Arduino - Motion Sensor Email Notification

In this guide, we will show you how to use an Arduino and a motion sensor to send emails when someone enters your room without permission. We will cover how to set everything up, what you need, and detailed instructions on connecting an Arduino and motion sensor to an email system. Improve your home security by receiving instant email notifications through the Arduino.

Arduino motion sensor email notification

Hardware Required

1×Arduino UNO R4 WiFi
1×USB Cable Type-C
1×HC-SR501 Motion Sensor
1×Breadboard
1×Jumper Wires
1×(Optional) DC Power Jack
1×(Recommended) Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino UNO R4
1×(Recommended) Breadboard Shield For Arduino UNO R4
1×(Recommended) Enclosure For Arduino UNO R4
1×(Recommended) Power Splitter For Arduino UNO R4

Or you can buy the following sensor kits:

1×DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays)
1×DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays)
Disclosure: Some links in this section are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables.

About Motion Sensor and Gmail

We offer detailed guides on Motion Sensor and Gmail. Each guide provides complete information and easy-to-follow steps on hardware setup, how it works, and how to connect and program Arduino. Find out more by visiting these links:

Wiring Diagram between Motion Sensor and Arduino

Arduino Motion Sensor Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Arduino Code

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-motion-sensor-email-notification */ #include <WiFiS3.h> #include <ESP_Mail_Client.h> #define WIFI_SSID "YOUR_WIFI_SSID" // CHANGE IT #define WIFI_PASSWORD "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD" // CHANGE IT // the sender email credentials #define SENDER_EMAIL "xxxxxx@gmail.com" // CHANGE IT #define SENDER_PASSWORD "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx" // CHANGE IT to your Google App password #define RECIPIENT_EMAIL "xxxxxx@gmail.com" // CHANGE IT #define SMTP_HOST "smtp.gmail.com" #define SMTP_PORT 587 #define MOTION_SENSOR_PIN 2 // Arduino pin connected to motion sensor's pin int motion_state; // current state of motion sensor int prev_motion_state; // previous state of motion sensor SMTPSession smtp; void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD); Serial.print("Connecting to Wi-Fi"); while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) { Serial.print("."); delay(300); } Serial.println(); Serial.print("Connected with IP: "); Serial.println(WiFi.localIP()); Serial.println(); pinMode(MOTION_SENSOR_PIN, INPUT); motion_state = digitalRead(MOTION_SENSOR_PIN); // read state } void loop() { prev_motion_state = motion_state; // save the last state motion_state = digitalRead(MOTION_SENSOR_PIN); // read new state if (prev_motion_state == LOW && motion_state == HIGH) { // state change: LOW -> HIGH Serial.println("Motion detected! Someone is in your room!"); String subject = "Email Notification from ESP32"; String textMsg = "This is an email sent from ESP32.\n"; textMsg += "Motion detected! Someone is in your room!"; gmail_send(subject, textMsg); } } void gmail_send(String subject, String textMsg) { // set the network reconnection option MailClient.networkReconnect(true); smtp.debug(1); smtp.callback(smtpCallback); Session_Config config; // set the session config config.server.host_name = SMTP_HOST; config.server.port = SMTP_PORT; config.login.email = SENDER_EMAIL; config.login.password = SENDER_PASSWORD; config.login.user_domain = F("127.0.0.1"); config.time.ntp_server = F("pool.ntp.org,time.nist.gov"); config.time.gmt_offset = 3; config.time.day_light_offset = 0; // declare the message class SMTP_Message message; // set the message headers message.sender.name = F("ESP32"); message.sender.email = SENDER_EMAIL; message.subject = subject; message.addRecipient(F("To Whom It May Concern"), RECIPIENT_EMAIL); message.text.content = textMsg; message.text.transfer_encoding = "base64"; message.text.charSet = F("utf-8"); message.priority = esp_mail_smtp_priority::esp_mail_smtp_priority_low; // set the custom message header message.addHeader(F("Message-ID: <abcde.fghij@gmail.com>")); // connect to the server if (!smtp.connect(&config)) { Serial.println("Connection error"); return; } if (!smtp.isLoggedIn()) { Serial.println("Not yet logged in."); } else { if (smtp.isAuthenticated()) Serial.println("Successfully logged in."); else Serial.println("Connected with no Auth."); } // start sending Email and close the session if (!MailClient.sendMail(&smtp, &message)) { Serial.println("Connection error: "); Serial.print("- Status Code: "); Serial.println(smtp.statusCode()); Serial.print("- Error Code: "); Serial.println(smtp.errorCode()); Serial.print("- Reason: "); Serial.println(smtp.errorReason().c_str()); } } // callback function to get the Email sending status void smtpCallback(SMTP_Status status) { // print the current status Serial.println(status.info()); // print the sending result if (status.success()) { for (size_t i = 0; i < smtp.sendingResult.size(); i++) { // get the result item SMTP_Result result = smtp.sendingResult.getItem(i); Serial.print("Status: "); if (result.completed) Serial.println("success"); else Serial.println("failed"); Serial.print("Recipient: "); Serial.println(result.recipients.c_str()); Serial.print("Subject: "); Serial.println(result.subject.c_str()); } Serial.println("----------------\n"); // free the memory smtp.sendingResult.clear(); } }

Quick Steps

  • If you are using Arduino for the first time, learn how to set it up with Arduino IDE here: how to setup environment for Arduino on Arduino IDE.
  • Plug the Arduino board into the motion sensor.
  • Connect the Arduino board to your computer using a micro USB cable.
  • Start the Arduino IDE on your computer.
  • Choose the correct Arduino board option, for example, Arduino Dev Module, and the COM port.
  • Access the Library Manager by clicking the Library Manager icon on the left side of the Arduino IDE.
  • Look for "ESP Mail Client" and find the version by Mobizt.
  • Press the Install button to add the ESP Mail Client library.
Arduino ESP Mail Client library
  • Copy the provided code and open it in the Arduino IDE.
  • Change the WiFi details (network name and password) in the code by updating WIFI_SSID and WIFI_PASSWORD with your network information.
  • Change the sender's email and password in the code by updating SENDER_EMAIL and SENDER_PASSWORD with your email details.
  • Change the recipient's email in the code by updating RECIPIENT_EMAIL with the email address where you want to receive messages. This can be the same as the sender's email.

※ NOTE THAT:

  • The email you use to send must be a Gmail.
  • Use the App password you received in the previous step for the sender's password.
  • The email address you are sending to can be any kind of email.
  • Press the Upload button in Arduino IDE to send the code to Arduino.
  • Open the Serial Monitor.
  • Move in front of the motion sensor.
  • Look at the Serial Monitor to see the results.
COM6
Send
Motion detected! Someone is in your room! #### Email sent successfully > C: Email sent successfully ---------------- Message sent success: 1 Message sent failed: 0 ---------------- Message No: 1 Status: success Date/Time: May 27, 2024 04:42:50 Recipient: xxxxxx@gmail.com Subject: Email Notification from Arduino ----------------
Autoscroll Show timestamp
Clear output
9600 baud  
Newline  
  • Look in the email inbox of the person you sent it to. They will receive an email similar to the following:
Arduino motion sensor email

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