meshcore-dev · derekg612 · Feb 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026 · Feb 10, 2026
diff --git a/docs/faq.md b/docs/faq.md
@@ -700,7 +700,10 @@ where `&type` is:
 
 ### 7.6. Q: How do I connect to the companion via WIFI, e.g. using a heltec v3?
  **A:** 
-WiFi firmware requires you to compile it yourself, as you need to set the wifi ssid and password.
-Edit WIFI_SSID and WIFI_PWD in `./variants/heltec_v3/platformio.ini` and then flash it to your device.
+WiFi firmware now utilizes WIFI Manager which automatically creates an AP of "MC-AP" with password "mypwd000" when unable to connect to WIFI.
+
+To customize the default AP name and password, edit WIFI_MANAGER and WIFI_PWD in `./variants/heltec_v3/platformio.ini` and then flash it to your device. A custom password with fewer than 8 characters will be right-padded with zeros to a length of 8.
+
+If the manager does not pop up automatically after connecting to the AP, please browse to 192.168.4.1 .
 
 ---
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ static uint32_t _atoi(const char* sp) {
 #endif
 
 #ifdef ESP32
-  #ifdef WIFI_SSID
+  #if defined(WIFI_MANAGER)
+    #include <WiFiManager.h> // https://github.com/tzapu/WiFiManager
+    WiFiManager wifiManager;
     #include <helpers/esp32/SerialWifiInterface.h>
     SerialWifiInterface serial_interface;
     #ifndef TCP_PORT
@@ -193,10 +195,21 @@ void setup() {
     #endif
   );
 
-#ifdef WIFI_SSID
-  board.setInhibitSleep(true);   // prevent sleep when WiFi is active
-  WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PWD);
-  serial_interface.begin(TCP_PORT);
+#if defined(WIFI_MANAGER)
+    // AP password must have a minimum 8 characters
+    String ap_passwd = WIFI_PWD;
+    while (ap_passwd.length() < 8) {
+      ap_passwd += "0";
+    }
+    if (wifiManager.autoConnect(WIFI_MANAGER, ap_passwd.c_str()))
+    {
+      board.setInhibitSleep(true);   // prevent sleep when WiFi is active
+      serial_interface.begin(TCP_PORT);
+    } else {
+      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("WifiManager failed to connect. Restarting.");
+      delay(2000);
+      ESP.restart();
+    }
 #elif defined(BLE_PIN_CODE)
   serial_interface.begin(BLE_NAME_PREFIX, the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->node_name, the_mesh.getBLEPin());
 #elif defined(SERIAL_RX)

diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include <helpers/TxtDataHelpers.h>
 #include "../MyMesh.h"
 #include "target.h"
-#ifdef WIFI_SSID
+#if defined(WIFI_MANAGER)
   #include <WiFi.h>
 #endif
 
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class HomeScreen : public UIScreen {
       sprintf(tmp, "MSG: %d", _task->getMsgCount());
       display.drawTextCentered(display.width() / 2, 20, tmp);
 
-      #ifdef WIFI_SSID
+      #if defined(WIFI_MANAGER)
         IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
         snprintf(tmp, sizeof(tmp), "IP: %d.%d.%d.%d", ip[0], ip[1], ip[2], ip[3]);
         display.setTextSize(1);

diff --git a/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_tracker_v2/platformio.ini
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=ST7735Display
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256  
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ build_src_filter = ${Heltec_tracker_v2.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${Heltec_tracker_v2.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:heltec_tracker_v2_sensor]
 extends = Heltec_tracker_v2

diff --git a/variants/heltec_v2/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_v2/platformio.ini
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=160
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256  
 ; -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ; -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -195,3 +195,4 @@ build_src_filter = ${Heltec_lora32_v2.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${Heltec_lora32_v2.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
diff --git a/variants/heltec_v3/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_v3/platformio.ini
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=SSD1306Display
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -340,8 +340,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=350
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ build_src_filter = ${Heltec_lora32_v3.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${Heltec_lora32_v3.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:Heltec_WSL3_sensor]
 extends = Heltec_lora32_v3

diff --git a/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_v4/platformio.ini
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=SSD1306Display
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 build_src_filter = ${heltec_v4_oled.build_src_filter}
@@ -371,8 +371,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D DISPLAY_CLASS=ST7789LCDDisplay
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 build_src_filter = ${heltec_v4_tft.build_src_filter}
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ build_src_filter = ${heltec_v4_tft.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${heltec_v4_tft.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:heltec_v4_tft_sensor]
 extends = heltec_v4_tft

diff --git a/variants/lilygo_tlora_v2_1/platformio.ini b/variants/lilygo_tlora_v2_1/platformio.ini
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ build_flags =
   -I examples/companion_radio/ui-new
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=160
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"ssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"password"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256  
 build_src_filter = ${LilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6.build_src_filter}
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ build_src_filter = ${LilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${LilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 ;
 ; Repeater Bridges

diff --git a/variants/nibble_screen_connect/platformio.ini b/variants/nibble_screen_connect/platformio.ini
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=300
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256  
 build_src_filter = ${nibble_screen_connect_base.build_src_filter}
   +<helpers/ui/SSD1306Display.cpp>
@@ -157,4 +157,5 @@ build_src_filter = ${nibble_screen_connect_base.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${nibble_screen_connect_base.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
diff --git a/variants/rak11310/platformio.ini b/variants/rak11310/platformio.ini
@@ -111,14 +111,15 @@ lib_deps = ${rak11310.lib_deps}
 ;   -D MAX_CONTACTS=100
 ;   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
 ;   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-;   -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+;  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+;  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
 ; ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ; ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 ; build_src_filter = ${rak11310.build_src_filter}
 ;   +<../examples/companion_radio/*.cpp>
 ; lib_deps = ${rak11310.lib_deps}
 ;   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+;   tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:RAK_11310_terminal_chat]
 extends = rak11310

diff --git a/variants/rak3112/platformio.ini b/variants/rak3112/platformio.ini
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=350
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
 ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ build_src_filter = ${rak3112.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${rak3112.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:RAK_3112_sensor]
 extends = rak3112

diff --git a/variants/rpi_picow/platformio.ini b/variants/rpi_picow/platformio.ini
@@ -85,14 +85,15 @@ lib_deps = ${rpi_picow.lib_deps}
 ;   -D MAX_CONTACTS=100
 ;   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
 ;   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-;   -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
 ; ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ; ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 ; build_src_filter = ${rpi_picow.build_src_filter}
 ;   +<../examples/companion_radio/*.cpp>
 ; lib_deps = ${rpi_picow.lib_deps}
 ;   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+;   tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:PicoW_terminal_chat]
 extends = rpi_picow

diff --git a/variants/station_g2/platformio.ini b/variants/station_g2/platformio.ini
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_CONTACTS=350
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256  
 ; -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ; -D MESH_DEBUG=1
@@ -237,3 +237,4 @@ build_src_filter = ${Station_G2.build_src_filter}
 lib_deps =
   ${Station_G2.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
diff --git a/variants/thinknode_m2/platformio.ini b/variants/thinknode_m2/platformio.ini
@@ -177,8 +177,10 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
+;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
+;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 build_src_filter = ${ThinkNode_M2.build_src_filter}
   +<helpers/esp32/*.cpp>
   +<helpers/ui/MomentaryButton.cpp>
@@ -188,6 +190,7 @@ lib_deps =
   ${ThinkNode_M2.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
   end2endzone/NonBlockingRTTTL@^1.3.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:ThinkNode_M2_companion_radio_serial]
 extends = ThinkNode_M2

diff --git a/variants/thinknode_m5/platformio.ini b/variants/thinknode_m5/platformio.ini
@@ -192,8 +192,10 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"Livebox-633C"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"vvQUHGSxsWd7fKMYSr"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
+;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
+;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 build_src_filter = ${ThinkNode_M5.build_src_filter}
   +<helpers/esp32/*.cpp>
   +<helpers/ui/MomentaryButton.cpp>
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ lib_deps =
   ${ThinkNode_M5.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
   end2endzone/NonBlockingRTTTL@^1.3.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:ThinkNode_M5_companion_radio_serial]
 extends = ThinkNode_M5

diff --git a/variants/waveshare_rp2040_lora/platformio.ini b/variants/waveshare_rp2040_lora/platformio.ini
@@ -109,14 +109,15 @@ lib_deps = ${waveshare_rp2040_lora.lib_deps}
 ;   -D MAX_CONTACTS=100
 ;   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
 ;   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-;   -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
-; ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
-; ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
+;   -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
+; ; -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
+; ; -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 ; build_src_filter = ${waveshare_rp2040_lora.build_src_filter}
 ;   +<../examples/companion_radio/*.cpp>
 ; lib_deps = ${waveshare_rp2040_lora.lib_deps}
 ;   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+;   tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:waveshare_rp2040_lora_terminal_chat]
 extends = waveshare_rp2040_lora

diff --git a/variants/xiao_c3/platformio.ini b/variants/xiao_c3/platformio.ini
@@ -114,12 +114,13 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   ; -D BLE_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
   ; -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
   ; -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 lib_deps =
   ${Xiao_esp32_C3.lib_deps}
   ${esp32_ota.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
diff --git a/variants/xiao_rp2040/platformio.ini b/variants/xiao_rp2040/platformio.ini
@@ -87,14 +87,15 @@ lib_deps = ${Xiao_rp2040.lib_deps}
 ;   -D MAX_CONTACTS=100
 ;   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=8
 ;   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-;   -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd"'
+;   -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+;   -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
 ; ;  -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
 ; ;  -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 ; build_src_filter = ${Xiao_rp2040.build_src_filter}
 ;   +<../examples/companion_radio/*.cpp>
 ; lib_deps = ${Xiao_rp2040.lib_deps}
 ;   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+;   tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:Xiao_rp2040_terminal_chat]
 extends = Xiao_rp2040

diff --git a/variants/xiao_s3_wio/platformio.ini b/variants/xiao_s3_wio/platformio.ini
@@ -209,14 +209,15 @@ build_flags =
   -D MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS=40
   -D OFFLINE_QUEUE_SIZE=256
   -D WIFI_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
-  -D WIFI_SSID='"myssid"'
-  -D WIFI_PWD='"password"'
+  -D WIFI_MANAGER='"MC-AP"'
+  -D WIFI_PWD='"mypwd000"'
   ; -D BLE_DEBUG_LOGGING=1
   ; -D MESH_PACKET_LOGGING=1
   ; -D MESH_DEBUG=1
 lib_deps =
   ${Xiao_S3_WIO.lib_deps}
   densaugeo/base64 @ ~1.4.0
+  tzapu/WiFiManager@^2.0.17
 
 [env:Xiao_S3_WIO_sensor]
 extends = Xiao_S3_WIO