FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is Button Builder?

Button Builder is a visual designer for creating button-card configurations in Home Assistant. Instead of writing YAML by hand, you configure buttons through a graphical interface.

Do I need button-card installed?

Yes! Button Builder generates YAML for the button-card custom card. Install button-card via HACS first.

Does Button Builder replace button-card?

No. Button Builder is a configuration tool that outputs button-card YAML. The actual buttons on your dashboard are still rendered by button-card.

Usage

Why aren't my entities showing?

• Ensure Button Builder is properly connected to Home Assistant
• Try clicking the entity dropdown and waiting a moment for them to load
• Check browser console for errors
• Some entity domains are filtered by default; click "Show All" to see all entities

Why doesn't my button look the same on the dashboard?

• Dashboard card sizes vary based on your layout (Masonry, Sections, etc.)
• Use the Preview Settings (gear icon) to simulate different dashboard layouts
• Aspect ratio and height settings affect sizing

How do I make the button toggle my light?

By default, Tap Action is set to toggle. Just select your light entity and it will toggle on tap.

How do I show the temperature on a button?

1. Set the main entity to your climate/sensor
2. Enable Show State in Visibility
3. Or use Label Entity to show another sensor's value

Why isn't my label showing?

Make sure Show Label is enabled in the Visibility section. When you configure a label, Button Builder should prompt you to enable it.

Styling

How do I use a custom color?

Click the color swatch next to any color option to open the color picker, or type a hex code directly.

How do I make the icon change color with the light?

Enable Match Entity next to Icon Color. When the light is on, the icon will use the light's color.

Can I use any font?

Yes! Use the Custom Font option in Typography:

1. Get the Google Fonts URL from fonts.google.com
2. Enter the exact font name and URL

How do I add a glow effect?

• Use a Neon preset, or
• Set Shadow Size to lg/xl with a bright Shadow Color, or
• Use the glow animation

Actions

How do I open more info on hold?

Set Hold Action to more-info (this is the default).

How do I call a specific service?

1. Set action to call-service
2. In the Service Data field, enter:

service: light.turn_on
data:
  entity_id: light.bedroom
  brightness: 128

How do I navigate to another dashboard?

1. Set action to navigate
2. Enter the path: /lovelace/living-room

Troubleshooting

Button Builder won't load

• Hard-refresh with Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+R (macOS)
• Check Home Assistant logs for errors
• Verify the integration is installed correctly
• Confirm the sidebar link uses /button-builder, not a former v2 route

YAML has errors when pasted

• Make sure you're adding a "Manual" card, not putting it in existing card YAML
• Check for proper indentation
• Ensure button-card is installed

Animations aren't working

• Some animations only trigger on specific states (on/off)
• Check the Animation Trigger setting
• Ensure the animation speed isn't set too slow
• If an animated preset background is static, update to Button Builder 3.0.3 or newer

Preview doesn't match dashboard

• Dashboard layouts affect card sizing
• Use Preview Settings to match your dashboard type
• Consider using aspect-ratio instead of fixed height

Support

Where can I report bugs?

GitHub Issues

Where is the button-card documentation?

button-card GitHub