n8n physical button with Beetle ESP32C3

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that connects APIs, databases, and services. In practical terms, it allows non-programmers to build complex systems using a visual interface, while offering developers a powerful and scalable way to design automations. It's one of the most popular platforms for deploying AI agents, combining triggers, language models (LLMs), and external tools.

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Recently, I was asked to come up with a few n8n projects, and I thought it’d be fun to create a small bridge between the digital and physical worlds: a simple hardware button that can trigger a workflow or node.

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1. n8n wekhook

First, head to your n8n workflow and create a webhook node. Double-click the node to get the webhook URL.

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2. Hardware

All you need is an ESP32 board. In my example, I’m using this one: Beetle ESP32-C3, but any ESP32 should work.

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ESP32C3

ESP32C3

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You can either connect a push button between a free GPIO and GND, or use the onboard button that some ESP32 boards include. For the Beetle C3, the Boot button is mapped to GPIO 9 — so you can use that out of the box without soldering anything.

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Image from last minute engineer

Image from last minute engineer

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3. Button Software

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ESP32N8NButton Library

ESP32N8NButton Library

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In the Arduino IDE, install the ESP32N8NButton library.

Then go to Examples > ESP32N8NButton and edit the sketch with your Wi-Fi SSID and password, the webhook URL from step 1, and the GPIO pin your button is connected to. If you're using the onboard button, just set the corresponding GPIO pin.

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Configure settings

Configure settings

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Upload the sketch to the ESP32 — and that's it.

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Usage

Every time you press the button, your n8n workflow is triggered. That could mean checking your calendar and sending a meeting slot via WhatsApp, pulling Tesla stock data, or anything else your automation handles.

Demo

https://x.com/RoniBandini/status/1934617385643778056

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Final Notes

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n8n button

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I’m not entirely sure yet where this kind of physical interface for n8n will be most useful. Maybe triggering backups, starting a home alarm, or launching some industrial process — all without needing to unlock your phone or computer. Either way, it’s a fun and simple project.

If you build your own version with a GPIO button and a nice case, send pics!

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Links

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https://n8n.io/

https://github.com/ronibandini/ESP32N8NButtonĀ 

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