Skip to content
Garage & Workshop

Web Motor Controller

Run a DC motor from your browser: start, stop, speed from 0 to 100% and forward or reverse direction.

How do you want to connect?

  1. Upload our Bluetooth code to an ESP32 (any ESP32, ESP32-C3 or S3).
  2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone or laptop.
  3. Press Connect and pick from the list.

Works up to about 10 metres. No Wi-Fi name, password or internet needed. On iPhone, use the Wi-Fi hotspot option, or the free Bluefy browser app.

  1. Upload our Wi-Fi hotspot code to your ESP32 or ESP8266. No Wi-Fi details needed.
  2. On your phone, join the Wi-Fi with password .
  3. The remote page opens by itself. If not, open http://192.168.4.1 in your browser.
  1. Upload our Home Wi-Fi code with your Wi-Fi name and password filled in.
  2. Keep your phone on the same Wi-Fi.
  3. Open (or the IP shown in the Serial Monitor). Add it to your home screen for one-tap access.

Your browser and your board both connect to an MQTT broker on the internet, so you can control the device from anywhere.

Free public test broker: wss://broker.hivemq.com:8884/mqtt. For real use, make a free private broker on HiveMQ Cloud or EMQX Cloud.

Not saved. You type it each visit.

Keep this topic secret: on a public broker, anyone who knows it can send commands.

  1. Upload any of our codes to your board. They all listen on USB too.
  2. Close the Arduino Serial Monitor, keep the board plugged in.
  3. Press Connect and choose the board's USB port.

Great for testing on your desk. Works in Chrome and Edge on a computer.

For devices reachable on https, for example through Cloudflare Tunnel, ngrok or Home Assistant. Browsers block plain http:// links from this page, so for your home network use the Home Wi-Fi option instead.

Not sure? Start with Bluetooth on Android or a laptop, or Wi-Fi hotspot on iPhone. Move to Internet (MQTT) when you want control from outside your home.

Board
Connect using

The board appears in Bluetooth as . Needs an ESP32 (ESP8266 has no Bluetooth).

The board makes its own Wi-Fi (password ). Join it and the remote opens.

Fill in your Wi-Fi name and password at the top. Then open on the same Wi-Fi.

Uses the broker and topic from Connect my device → Internet, so this page and your board talk to each other.

Every version also works over a USB cable.


    




    
    

        

            

            

                
    
        
                
        
    
    



            

            

        


        

                            
                                    

            

                
                
            

            

                
                
                
            

        

                                    

            
Direction

            

                                    
                                    
                            

        

                            

    


    
    

        
            
  
  
  
  
 Command log
            
        
        

            
            
Press any button. Commands you send show here.

        

    



                

                

                    Something not working?
                    Report a problem
                

            

        

    


    
    
    

        
        

            

                
About the Web Motor Controller

                                    
A general motor controller for robots, carts, winches and maker projects. Start and stop the motor, set speed with a slider and change direction. The preview gear spins faster and reverses as you change the settings. Use an L298N or BTS7960 motor driver with the ESP32.

                                    
This remote runs fully in your browser, so it works on any phone or computer with no app to install. Try it now in demo mode. When you are ready, connect it to your own ESP32 or ESP8266 by Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, home Wi-Fi, USB cable or the internet. We write the Arduino code for you for each option.

                
                
                                    
How to use it

                    
    
                                                    
  1. Play with the remote in demo mode to see how it works.
    2. 
                                                    
  2. Build your device. See "What you need" below.
    3. 
                                                    
  3. Press Connect my device and pick how you want to connect. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi hotspot are the easiest.
    4. 
                                                    
  4. Press Get the code for this, upload it to your board with Arduino IDE, then connect. Now the buttons control your real device.
    5. 
                                            

                
                                    
Why people like this tool

                    

                                                    

                                

                                    
  

                                    No app needed
                                

                                
Opens in any browser on Android, iPhone, laptop or tablet.

                            

                                                    

                                

                                    
  

                                    Real demo mode
                                

                                
Animated preview so you can test before you build.

                            

                                                    

                                

                                    
  

                                    Ready ESP32 code
                                

                                
Arduino sketch for ESP32 or ESP8266, made for this remote.

                            

                                                    

                                

                                    
  

                                    5 ways to connect
                                

                                
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, home Wi-Fi, USB cable or internet (MQTT).

                            

                                            

                
                                    
What you need to build it

                    
  • An ESP32 board
  • A motor driver (L298N for small motors, BTS7960 for bigger ones)
  • A DC motor and a power supply rated for it
  • Limit switches if the motor moves something
Not ready to build? You can still use the remote in demo mode to plan your project and test the buttons.

                                    
Commands this remote sends

                    
Over Bluetooth or a USB cable, each command is a short text line like id=value. With MQTT, it goes to your-topic/<id>/set and your device reports back on your-topic/<id>/state. On Wi-Fi, the page calls /<id>?value=… on the device.
idControlValuesDirection
powerMotorON / OFFRemote → device
speedSpeed0 to 100 %Remote → device
directionDirectionForward, ReverseRemote → device

                            


                        
            
        


                    

                
How it works, in one picture

                

    Infographic: how to use the Web Motor Controller in 4 easy steps: Try the demo, Build your device, Connect it and Get the code. You get: No app needed, Real demo mode, Ready ESP32 code and 5 ways to connect.
    

            

        
        
        

        
Frequently asked questions

        

                            

                    
                        Can I try this remote without any device?
                        
                            
  
  

                        
                    
                    
Yes. The remote opens in demo mode. Every button, slider and animation works, but nothing is sent. It is a great way to plan your project.

                

                            

                    
                        What is the easiest way to connect my device?
                        
                            
  
  

                        
                    
                    
Use Bluetooth if you have an ESP32 and use Chrome or Edge on Android or a laptop: upload our Bluetooth code, press Connect and pick your board. On iPhone, use the Wi-Fi hotspot option: the board makes its own Wi-Fi, you join it, and the remote opens. Neither needs a router or internet.

                

                            

                    
                        Can I control it from outside my home?
                        
                            
  
  

                        
                    
                    
Yes, with the Internet (MQTT) option. Your browser and your board both connect to an MQTT broker and share a private topic, so it works from anywhere. Inside the house, the Home Wi-Fi option gives you an easy address like http://tp-your-device.local.

                

                            

                    
                        Is a public MQTT broker safe?
                        
                            
  
  

                        
                    
                    
A public broker is fine for testing, but anyone who knows your topic can send commands. For real use, create a free private broker with a username and password (for example on HiveMQ Cloud or EMQX Cloud), and keep your topic secret.

                

                            

                    
                        Can I use an ESP8266 instead of an ESP32?
                        
                            
  
  

                        
                    
                    
Yes. In "Get ESP32 code", switch the board to ESP8266 and the code and pin numbers change for you. ESP8266 has fewer pins and only one analog input.

                

                    

    


                    

                
You may also like

                

                                            
    

                    
                
  
  
  
  

            
                

            
Web Garage Door Remote

                    

    

    
Open, close and stop your garage door or rolling shutter from your phone, and see if it is really closed.

    
        Open tool 
  
  

    

                                            
    

                    
                
  
  
  

            
                

            
Web Workshop Light Remote

                    

    

    
Switch workshop lights by area: main tubes, work bench, machine area and outside lights, all from one screen.

    
        Open tool 
  
  

    

                                            
    

                    
                
  
  

            
                

            
Web Workshop Fan Remote

                    

    

    
Control a workshop pedestal or exhaust fan: power, speed, and blow-in or exhaust mode for fumes and dust.

    
        Open tool 
  
  

    

                                            
    

                    
                
  
  

            
                

            
Web Compressor Remote

                    

    

    
Control an air compressor from your phone: watch tank pressure, run auto start/stop by pressure and drain water from the tank.

    
        Open tool 
  
  

    

                                            
    

                    
                
  

            
                

            
Web Welding Machine Power Controller

                    

    

    
Switch the main supply of a welding machine from your phone, with an auto-off timer, current reading and a lockout switch.

    
        Open tool 
  
  

    

                                            
    

                    
                
  
  

            
                

            
Web Conveyor Controller

                    

    

    
Control a small conveyor belt: start, stop, speed, direction and a live item counter with reset.

    
        Open tool