M5Stack Core ESP32 - WiFi Network Scanner

2026-06-09 | By Ron Cutts

License: GNU Lesser General Public License Microcontrollers Serial / UART Wifi Arduino ESP32

In this tutorial, we will learn how to make a WiFi scanner using the M5Stack Core ESP32 and Visuino to scan & display the WiFi networks around.

Watch the video!

What You Will Need

M5Stack Core ESP32
Wifi Internet connection or a Wifi HotSpot
Visuino program: Download Visuino

What You Will Need

What You Will Need photo 2

What You Will Need photo 3

Start Visuino, and Select the M5 Stack Core Board Type

Start Visuino as shown in the first picture. Click on the "Tools" button on the Arduino component (Picture 1) in Visuino. When the dialog appears, select "M5 Stack Core" as shown in Picture 2

Start Visuino, and Select the M5 Stack Core Board Type

Start Visuino, and Select the M5 Stack Core Board Type photo 2

In Visuino Add & Set Components

Add "Digital Multi Source" component
Select "M5 Stack Core" and in the properties window expand "Modules" > "WiFi" > "Operations" and click on the 3 dots button.
In "Operations" window, drag "Scan WiFi Networks" to the left side
In the properties window, set "Show Hidden" to True; this way, we will also be able to see hidden networks
Close the "Operations" window
Select "M5 Stack Core" and in the properties window expand "Modules" > "TFT Display" > "Elements" and click on the 3 dots button.
In the "Elements" window, drag "Fill Screen" to the left side and close the window

In Visuino Add & Set Components

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 2

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 3

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 4

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 5

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 6

In Visuino Connect Components

Connect "M5 Stack Core" pin Out (B) to "DigitalMultiSource1" pin [In]
Connect "DigitalMultiSource1" pin [0] to "M5 Stack Core" > "Fill Screen1" pin [Clock]"
Connect "DigitalMultiSource1" pin [1] to "M5 Stack Core" > "Scan Networks" pin [Scan]"
Connect "M5 Stack Core" > pin [SSID] to "M5 Stack Core" >"TFT Display" pin "In"

In Visuino Connect Components

In Visuino Connect Components photo 2

In Visuino Connect Components photo 3

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Code

In Visuino, at the bottom, click on the "Build" tab, make sure the correct port is selected, then click on the "Compile/Build and Upload" button.

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Code

Play

If you power the M5 Stack Core module and click on the B button, the module will start scanning for WiFi networks. After the scanning is finished, you will be able to see on the display the names of the WiFi networks around.

Congratulations! You have completed your project with Visuino. Also attached is the Visuino project that I created for this. You can download it and open it in Visuino: https://www.visuino.eu