TASMOTA: REPLACE THE CLOUD FIRMWARE IN A SMART PLUG SO IT RUNS ENTIRELY ON YOUR OWN NETWORK
Swap the ESP8266 inside a cheap smart plug and it stops talking to anyone's cloud but yours.
by Theo Arends and contributors
HomeAutomation
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- an evening plus ordering time
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE24,651 stars
●●●●○ · an evening plus ordering time · GPL-3.0 · 24,651 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
Tasmota is the proven way to pull a consumer smart plug off the manufacturer's cloud and onto your own network — over MQTT or HTTP, no internet required, and nothing about your usage leaves the house. The appeal is obvious: the plug you already own keeps working, just with a different owner. The obstacle is equally obvious: you must physically desolder the ESP8266 module and solder a replacement running Tasmota, which means owning a hot air rework station or knowing someone who does. The two-dollar chip cost is real, but the sixty-dollar tool is the gatekeeper. If you already own the station or are buying one anyway, this is an evening. If you do not, and this is your only reason to buy one, think hard. The wireless route tuya-convert that used to make this trivial no longer works on current hardware, which is why the chip swap is what the community does now. Tasmota's documentation is thorough but device compatibility must be checked per-model before you buy; not every plug uses an ESP8266 and some newer ones cannot be converted at all. If your plug is supported and you have the tools, this is the cleanest way to take it back. If you do not have the tools and you are not ready to solder mains-connected hardware, buy an open plug from the start instead.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Tasmota is GPL-3.0 firmware with 24,650 stars, actively maintained (last push August 2026).
- —The repository contains complete firmware binaries and flashing instructions, but no bill of materials — you supply your own Tuya-based plug and a replacement ESP-12F module.
- —The wireless conversion tool tuya-convert (MIT, 5,071 stars) is in the repository but manufacturers closed that route years ago; the reliable method today is physically swapping the chip.
- —A hot air rework station (around sixty dollars) is required to lift the original ESP8266 cleanly; the replacement module costs about two dollars.
- —Documentation is comprehensive but device-specific: Tasmota supports thousands of plugs, switches, bulbs and power monitors, and you must verify your exact model is compatible before buying anything.
- —GPL-3.0 licence permits commercial use but requires derivative work to remain open source.
Can I build this?
This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterBluHub reads and burns Blu-ray/DVD/CD, adds USB-C, USB-A, SD/TF and 10 Gbps data — plug and play, grand-piano finish.
Videos
Swapping the cloud chip in a smart plug for Tasmota (digiblur DIY)
No official video channel exists; the reel footage is from digiblur DIY and the best community walkthroughs are linked in the repository's documentation section under Flashing.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Check device compatibility (The repository contains a searchable device database. Verify your exact plug model is supported before buying anything; not every Tuya plug uses an ESP8266.)
- 2.Order a replacement ESP-12F module(Any ESP-12F will work; the cost is about two dollars plus shipping. Do not buy until you have confirmed your plug is compatible.)
- 3.Read the hardware preparation guide (The Tasmota wiki covers how to open the plug, locate the ESP module, and prepare it for removal. This is surface-mount work on a live mains board; if you are not confident soldering that, stop here.)
- 4.Flash Tasmota onto the new module before soldering it in (The repository includes pre-built binaries and a web-based flasher. Flashing before installation is easier than debugging after.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
- Gladys Assistant integration guide gladysassistant.com
- Build video youtube.com
- Project site tasmota.github.io
KNOWN ISSUES
- The mistake everyone makes first: buying a plug without checking the device database. Newer Tuya models often use non-ESP chips or locked firmware, and if yours is one of them the conversion is impossible. Verify support before ordering anything.
- The hot air station is not optional. You cannot remove an ESP8266 cleanly with an ordinary soldering iron; the chip has a thermal pad underneath and the legs are tiny. Budget sixty dollars for the tool or know someone who owns one.
- tuya-convert no longer works on current devices. If a guide says 'no soldering required' and was written before 2023, it is describing a closed route. The chip swap is what works now.
- Mains voltage is present on the board even when the plug is off if it is still connected to AC. Never work on it while plugged in; never assume it is safe because it looks dead.
- Device configuration is not automatic. After flashing, you must configure GPIO pins for your specific plug model using the Tasmota template. If you configure the wrong pins, the relay will not switch or the power monitoring will read nonsense.
- Not every feature of the original plug will survive. If your plug had a physical button or an LED, those may not work after conversion unless you configure them manually in the Tasmota template.
Can I do this without the hot air station?
No. The ESP8266 is surface-mount with a thermal pad underneath; an ordinary soldering iron will not lift it cleanly. The hot air station is the cost of entry.
Will this work on any smart plug?
No. Only Tuya-based plugs with an ESP8266 or ESP8285 inside are convertible, and even among those some newer models have locked bootloaders. Check the Tasmota device database before buying.
What happened to tuya-convert?
It exploited the over-the-air update path, but manufacturers patched that in 2021-2022. The repository still exists but the method no longer works on current hardware, which is why the physical chip swap became standard.
Does Tasmota work with Home Assistant or other systems?
Yes. Tasmota speaks MQTT and HTTP natively, so it integrates with Home Assistant, openHAB, Node-RED, and anything else that understands those protocols.
Will I lose the energy monitoring features?
Not if you configure them. Many Tuya plugs include a power monitor chip, and Tasmota supports the common ones, but you must configure the GPIO pins correctly using the device template or it will not read anything.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
24,650 stars, actively maintained, and it has been the standard way to reclaim Tuya hardware for years. If you have converted a plug, what was the hardest part — finding a compatible device, lifting the chip cleanly, or getting the GPIO template right?
Theo Arends and contributors
Tasmota began in 2017 as Theo Arends' alternative firmware for Sonoff devices and grew into the standard way to reclaim consumer IoT hardware. The project is GPL-3.0, has 24,650 stars, and supports thousands of devices across plugs, switches, bulbs, sensors and power monitors.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM20d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is actively maintained with daily pushes as of August 2026, the device database is searchable but not every model is documented with photos so you may need to cross-reference community forum posts, and the single biggest mistake is buying a plug before checking compatibility — newer Tuya devices increasingly use non-ESP chips or locked bootloaders and cannot be converted at all. The hot air station cost is not negotiable; we have seen people try with a heat gun or a soldering iron and the results are either a lifted pad or a warped board. If you do not already own the station and this is your only project for it, consider buying an open plug like a Shelly instead — the cost is similar and you skip the soldering entirely.