What You'll Need

Components Required

ESP32 Board: The main controller used for this project
USB Cable (Type A to Type Micro USB): To connect the ESP32 board to your computer
Internet Connection: The ESP32 will need to connect to Wi-Fi to send an email

Software and Libraries

Arduino IDE: Download from the official Arduino website.
Email_Mail_Client Library: Install via Arduino Library Manager or download from Github repository

Project Overview

This project enables your ESP32 to send an email when a specific event occurs, such as a sensor being triggered. The "Email_Mail_Client" library simplifies the process of connecting to an SMTP sever, composing an email, and sending it, all from your ESP32.

Why This Project ?

Automating emails can be incredibly useful for a variety of applications. Imagine receiving an email notification when your home security system detects motion, or getting an alert when your greenhouse's temperature goes beyond a certain threshold. This project makes such application possible and demonstrate how simple it is to integrate email functionality into your ESP32 projects.

How It Works

Connecting to Wi-Fi

First, the ESP32 needs to connect to a Wi-Fi network. You'll input your SSID and password in the code to establish this connection.

Sending the Email

The library handles the communication with the SMTP server and sends the email. You'll need to configure the server settings, including the SMTP server address, port, and your email credentials.

Step-By-Step Instruction

1. Setting Up the ESP32

1. Install the Arduino IDE: If you haven't already, download and install the Arduino IDE

2. Install the ESP32 Board: Go to 'FILE > PREFERENCES' in the Arduino IDE, and add the following URL to the "Additional Board Manager URLs": https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json

3. Install the Email_Mail_Client Library: Open the Arduino IDE, go to "SKETCH > INCLUDE LIBRARY > MANAGE LIBRARIES", search for "ESP_Mail_Client" and install it.

2. Writing the code

Here is a simple code example that sends an email when ESP32 is powered on:

#include <WiFi.h>
#include <ESP_Mail_Client.h>

// Replace with your network credentials
const char* ssid = "your_SSID";
const char* password = "your_PASSWORD";

// SMTP server credentials
#define SMTP_HOST "smtp.gmail.com"
#define SMTP_PORT 465
#define AUTHOR_EMAIL "your_email@gmail.com"
#define AUTHOR_PASSWORD "your_password"

// Recipient's email
#define RECIPIENT_EMAIL "recipient_email@example.com"

// Create an ESP_Mail_Session object
ESP_Mail_Session session;
SMTP_Message message;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  // Connect to Wi-Fi
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");
  }
  Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");

  // Set SMTP session configuration
  session.server.host_name = SMTP_HOST;
  session.server.port = SMTP_PORT;
  session.login.email = AUTHOR_EMAIL;
  session.login.password = AUTHOR_PASSWORD;
  session.login.user_domain = "";

  // Compose the email
  message.sender.name = "ESP32 Project";
  message.sender.email = AUTHOR_EMAIL;
  message.subject = "ESP32 Email Test";
  message.addRecipient("Recipient", RECIPIENT_EMAIL);
  message.text.content = "Hello from ESP32!";
  
  // Send the email
  if (!MailClient.sendMail(&session, &message)) {
    Serial.println("Error sending email");
  } else {
    Serial.println("Email sent successfully!");
  }
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing needed here for now
}

3. Uploading the Code:

1. Connect your ESP32 board to your computer using a USB cable.

2. Select your ESP32 board and the correct COM port from 'TOOLS > BOARD' and 'TOOLS > PORT'

3. Click the upload button in the Arduino IDE to upload the code.

4. Testing the Project

After uploading the code, open the Serial Monitor from the Arduino IDE ('TOOLS > SERIAL MONITOR'). If everything is set up correctly, you should see messages indicating that the ESP32 is connecting to Wi-Fi, followed by confirmation that the email has been sent.

Key Points to Remember

Ensure your Wi-Fi credentials are correct: The ESP32 won't be able to send an email without an active internet connection.
Use App Passwords if necessary: Some email provider, like Gmail, require an app password instead of your usual email password for increased security.
Check SMTP Settings: Ensure that the SMTP server settings match those of your email provider.

Video Tutorial

You can follow this video to get more understanding how to make it

Conclusion

By following this guide you've successfully set up an ESP32 to send emails using the 'Email_Mail_Client' library. This project is only a fantastic way to learn more about the capabilities of the ESP32 but also an excellent foundation for more complex IoT application. Feel free to expand upon this project by integrating sensor, adding more features, or even sending emails based on specific triggers.

Project Details