---
id: broadlink
version: "0.19.0"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# broadlink — Python API for controlling Broadlink devices

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 95.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Broadlink is a Python library for local network control of Broadlink smart home devices—universal remotes, smart plugs, switches, power strips, sensors, light bulbs, curtain motors, thermostats, and hubs. It handles device discovery, authentication, and communication via a simple API and command-line interface.

The package wraps Broadlink's proprietary local protocol, allowing you to send IR and RF codes, query device state, control power outlets, adjust light colors, and manage hub subdevices. It depends only on cryptography for secure communication. Setup typically involves discovering devices on your network, authenticating once, then issuing commands—no cloud service required.

Use it for:

- Learn and replay IR/RF remote codes for home theater or appliance control without a physical remote.
- Toggle smart plugs and power strips on and off programmatically or via CLI for automation workflows.
- Query environmental sensors (temperature, humidity) and light bulb state for monitoring or logging.
- Control smart lights by adjusting brightness, color, and power state through a unified API.
- Manage Broadlink hub subdevices (switches, outlets) with state queries and remote control commands.
- Build home automation scripts that discover and control multiple Broadlink devices on the same network.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

A Python module and CLI for discovering, authenticating with, and controlling Broadlink smart home devices (remotes, plugs, switches, sensors, lights, and hubs) over a local network.

Yes, if you own Broadlink devices and want local network control without cloud dependency. The low install friction and permissive license make it straightforward to add to a home automation project. However, dormant maintenance (last commit 2024-08-04, no activity for over 800 days) means future compatibility with new device models or Python versions is uncertain—suitable for stable, mature device collections but risky if you plan to add new Broadlink hardware frequently.

## Install

pip install broadlink
uv add broadlink
poetry add broadlink

## Installing broadlink

Before you install: Low install friction; pure Python wheel with a single runtime dependency (cryptography). Maintenance is dormant—last commit was 2024-08-04, over 800 days after the first release, with no recent activity, though the repository remains active and has accumulated 1535 stars.

License in practice: MIT license (permissive); you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely in both open-source and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install broadlink

import broadlink

devices = broadlink.discover()
if devices:
    device = devices[0]
    device.auth()
    device.set_power(True)

Requires the device to be on the same local network and reachable via broadcast or unicast discovery; some devices may need manual AP mode setup before discovery works.

Verify before relying:

- Whether dormant maintenance status poses a risk for future compatibility with newer Broadlink device firmware or Python versions.
- Exact Python version compatibility (requires_python is unspecified in the fact sheet).

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 95.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

broadlink device control python, smart home automation local network, universal remote ir rf learning, smart plug power control, broadlink device discovery, home automation cli, wifi smart device api, smart-home, local-network, device-control

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