribute, our style guide, code of conduct, licensing, and much more.
If you want to use OpenThread in your own products or for personal deployment, check the options below.
If you want to use OpenThread in your own products or for personal deployment, check the options below.
Deploy a Thread network
Determine the hardware and platform design you wish to use to build and deploy your own Thread network. Add a Border Router to connect your Thread network to other network layers, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet, or use OpenThread RTOS, a single platform solution using LwIP, FreeRTOS, and mbed TLS. And use OpenThread Commissioner to easily commission devices onto a Thread network.
Develop applications on top of a Thread network
Try out our API Codelab and use our API Reference as a guide to application development. IPv6, UDP, CoAP, ICMPv6, DNSv6...it's all there.
Port OpenThread to a new hardware platform
Check out our Porting Guide, which walks you through all the steps necessary to port OpenThread to a new hardware platform.
Get Thread Certification for your OpenThread product
OpenThread can be used for certification by the Thread Group. As a Thread reference stack, OpenThread makes certification easy.
News
Bringing the internet to low-power IoT devices
Watch our session from Google I/O to get a brief overview of Thread and how developers can quickly build IoT solutions using OpenThread.
OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) guides reorganized
May 5, 2025
The OTBR guides have been simplified by grouping Docker and Native installation instructions into a single flow, reordering the table of contents, and removing outdated or duplicated pages.
The OTBR guides have been simplified by grouping Docker and Native installation instructions into a single flow, reordering the table of contents, and removing outdated or duplicated pages.
Support for Nordic nRF54L15 added
January 24, 2025
The nRF54L15 is an ultra-low power wireless SoC featuring an Arm® Cortex-M33 processor and implementing Bluetooth 6.0, Thread, Matter, and Zigbee®.
The nRF54L15 is an ultra-low power wireless SoC featuring an Arm® Cortex-M33 processor and implementing Bluetooth 6.0, Thread, Matter, and Zigbee®.
Android Border Router guide published
September 19, 2024
We've published a guide on how to build a Thread Border Router on the Android platform, using the Android Open Source Project.
We've published a guide on how to build a Thread Border Router on the Android platform, using the Android Open Source Project.
Who supports OpenThread?
What products use OpenThread?
The following products use OpenThread and support the core requirements of the Thread Specification. Products displaying the "Built on Thread" badge have been certified by the Thread Group.
Many types of devices use OpenThread, and the categorization featured in this product listing are based on common smart home device types. The functionality for devices types comes from the features that the manufacturer adds to each one.
Interested in having your product featured? See our Product Guidelines for more information.
Many types of devices use OpenThread, and the categorization featured in this product listing are based on common smart home device types. The functionality for devices types comes from the features that the manufacturer adds to each one.
Interested in having your product featured? See our Product Guidelines for more information.
Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates. The OPENTHREAD and related marks are trademarks of the Thread Group and are used under license.
The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.