ESP32-C6 Web Config Unreachable in Matter Runtime (Thread Mode)

[adukale]

Unable to access the Web Config portal (http://matter-lock.local:8080) when running on ESP32-C6.

Root Cause
The issue is due to the ESP32-C6 operating in Matter-over-Thread mode, not Wi-Fi:

Logs confirm:

chip[DL]: Setting OpenThread device type to SLEEPY END DEVICE
In this mode:
The device joins a Thread network (IPv6-based) via a Thread Border Router (e.g., Apple HomePod / Apple TV).
The Wi-Fi radio is disabled to conserve power.
The device is not reachable on the local Wi-Fi network, so the Web Config portal on port 8080 cannot be accessed from a browser.
Impact
matter-lock.local:8080 is not accessible from phone/laptop.
Standard Wi-Fi-based configuration and debugging are not possible in runtime.
Workaround / Expected Behavior

To access the Web Config portal on ESP32-C6:

• Reboot into Provisioning Mode: Press and hold the BOOT button for ~5 seconds
• Device switches to: HomeKit Provisioner firmware (ota_1)
• Enables Wi-Fi SoftAP
• Connect to SSID: MatterLock-HomeKey
• Open Web Config:- http://192.168.4.1

Notes
This behavior is expected for ESP32-C6, as it runs Matter over Thread (not Wi-Fi) during normal operation.
Web Config is only available when the device is in provisioning mode.