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Tasmota and Gladys: flash your devices and control them locally over MQTT

Tasmota is a free, open-source firmware for ESP8266, ESP8285 and ESP32 based devices. It replaces the manufacturer's cloud firmware on smart plugs, switches, bulbs and sensors so they run entirely locally, with no vendor account and no internet dependency, and exposes them over MQTT, HTTP or serial.

Because Tasmota talks plain MQTT, it's a perfect match for Gladys Assistant: once flashed, your devices are discovered and controlled locally, on your own network, without going through any third-party cloud.

To connect a Tasmota device to Gladys, there are three steps:

  • flash your device with the Tasmota firmware
  • configure MQTT on the device
  • add it in Integrations / Tasmota in Gladys

Why use Tasmota with Gladys?​

  • Fully local and private: the device no longer phones home to the manufacturer's servers. It communicates only with your local MQTT broker and Gladys.
  • No cloud, no subscription: Tasmota is free and open source, and keeps working even if the original manufacturer shuts down their service.
  • Reuse cheap hardware: many affordable smart plugs and switches (Sonoff, and other ESP-based devices) can be re-flashed instead of being thrown away.
  • Reliable and fast: local commands don't depend on your internet connection, so automations run instantly.
Tasmota or Zigbee?

Tasmota runs on Wi-Fi devices, so each one connects directly to your router, which is convenient for a few mains-powered plugs and switches. For battery-powered sensors and large fleets of devices, a low-power Zigbee mesh is usually a better fit. Both are local and both work great in Gladys, and you can mix them. See our Zigbee dongle buyer's guide if you go the Zigbee route.

Flash your device with Tasmota​

The easiest way to install Tasmota is the official web installer: tasmota.github.io/install. It flashes your device straight from a Chrome or Edge browser over USB (using the WebSerial API), with no extra software to install.

It supports every Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C3 based device.

If your device needs a manual flash, follow the Tasmota installation guide. There are many device-specific tutorials online; you'll find the right one for your exact model by searching for its name plus "Tasmota".

Configure MQTT on the device​

Once flashed, open the device's web page (its IP address on your network) and configure MQTT as described in the Tasmota MQTT documentation.

Click on the Configuration menu.

Tasmota menu

Click on the Configure MQTT menu.

Tasmota configuration

Then fill in the configuration form with your MQTT broker information:

  • Host: MQTT broker URL
  • Port: MQTT broker port
  • User: user to connect to the MQTT broker
  • Password: password to connect to the MQTT broker
  • Topic: a unique identifier for this device

Tasmota MQTT

note

Gladys ships with its own MQTT broker. If you haven't set one up yet, install the MQTT integration in Gladys first, then point your Tasmota devices to it.

Add the device to Gladys​

Once the device is configured, go back to Gladys:

  1. open the Integrations -> Tasmota page
  2. select the MQTT discover menu
  3. click the Scan button (if the device isn't already listed)
  4. then click Save
  5. and voilà!

Your Tasmota device is now controllable from Gladys, included in your dashboards and usable in your scenes, all locally.

Frequently asked questions​

Is Tasmota compatible with Gladys Assistant?​

Yes. Tasmota communicates over MQTT, and Gladys has a native Tasmota integration that discovers and controls Tasmota devices on your local network. You just flash the firmware, configure MQTT on the device, and scan for it in Integrations / Tasmota.

Does Tasmota work without the cloud or internet?​

Yes. That's the whole point of Tasmota: it replaces the manufacturer's cloud firmware with local control over MQTT and HTTP. Once flashed and paired with Gladys, your device works entirely on your local network, even with no internet connection.

Which devices can run Tasmota?​

Any device based on an Espressif ESP8266, ESP8285, ESP32, ESP32-S or ESP32-C3 chip can be flashed with Tasmota. This includes many smart plugs, switches, relays, bulbs and sensors (such as a number of Sonoff devices).

How do I flash Tasmota?​

The easiest method is the official web installer at tasmota.github.io/install, which flashes your device directly from a Chrome or Edge browser over USB, with no software to install. Manual flashing is also possible following the Tasmota installation guide.

Do I need a separate MQTT broker for Tasmota?​

You need an MQTT broker, but Gladys ships with one. Install the MQTT integration in Gladys, then point your Tasmota devices' MQTT settings to that broker. Gladys will then discover them automatically.

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