In this article, we’ll integrate the M5Stack Dial into Home Assistant (HA) — a multifunctional system with many interesting features to control our setup.
Index
M5Stack Dial
M5Stack is already a well-known brand to us, with creations like the M5Stack CoreS3SE and the classic Atom Echo. Today, we are going to integrate the M5Stack Dial into Home Assistant — a device that includes the following components:
All these features packed into a single, ready-to-use device which make the M5Dial a truly compelling gadget. And since it's powered by an ESP32-S3, we can easily integrate it into Home Assistant using ESPHome.
Mr. Avocado
As usual, we wanted to make the most of these features by building a fun and practical project. This time, it's something special — a device co-designed with our Patreon community.
We named it Mr. Avocado, a playful nod to the iconic “Mr. Potato.” The goal was to create a multifunctional device with the following capabilities:
Prerequisites
To integrate the M5Dial into Home Assistant, you’ll need:
🥑 If you’re just getting started with ESPHome, I highly recommend checking out the academy workshop — it’s a great way to get the most out of it!
Follow these steps to integrate the M5Stack Dial into Home Assistant:
1. In Home Assistant, open the ESPHome add-on, click “New Device”, then “Continue.”
2. Give your device a name (for example, “M5Stack Dial”) and click “Next.”
3. For the device type, select “ESP32-S3.” You’ll see that a new tile has been created for your device.
4. Click “Skip”, then “Edit” on your device’s tile. Copy the default code that appears and save it—you’ll need parts of it later.
5. Now, copy the code below and use it to replace the default code in ESPHome.
substitutions: # Device customization # Personalización del dispositivo name: m5stack-dial friendly_name: M5Stack Dial background_color: 'fab02b' background_image: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_background_white.jpg background_image_saver: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_bg_off.jpg background_image_device: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_bg_device.jpeg # Icons # Iconos icon_1: mdi:led-strip-variant icon_2: mdi:thermostat icon_3: mdi:robot-vacuum icon_4: mdi:printer icon_5: mdi:printer-3d-nozzle icon_6: mdi:fan icon_7: mdi:air-humidifier icon_8: mdi:ceiling-light # Sounds # Sonidos menu_sound: 'beep:d=64,o=5,b=255:c7' alarm_sound: 'xmen:d=4,o=6,b=200:16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8f#5,p,16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8g5,p,16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8d,2p,8c#,8b5,2p' # Example of Lights # Ejemplo de Luces desk_led: light.tira_led_escritorio lamp: light.lampara # Example of Thermostat # Ejemplo de Termostatos climate: climate.salon aircon: climate.aircon # Example of Vacuum # Ejemplo de Aspirador vacuum: vacuum.robot_aspirador # Example of Switches # Ejemplo de Enchufes printer: switch.regleta_l3 printer3d: switch.regleta_l4 # Example of dehumidifier # Ejemplo de Deshumidificador dehumidifier: humidifier.deshumidificador # NFC/RFID Tags # Etiquetas NFC/RFID # tag1: C3-DB-4F-28 # tag2: 03-55-E5-13 # Other settings # Otros ajustes allowed_characters: " ¿?¡!#%'()+,-./:°0123456789ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzáéíóú" ################################################################################################################ esphome: name: ${name} friendly_name: ${friendly_name} on_boot: then: - pcf8563.read_time: - display.page.show: home platformio_options: board_build.flash_mode: dio esp32: board: esp32-s3-devkitc-1 flash_size: 8MB framework: type: esp-idf wifi: ssid: !secret wifi_ssid password: !secret wifi_password # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails ap: ssid: "M5Stack-Dial Fallback Hotspot" password: "Aosad564JQR" api: encryption: key: "QYmasdasdsd71H8/dlyD1BI5cU10X234234fhg=" services: - service: play_sound variables: song: string volume: int then: - lambda: "id(script_rtttl_play).execute(song, volume);" script: - id: script_rtttl_play parameters: song: string volume: int mode: single then: - lambda: |- float volume_f = (volume>0) ? ((float)clamp(volume, 0, 100))/100.0f : 1.0f; id(buzzer).set_max_power(volume_f); - rtttl.play: rtttl: !lambda 'return (song.find('':'') == std::string::npos) ? ("song:d=16,o=5,b=100:" + song).c_str() : song.c_str();' ota: - platform: esphome password: "0935e9dsasdfgdb3d8934c" logger: captive_portal: binary_sensor: - platform: gpio name: "Front Button" id: front_button pin: number: GPIO42 inverted: true internal: true on_press: then: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: light.is_on: backlight then: - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: device_control then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.toggle data: entity_id: ${desk_led} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.toggle data: entity_id: ${climate} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 3; then: - if: condition: lambda: 'return id(device_vacuum).state == "cleaning";' then: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.pause data: entity_id: ${vacuum} else: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.start data: entity_id: ${vacuum} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 4; then: - homeassistant.action: service: switch.toggle data: entity_id: ${printer} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 5; then: - homeassistant.action: service: switch.toggle data: entity_id: ${printer3d} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.toggle data: entity_id: ${aircon} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.toggle data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.toggle data: entity_id: ${lamp} - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: locked_screen then: - switch.turn_on: mravocado_display - light.turn_on: id: backlight brightness: 100% - display.page.show: home - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: home then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) > 0; then: - light.turn_on: id: backlight brightness: 100% - display.page.show: device_control else: - switch.turn_on: mravocado_display - light.turn_on: id: backlight brightness: 100% - display.page.show: home - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; - platform: gpio name: Hold Button pin: GPIO46 internal: True - platform: touchscreen name: "Home Button" internal: true x_min: 0 x_max: 240 y_min: 0 y_max: 80 page_id: device_control on_press: - display.page.show: home - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; - platform: touchscreen name: "Device Button" internal: true x_min: 81 x_max: 160 y_min: 80 y_max: 240 page_id: device_control on_press: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.toggle data: entity_id: ${desk_led} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.toggle data: entity_id: ${climate} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 3; then: - if: condition: lambda: 'return id(device_vacuum).state == "cleaning";' then: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.pause data: entity_id: ${vacuum} else: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.start data: entity_id: ${vacuum} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 4; then: - homeassistant.action: service: switch.toggle data: entity_id: ${printer} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 5; then: - homeassistant.action: service: switch.toggle data: entity_id: ${printer3d} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.toggle data: entity_id: ${aircon} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.toggle data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.toggle data: entity_id: ${lamp} - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; - platform: touchscreen name: "Minus Button" internal: true x_min: 0 x_max: 80 y_min: 80 y_max: 240 page_id: device_control on_press: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: device_control then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${desk_led} brightness_step_pct: '-10' - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${climate} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(thermostat_temperature).state - 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${aircon} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(aircon_temperature).state - 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.set_humidity data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} data_template: humidity: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(dehumidifier_humidity).state - 5.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${lamp} brightness_step_pct: '-10' - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; - platform: touchscreen name: "Plus Button" internal: true x_min: 161 x_max: 240 y_min: 80 y_max: 240 page_id: device_control on_press: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: device_control then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${desk_led} brightness_step_pct: '10' - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${climate} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(thermostat_temperature).state + 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 3; then: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.return_to_base data: entity_id: ${vacuum} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${aircon} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(aircon_temperature).state + 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.set_humidity data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} data_template: humidity: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(dehumidifier_humidity).state + 5.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${lamp} brightness_step_pct: '10' - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; # - platform: rc522 # uid: ${tag1} # name: "NFC Tag" # on_press: # - homeassistant.action: # service: light.toggle # data: # entity_id: ${desk_led} button: - platform: template name: "Alarm" id: alarm_sound icon: "mdi:bell-ring" on_press: - rtttl.play: ${alarm_sound} - switch.turn_on: screen_saver - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; color: - id: background_color hex: ${background_color} - id: icon_on hex: 'f28800' - id: icon_off hex: 'e7aa77' - id: icon_big_on hex: 'ffebbf' - id: icon_big_off hex: 'f78f1d' - id: dark_orange hex: 'd2750b' - id: light_orange hex: 'f9c699' font: - file: "gfonts://Space Grotesk" id: clock_time size: 40 glyphs: ${allowed_characters} - file: "gfonts://Space Grotesk" id: secondary size: 18 glyphs: ${allowed_characters} globals: - id: inactivity_time type: int restore_value: no initial_value: '0' - id: device type: int restore_value: no initial_value: '0' i2c: - id: internal_i2c sda: GPIO11 scl: GPIO12 scan: False image: - file: ${background_image} id: background_image resize: 245x245 type: RGB transparency: alpha_channel - file: ${background_image_saver} id: background_image_saver resize: 245x245 type: RGB transparency: alpha_channel - file: ${background_image_device} id: background_image_device resize: 245x245 type: RGB transparency: alpha_channel - file: mdi:home id: icon_home resize: 40x40 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: mdi:plus-thick id: plus resize: 30x30 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: mdi:minus-thick id: minus resize: 30x30 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: mdi:home-map-marker id: vacuum_dock resize: 30x30 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: mdi:play-box id: play_icon resize: 30x30 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: mdi:pause-box id: pause_icon resize: 30x30 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_1} id: icon_1 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_1} id: icon_1_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_2} id: icon_2 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_2} id: icon_2_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_3} id: icon_3 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_3} id: icon_3_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_4} id: icon_4 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_4} id: icon_4_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_5} id: icon_5 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_5} id: icon_5_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_6} id: icon_6 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_6} id: icon_6_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_7} id: icon_7 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_7} id: icon_7_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_8} id: icon_8 resize: 33x33 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key - file: ${icon_8} id: icon_8_big resize: 100x100 type: BINARY transparency: chroma_key interval: - interval: 1s then: - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) += 1; if (id(auto_lock).state) { if (id(inactivity_time) > id(screen_saver_time).state && id(inactivity_time) < id(auto_lock_time_out).state ) { id(screen_saver).turn_on(); } if (id(inactivity_time) > id(auto_lock_time_out).state) { id(backlight_pwm).turn_off(); id(mravocado_display).turn_off(); id(screen_saver).turn_off(); } } else { if (id(inactivity_time) > id(screen_saver_time).state) { id(screen_saver).turn_on(); } } light: - platform: monochromatic name: "Backlight" output: backlight_pwm id: backlight default_transition_length: 0s restore_mode: ALWAYS_ON internal: True number: - platform: template name: "Auto Lock" id: auto_lock_time_out icon: "mdi:timer-sand" optimistic: true min_value: 20 max_value: 300 step: 10 unit_of_measurement: "s" restore_value: true - platform: template name: "Screen Saver" id: screen_saver_time icon: "mdi:screen-rotation-lock" optimistic: true min_value: 10 max_value: 300 step: 10 unit_of_measurement: "s" restore_value: true output: - platform: ledc pin: GPIO3 id: buzzer - platform: ledc pin: GPIO9 id: backlight_pwm #rc522_i2c: # - i2c_id: internal_i2c # id: tag_reader # address: 0x28 # on_tag: # then: # - rtttl.play: "success:d=24,o=5,b=100:c,g,b" # - homeassistant.tag_scanned: !lambda 'return x;' rtttl: output: buzzer sensor: - platform: rotary_encoder id: encoder pin_a: GPIO40 pin_b: GPIO41 on_clockwise: then: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: home then: - lambda: |- if (id(device) == 8) { id(device) = 1; } else { id(device) += 1; } - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: device_control then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${desk_led} brightness_step_pct: '10' - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${climate} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(thermostat_temperature).state + 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 3; then: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.return_to_base data: entity_id: ${vacuum} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${aircon} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(aircon_temperature).state + 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.set_humidity data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} data_template: humidity: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(dehumidifier_humidity).state + 5.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${lamp} brightness_step_pct: '10' - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; on_anticlockwise: then: - if: condition: switch.is_on: menu_sounds then: - rtttl.play: ${menu_sound} - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: home then: - lambda: |- if (id(device) == 1) { id(device) = 8; } if (id(device) == 0) { id(device) = 8; } else { id(device) -= 1; } - if: condition: display.is_displaying_page: device_control then: - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 1; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${desk_led} brightness_step_pct: '-10' - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 2; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${climate} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(thermostat_temperature).state - 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 3; then: - if: condition: lambda: 'return id(device_vacuum).state == "cleaning";' then: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.pause data: entity_id: ${vacuum} else: - homeassistant.action: service: vacuum.start data: entity_id: ${vacuum} - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 6; then: - homeassistant.action: service: climate.set_temperature data: entity_id: ${aircon} data_template: temperature: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(aircon_temperature).state - 1.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 7; then: - homeassistant.action: service: humidifier.set_humidity data: entity_id: ${dehumidifier} data_template: humidity: '{{ my_variable | float }}' variables: my_variable: |- return id(dehumidifier_humidity).state - 5.0; - if: condition: lambda: |- return id(device) == 8; then: - homeassistant.action: service: light.turn_on data: entity_id: ${lamp} brightness_step_pct: '-10' - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; - platform: homeassistant id: desk_led_brightness entity_id: ${desk_led} attribute: brightness internal: true filters: - lambda: |- if (isnan(x)) { return 0; } else { return x; } - platform: homeassistant id: thermostat_temperature entity_id: ${climate} attribute: temperature internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: aircon_temperature entity_id: ${aircon} attribute: temperature internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: dehumidifier_humidity entity_id: ${dehumidifier} attribute: humidity internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: lamp_brightness entity_id: ${lamp} attribute: brightness internal: true filters: - lambda: |- if (isnan(x)) { return 0; } else { return x; } spi: id: spi_bus mosi_pin: GPIO5 clk_pin: GPIO6 switch: - platform: template name: "Auto Lock" id: auto_lock icon: "mdi:lock-clock" optimistic: true restore_mode: 'restore_default_off' - platform: template name: "Display" id: mravocado_display icon: "mdi:fit-to-screen" optimistic: true restore_mode: 'always_on' on_turn_on: - light.turn_on: id: backlight brightness: 100% - lambda: |- id(inactivity_time) = 0; on_turn_off: - light.turn_off: backlight - display.page.show: home - lambda: |- id(device) = 0; - platform: template name: "Screen Saver" id: screen_saver icon: "mdi:screen-rotation-lock" optimistic: true restore_mode: 'always_off' internal: true on_turn_on: - light.turn_on: id: backlight brightness: 50% - display.page.show: locked_screen - lambda: |- id(device) = 0; - platform: template name: "Menu Sounds" id: menu_sounds icon: "mdi:playlist-music" optimistic: true restore_mode: 'restore_default_on' text_sensor: - platform: homeassistant id: device_desk_led entity_id: ${desk_led} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_thermostat entity_id: ${climate} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_vacuum entity_id: ${vacuum} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_printer entity_id: ${printer} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_printer3d entity_id: ${printer3d} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_dehumidifier entity_id: ${dehumidifier} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_aircon entity_id: ${aircon} internal: true - platform: homeassistant id: device_lamp entity_id: ${lamp} internal: true time: # RTC - platform: pcf8563 id: rtctime i2c_id: internal_i2c address: 0x51 update_interval: never - platform: homeassistant id: esptime on_time_sync: then: - pcf8563.write_time: touchscreen: - platform: ft5x06 id: touchscreen_mravocado i2c_id: internal_i2c address: 0x38 display: - platform: ili9xxx id: round_display model: GC9A01A cs_pin: GPIO7 reset_pin: GPIO8 update_interval: 0.05s dc_pin: GPIO4 invert_colors: true pages: - id: locked_screen lambda: |- it.fill(id(background_color)); it.image(0, 0, id(background_image_saver)); it.strftime(120, 40, id(clock_time), TextAlign::CENTER, "%H:%M", id(esptime).now()); it.strftime(120, 200, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%d/%m/%y", id(esptime).now()); - id: home lambda: |- it.fill(id(background_color)); it.image(0, 0, id(background_image)); if (id(device) == 1) { it.image(103, 4, id(icon_1), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(103, 4, id(icon_1), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 2) { it.image(175, 35, id(icon_2), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(175, 35, id(icon_2), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 3) { it.image(205, 105, id(icon_3), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(205, 105, id(icon_3), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 4) { it.image(175, 175, id(icon_4), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(175, 175, id(icon_4), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 5) { it.image(103, 205, id(icon_5), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(103, 205, id(icon_5), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 6) { it.image(30, 175, id(icon_6), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(30, 175, id(icon_6), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 7) { it.image(5, 105, id(icon_7), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(5, 105, id(icon_7), id(icon_off)); } if (id(device) == 8) { it.image(30, 35, id(icon_8), id(icon_on)); } else { it.image(30, 35, id(icon_8), id(icon_off)); } - id: device_control lambda: |- it.fill(id(background_color)); it.image(0, 0, id(background_image_device)); it.image(98, 10, id(icon_home), id(light_orange)); if (id(device) == 1) { if (id(device_desk_led).state == "on") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_1_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_1_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.image(25, 115, id(minus), id(light_orange)); it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%.0f %%", ((id(desk_led_brightness).state / 255) * 100)); it.image(185, 115, id(plus), id(light_orange)); } if (id(device) == 2) { if (id(device_thermostat).state == "heat") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_2_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_2_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.image(25, 115, id(minus), id(light_orange)); it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%.1f°C", id(thermostat_temperature).state); it.image(185, 115, id(plus), id(light_orange)); } if (id(device) == 3) { if (id(device_vacuum).state == "cleaning") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_3_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_3_big), id(icon_big_off)); } if (id(device_vacuum).state == "cleaning") { it.image(25, 115, id(pause_icon), id(light_orange)); } else { it.image(25, 115, id(play_icon), id(light_orange)); } it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%s", id(device_vacuum).state.c_str()); it.image(185, 115, id(vacuum_dock), id(light_orange)); } if (id(device) == 4) { if (id(device_printer).state == "on") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_4_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_4_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%s", id(device_printer).state.c_str()); } if (id(device) == 5) { if (id(device_printer3d).state == "on") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_5_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_5_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%s", id(device_printer3d).state.c_str()); } if (id(device) == 6) { if (id(device_aircon).state == "cool") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_6_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_6_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.image(25, 115, id(minus), id(light_orange)); it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%.1f°C", id(aircon_temperature).state); it.image(185, 115, id(plus), id(light_orange)); } if (id(device) == 7) { if (id(device_dehumidifier).state == "on") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_7_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_7_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.image(25, 115, id(minus), id(light_orange)); it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%.1f°C", id(dehumidifier_humidity).state); it.image(185, 115, id(plus), id(light_orange)); } if (id(device) == 8) { if (id(device_lamp).state == "on") { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_8_big), id(icon_big_on)); } else { it.image(70, 80, id(icon_8_big), id(icon_big_off)); } it.image(25, 115, id(minus), id(light_orange)); it.printf(120, 210, id(secondary), TextAlign::CENTER, "%.0f %%", ((id(lamp_brightness).state / 255) * 100)); it.image(185, 115, id(plus), id(light_orange)); }
⚠️ While we’ve managed to implement all these features for Mr. Avocado, my recommendation is to comment out (or remove) any parts of the code you’re not planning to use. This will help improve the device’s performance and prevent it from freezing.
6. This code does not include the credentials needed for your device to connect to your Wi-Fi network and your Home Assistant instance. You’ll need to add them manually.
Specifically, I’m referring to the following lines from the code you copied in Step 4.
# Enable Home Assistant API api: encryption: key: "bg6hash6sjdjsdjk02hh0qnQeYVwm123vdfKE8BP5" ota: - platform: esphome password: "asddasda27aab65a48484502b332f" wifi: ssid: !secret wifi_ssid password: !secret wifi_password # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails ap: ssid: "Assist Fallback Hotspot" password: "ZsasdasdHGP2234"
7. What you need to do is to find the corresponding lines in the code (they’re at the top) and add your Wi-Fi and Home Assistant credentials there.
8. Now, click “Save” and then “Install.” Choose “Manual download” and wait for the code to compile.
9. Once the compilation is complete, select the “Modern format” option to download the corresponding .bin file.
10. Connect the M5Stack Dial to your computer using a USB-C data cable via the port on the bottom of the device.
11. Next, go to the ESPHome web page and click “Connect.” In the popup window, select your board and click “Connect.”
12. Then click “Install” again and choose the .bin file you downloaded in step 9. Click “Install” once more to flash the firmware.
13. Return to Home Assistant and go to Settings > Devices & Services.
In most cases, your device should be automatically discovered and appear at the top, waiting for you to click “Configure.”
If not, click “Add Integration,” search for “ESPHome,” and enter your board’s IP address in the Host field. As always, it’s a good idea to assign a static IP to your device in your router settings to avoid connection issues later on.
14. To finish, go to Settings > Devices & Services > ESPHome, click the “Configure” link next to your device, and in the popup window, check the box that says, “Allow this device to make Home Assistant API calls,” then click “Submit.”
This will allow us to control devices directly from the screen.
Alright, you’ve successfully integrated the M5Stack Dial into Home Assistant as Mr. Avocado. Now let’s go over how to take full advantage of its features.
To protect the screen, we’ve added a customizable screensaver function. You can easily tweak it by accessing the entities exposed by the device in Home Assistant. Pay special attention to these three controls.
After a few seconds of inactivity (you can set the duration using the “Screen Saver” slider), the menu automatically hides, showing the clock and date with reduced screen brightness.
Additionally, if you enable “Auto Lock,” the screen will turn off completely a few seconds later (adjustable using the “Auto Lock” slider).
Of course, you can use our default Mr. Avocado background images — or replace them with your own.
Just update the image references in the first few lines of the code to point to your preferred files.
substitutions: # Device customization # Personalización del dispositivo background_image: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_background_white.jpg background_image_saver: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_bg_off.jpg background_image_device: https://aguacatec.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mravocado_bg_device.jpeg
You can also customize which devices you want to control and the icons that represent them. Throughout the code, you’ll find examples for controlling different types of entities—lights, climate, vacuum, switches, humidifiers, and more. But if you understand the logic, you can control any Home Assistant device!
The example menu is optimized for 8 devices, but you can add more icons or even paginate the menu. Plus, if you press on any device, you’ll see advanced controls using the rotary encoder.
Since Mr. Avocado has a built-in buzzer, you can use it as an alarm or timer, making it sound whenever you want. Just use the “Alarm” button entity exposed by the device. You can also enable or disable a beep sound when navigating through the menu.
By the way, you can customize the alarm tone, as I explained in this article.
substitutions: # Sounds # Sonidos menu_sound: 'beep:d=64,o=5,b=255:c7' alarm_sound: 'xmen:d=4,o=6,b=200:16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8f#5,p,16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8g5,p,16f#5,16g5,16b5,16d,c#,8b5,8d,2p,8c#,8b5,2p'
Mr. Avocado also includes an NFC/RFID reader, although it’s not its strongest feature — I find the tag detection to be somewhat imprecise.
Still, if you want to use it, be sure to check out this article where I explain in detail how to create automations for each specific tag.
By the way, if you like it, you can also get our custom Mr. Avocado stand!
Thanks to the threaded mount built into the M5Stack Dial, attaching it is very easy. Just screw the device onto the stand’s base and route the USB-C power cable through the rear opening.
I recommend using a 90º angled USB-C cable to make positioning easier (although you can also rotate the screen to your liking).
Also, keep in mind the case has space at the top and an opening at the bottom—both intentionally designed so you can access the two expansion ports (I2C and GPIO) to add your favorite sensors.
⭐ If you have a 3D printer, you can download this stand I designed from our Patreon profile. If not, you can also purchase it from La R3D and have it shipped to your home!
Source: AguacaTEC
Author: TitoTB
Launched in October 2023 by M5Stack, the StickC Plus2 has quickly become a popular choice among makers, educators, and embedded system developers. It’s widely used in IoT projects, embedded systems, and cybersecurity applications. Many users even compare it with Flipper Zero as affordable alternatives for their similar roles in wireless testing and cybersecurity tools.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the StickC Plus2’s key features, programming options, and practical project ideas.
The M5StickC Plus2 is a compact, all-in-one ESP32-S3 development board designed for rapid prototyping and embedded applications. It integrates a 1.14” TFT display, IMU, microphone, infrared transmitter, and rechargeable battery — all within an ultra-portable form factor.
With support for Arduino, UIFlow2, and MicroPython, the StickC Plus2 is well-suited for a wide range of applications, from IoT devices and wearable interfaces to educational tools and lightweight cybersecurity projects.
M5StickC Plus2 builds on the StickC Plus with a new ESP32-PICO-V3-02 chip, increased battery capacity, improved Wi-Fi and infrared performance, and an upgraded CH9102 UART for more stable USB communication. However, the original StickC Plus has a built-in battery management IC that Plus2 lacks.
Additionally, the two devices differ slightly in their power-on and power-off behavior.
M5StickC Plus2 is a compact ESP32-S3 board ideal for developers looking to build custom IoT or cybersecurity tools. With third-party firmware (Like Bruce), it can emulate some Flipper Zero features like RF, IR, and USB HID.
Flipper Zero, on the other hand, is a ready-made hacking device with built-in wireless protocols, perfect for users who want an all-in-one security testing tool without programming.
Designed for the ESP32 microcontroller platform, Bruce merges Wi-Fi, RF (Radio Frequency), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), IR, and USB capabilities into a single, modular offensive toolkit tailored for red team activities and security research.
The easiest way to install Bruce on your M5Stack device is with M5Burner, M5Stack’s official firmware flashing tool.
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, click here to get started.
Open M5Burner > Select STICKC > Scroll down and you’ll see Bruce for StickC plus2 (or simply type “Bruce” into the search bar to locate it quickly.)
Click Download > Connect your device via a USB cable > Click Burn, select the corresponding USB port and default baud rate 1500000 > Hit Start to begin flashing
Note: Bruce is an open-source, community-developed firmware project not officially affiliated with M5Stack. A warning may pop up when you download the firmware.
Once you see the message "Burn successfully, click here to return", click it to finish, and press the reset button on your device once to let it start. Now you can begin exploring its features!
Note: If any issues occur during flashing, you may need to install a USB driver on your computer, or long-press the reset button on the main controller to enter download mode. For details, refer to the documentation page of your specific main controller device.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All use must comply with local laws. Use only for educational or testing purposes on your own devices.
1. Wi-Fi Attacks: Beacon flooding, deauthentication, EvilPortal phishing pages, EAPOL handshake capture, ARP spoofing, and wardriving GPS mapping.
The captive portal is one of Bruce’s most well-known features, commonly used for Wi-Fi phishing attacks. To launch it, go to Wi-Fi > Evil Portal, enter the target Wi-Fi name, and specify an IP address (or use the default). The phishing portal will begin broadcasting immediately.
On the screen, you'll see two URLs, these are used to view captured credentials and spoofed SSIDs. When a user attempts to log in through the fake portal, their credentials are captured by the device.
Public Wi-Fi networks present inherent security risks. It is advisable to avoid using such networks whenever possible. If usage is necessary, refrain from logging into personal accounts or transmitting sensitive information to minimize potential exposure.
2. Infrared & BadUSB: Offers IR transmission and reception, along with USB HID keyboard / mouse simulation on supported boards.
For example, navigate to the main menu, select the BadUSB section, choose a script, then run it to start USB keystroke injection. You can also watch this quick video by Pirata to see it in action: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F_7QlGVx-XU
3. Sub-GHz & RF Hacking: Integrates modules like CC1101 and NRF24 for jamming, scanning, and replaying RF signals.
4. RFID / NFC Tools: Uses the PN532 chip to support Mifare Ultralight tag emulation, reading, writing, and P2P communication.
5. Bluetooth LE: Scanning, beacon broadcasting, and early BLE payload experiments were implemented as early as version 1.3.
6. Web Interface & Scripting: Features a full web UI for module control, LittleFS/SD card file management, and an integrated JavaScript scripting interface for automation and extension.
Bruce is licensed under the AGPL-3.0 for its firmware, emphasizing true software freedom. It supports a variety of ESP32 and ESP32-S3 development boards, except for the M5StickC Plus2, it's also suitable for: Cardputer, Core1 (Basic), Core2, CoreS3 / SE, StickC-Plus. It lowers the barrier for both beginners and experts looking to dive into embedded offensive tooling.
Meshtastic is an open-source, off-grid communication project that uses LoRa (Long Range) radio technology to enable secure, long-distance messaging without the internet or cellular networks. It leverages point-to-point(P2P) and mesh communication in areas with no internet or cellular access by forming a self-sufficient network of devices. Utilizing ultra-low power hardware and license-free frequency bands, it enables long-range message transmission, making it ideal for outdoor adventures, emergency rescue, rural connectivity, and low-power IoT applications.
In this guide, we'll walk you through building your very own Meshtastic LoRa node using Module LoRa868 and ESP32-based M5Stack Core series controllers.
What You’ll Need
The easiest way to install Meshtastic firmware on your M5Stack device is with M5Burner, a simple and free intuitive firmware flashing tool developed by M5Stack.
1. Locate the Meshtastic Firmware
Open M5Burner > Select ALL from the list in the left column > Input "Meshtastic" into the search bar and choose the firmware that match your device > Click Download.
If you haven’t installed M5Burner, click here and follow the installation steps to download it to your computer.
2. Connect Your Device and Start Flashing
– Connect the main controller to your computer via USB data cable > Click Burn > Select the correct USB port and set baud rate to 1500000 > Click Start to begin flashing.
– Wait for the message "Burn successfully" > Click "Click here to return" > When the Meshtastic logo "//\" appears on the screen, disconnect the device from your computer.
Note: if flashing fails, try installing the USB driver on your computer or long-press the reset button on the main controller to enter download mode. For more information, refer to your device’s documentation page.
After the firmware successfully downloaded on the device:
– Check M5Burner firmware for pin info and set DIP switches by following Module LoRa868 v1.2 DIP Switch Guide (for Core1/Core2: long pins 2,5,7 and short pin 1 ON).
– Remove red dust cap > Install antenna > Connect the module to the device.
– Power on the device, then the Meshtastic logo "//\" will appear.
Safety Warning
Do NOT connect or power on the device without installing the antenna, as this may cause permanent hardware damage!
1. Install the Meshtastic app on Your Phone
Download the Meshtastic app from the Google Play or Download APK from GitHub(for Android) or App Store(for IOS).
2. Pair the Device
Open the Meshtastic app and follow the on-screen instructions to pair your device via Bluetooth—nearby devices will be detected automatically. The iOS and Android Meshtastic apps offer similar features but have different interfaces, so setup steps and screenshots are shown separately for each platform.
3. Configure Device Settings
After pairing, you could set the Lora region, select the appropriate region (e.g., EU 868MHz), username in the app.
When running Meshtastic, the ESP32 can't use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth simultaneously. Bluetooth is enabled by default. If you turn on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth will be disabled. To re-enable it, connect the device to your computer via USB and use the Meshtastic Web Client in Chrome to disable Wi-Fi.
Step 4: Add GPS To Your Meshtastic Node
Core1/Core2 with LoRa868 v1.2 doesn’t have built-in GPS, but you can share your smartphone’s GPS location with the device. It's useful for team members to track each other during outdoor activities.
Step 5: Send and Receive Message
With other nodes show up in the list, you're connected to the mesh and can start messaging via the Meshtastic app.
Is Meshtastic Legal?
Yes, it’s legal. Meshtastic operates on license-free frequency bands such as 433 / 470 / 868 / 915 MHz which is in full compliance with FCC regulations.
How far does Meshtastic work?
The estimated range of this Meshtastic setup is around 4 km (2.49 miles). But the range between two Meshtastic nodes varies based on antenna setup, and environmental conditions. You may try moving the device around to test the range, check the signal to ensure stable connectivity.