Arduino Nano 33 IoT - DIYables Bluetooth App Multiple Apps
Overview
In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to run multiple Bluetooth app widgets simultaneously on the Arduino Nano 33 IoT. Instead of one app per sketch, this example combines Monitor, Chat, Slider, Joystick, Temperature, Plotter, Table, Analog Gauge, and Rotator — all running over a single BLE connection at the same time. The Arduino Nano 33 IoT's efficient SAMD21 processor handles all nine apps without issues, making it great for building a comprehensive wireless dashboard in one compact board.
Note: The Arduino Nano 33 IoT only supports BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). It does not support Classic Bluetooth. The DIYables Bluetooth App supports both BLE and Classic Bluetooth on Android, and BLE on iOS. Since this board uses BLE, the app works on both Android and iOS.
Features
- 9 Apps in One: Monitor, Chat, Slider, Joystick, Temperature, Plotter, Table, Analog Gauge, Rotator
- Cross-App Interaction: Slider value updates gauge and table, joystick updates table, etc.
- Single BLE Connection: All apps share one connection efficiently
- Real-Time Updates: Each app updates at its own interval
- Comprehensive Dashboard: View all data from one device
- Works on Android & iOS: BLE is supported on both platforms
- No Pairing Required: BLE auto-connects without manual pairing
Included Apps
| App | Description | Update Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor | Text-based status display | 5 seconds |
| Chat | Two-way text messaging | On demand |
| Slider | Value control (0-255) | On change |
| Joystick | 2D position control | On change |
| Temperature | Temperature gauge (-10 to 50°C) | 2 seconds |
| Plotter | Real-time data graph | 100ms |
| Table | Structured data (10 rows) | 5 seconds |
| Analog Gauge | Dial-style gauge (0-100%) | 3 seconds |
| Rotator | Angle control (continuous) | On change |
Hardware Preparation
Or you can buy the following kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Disclosure: Some of the links provided in this section are Amazon affiliate links. We may receive a commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables .
Additionally, some of these links are for products from our own brand, DIYables .
Arduino Nano 33 IoT Code
Detailed Instructions
Follow these instructions step by step:
- If this is your first time using the Arduino Nano 33 IoT, refer to the Arduino Nano 33 IoT getting started guide.
- Connect the Arduino Nano 33 IoT board to your computer using a Micro USB cable.
- Launch the Arduino IDE on your computer.
- Select Arduino Nano 33 IoT board and the appropriate COM port.
- Navigate to the Libraries icon on the left bar of the Arduino IDE.
- Search "DIYables Bluetooth", then find the DIYables Bluetooth library by DIYables
- Click Install button to install the library.
- You will be asked for installing some other library dependencies
- Click Install All button to install all library dependencies.
BLE Code
- On Arduino IDE, Go to File Examples DIYables Bluetooth ArduinoBLE_MultipleApps example, or copy the above code and paste it to the editor of Arduino IDE
/*
* DIYables Bluetooth Library - Multiple Apps Example (ArduinoBLE)
* Works with DIYables Bluetooth STEM app on Android and iOS
*
* This example demonstrates how to use multiple Bluetooth apps simultaneously:
* - Monitor: Real-time serial monitoring and logging
* - Chat: Bi-directional text messaging
* - Slider: Dual slider control (0-255 range)
* - Joystick: Interactive joystick control (X, Y coordinates)
* - Temperature: Temperature monitoring and display
* - Plotter: Real-time data plotting (3 channels)
* - Table: Two-column data table with real-time updates
* - Analog Gauge: Circular gauge for sensor monitoring
* - Rotator: Rotatable disc/knob control
* - Pin Control: Digital pin control and monitoring
*
* Features:
* - All apps run simultaneously on a single BLE connection
* - Automatic message routing to appropriate app handlers
* - Simplified callback system - no manual parsing needed
* - All BLE protocol details handled by the library
* - Compatible with DIYables Bluetooth Mobile App
*
* Compatible Boards:
* - Arduino UNO R4 WiFi
* - Arduino Nano 33 BLE / BLE Sense
* - Arduino Nano 33 IoT
* - Arduino MKR WiFi 1010
* - Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect
* - Any board supporting the ArduinoBLE library
*
* Setup:
* 1. Upload the sketch to your Arduino
* 2. Open Serial Monitor (9600 baud)
* 3. Open DIYables Bluetooth App on your phone
* 4. Connect to "DIYables Multi-App"
* 5. Navigate to different screens to test each app
*
* Tutorial: https://diyables.io/bluetooth-app
* Author: DIYables
*/
#include <DIYables_BluetoothServer.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothMonitor.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothChat.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothSlider.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothJoystick.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothTemperature.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothPlotter.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothTable.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothAnalogGauge.h>
#include <DIYables_BluetoothRotator.h>
#include <platforms/DIYables_ArduinoBLE.h>
// BLE Configuration
const char* DEVICE_NAME = "DIYables Multi-App";
const char* SERVICE_UUID = "19B10000-E8F2-537E-4F6C-D104768A1214";
const char* TX_UUID = "19B10001-E8F2-537E-4F6C-D104768A1214";
const char* RX_UUID = "19B10002-E8F2-537E-4F6C-D104768A1214";
// Create Bluetooth instances
DIYables_ArduinoBLE bluetooth(DEVICE_NAME, SERVICE_UUID, TX_UUID, RX_UUID);
DIYables_BluetoothServer bluetoothServer(bluetooth);
// Create app instances
DIYables_BluetoothMonitor bluetoothMonitor;
DIYables_BluetoothChat bluetoothChat;
DIYables_BluetoothSlider bluetoothSlider(0, 255, 1);
DIYables_BluetoothJoystick bluetoothJoystick(false, 5);
DIYables_BluetoothTemperature bluetoothTemperature(-10.0, 50.0, "°C");
DIYables_BluetoothPlotter bluetoothPlotter;
DIYables_BluetoothTable bluetoothTable;
DIYables_BluetoothAnalogGauge bluetoothGauge(0.0, 100.0, "%");
DIYables_BluetoothRotator bluetoothRotator(ROTATOR_MODE_CONTINUOUS);
// State variables
int currentSlider1 = 128;
int currentSlider2 = 64;
int currentJoystickX = 0;
int currentJoystickY = 0;
float currentTemperature = 25.0;
float currentGaugeValue = 50.0;
float currentRotatorAngle = 0.0;
int messageCount = 0;
// Timing variables
unsigned long lastMonitorUpdate = 0;
unsigned long lastTempUpdate = 0;
unsigned long lastPlotUpdate = 0;
unsigned long lastTableUpdate = 0;
unsigned long lastGaugeUpdate = 0;
float plotPhase = 0;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
delay(1000);
Serial.println("DIYables Bluetooth - Multiple Apps Example");
// Initialize built-in LED
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
// Initialize Bluetooth server
bluetoothServer.begin();
// Register all apps with the server
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothMonitor);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothChat);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothSlider);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothJoystick);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothTemperature);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothPlotter);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothTable);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothGauge);
bluetoothServer.addApp(&bluetoothRotator);
Serial.print("Registered apps: ");
Serial.println(bluetoothServer.getAppCount());
// Configure Plotter
bluetoothPlotter.setPlotTitle("Sensor Data");
bluetoothPlotter.setAxisLabels("Time", "Value");
bluetoothPlotter.setYAxisRange(-1.5, 1.5);
bluetoothPlotter.setMaxSamples(100);
bluetoothPlotter.setLegendLabels("Sine", "Cosine", "Random");
// Configure Table rows
bluetoothTable.addRow("Status");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Uptime");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Slider 1");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Slider 2");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Joystick X");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Joystick Y");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Temperature");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Gauge Value");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Rotator Angle");
bluetoothTable.addRow("Messages");
// Set up all callbacks
setupCallbacks();
Serial.println("Waiting for Bluetooth connection...");
}
void setupCallbacks() {
// ---- Connection events ----
bluetoothServer.setOnConnected([]() {
Serial.println("Bluetooth connected!");
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
bluetoothMonitor.send("=== DIYables Multi-App Connected ===");
bluetoothMonitor.send("All apps are ready!");
bluetoothChat.send("Hello! Arduino Multi-App is connected.");
});
bluetoothServer.setOnDisconnected([]() {
Serial.println("Bluetooth disconnected!");
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
});
// ---- Monitor callbacks ----
bluetoothMonitor.onMonitorMessage([](const String& message) {
Serial.println("Monitor cmd: " + message);
if (message == "HELP") {
bluetoothMonitor.send("Commands: STATUS, HELP, LED_ON, LED_OFF");
} else if (message == "STATUS") {
bluetoothMonitor.send("Slider1=" + String(currentSlider1) + " Slider2=" + String(currentSlider2));
bluetoothMonitor.send("Joystick X=" + String(currentJoystickX) + " Y=" + String(currentJoystickY));
bluetoothMonitor.send("Temp=" + String(currentTemperature, 1) + "°C");
bluetoothMonitor.send("Gauge=" + String(currentGaugeValue, 1) + "%");
bluetoothMonitor.send("Rotator=" + String(currentRotatorAngle, 0) + "°");
} else if (message == "LED_ON") {
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
bluetoothMonitor.send("LED turned ON");
} else if (message == "LED_OFF") {
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
bluetoothMonitor.send("LED turned OFF");
} else {
bluetoothMonitor.send("Unknown: " + message + " (type HELP)");
}
});
// ---- Chat callbacks ----
bluetoothChat.onChatMessage([](const String& message) {
Serial.println("Chat: " + message);
bluetoothChat.send("Echo: " + message);
if (message.equalsIgnoreCase("ping")) {
bluetoothChat.send("pong!");
} else if (message.equalsIgnoreCase("status")) {
bluetoothChat.send("Uptime: " + String(millis() / 1000) + "s, Apps: " + String(bluetoothServer.getAppCount()));
}
});
// ---- Slider callbacks ----
bluetoothSlider.onSliderValue([](int slider1, int slider2) {
currentSlider1 = slider1;
currentSlider2 = slider2;
Serial.print("Slider 1: "); Serial.print(slider1);
Serial.print(", Slider 2: "); Serial.println(slider2);
// Update gauge based on slider 1
currentGaugeValue = map(slider1, 0, 255, 0, 100);
bluetoothGauge.send(currentGaugeValue);
// Update table
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Slider 1", String(slider1));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Slider 2", String(slider2));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Gauge Value", String(currentGaugeValue, 1) + "%");
});
bluetoothSlider.onGetConfig([]() {
bluetoothSlider.send(currentSlider1, currentSlider2);
});
// ---- Joystick callbacks ----
bluetoothJoystick.onJoystickValue([](int x, int y) {
currentJoystickX = x;
currentJoystickY = y;
Serial.print("Joystick X: "); Serial.print(x);
Serial.print(", Y: "); Serial.println(y);
// Update table
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick X", String(x));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick Y", String(y));
});
bluetoothJoystick.onGetConfig([]() {
bluetoothJoystick.send(currentJoystickX, currentJoystickY);
});
// ---- Temperature callbacks ----
bluetoothTemperature.onTemperatureRequest([]() {
bluetoothTemperature.send(currentTemperature);
});
// ---- Plotter callbacks ----
bluetoothPlotter.onDataRequest([]() {
Serial.println("Plotter data requested");
});
// ---- Table callbacks ----
bluetoothTable.onDataRequest([]() {
Serial.println("Table data requested");
bluetoothTable.sendTableStructure();
updateAllTableValues();
});
// ---- Gauge callbacks ----
bluetoothGauge.onValueRequest([]() {
bluetoothGauge.send(currentGaugeValue);
});
// ---- Rotator callbacks ----
bluetoothRotator.onRotatorAngle([](float angle) {
currentRotatorAngle = angle;
Serial.print("Rotator: "); Serial.print(angle); Serial.println("°");
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Rotator Angle", String(angle, 0) + "°");
});
}
void updateAllTableValues() {
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Status", "Running");
unsigned long uptime = millis() / 1000;
String uptimeStr;
if (uptime >= 60) {
uptimeStr = String(uptime / 60) + "m " + String(uptime % 60) + "s";
} else {
uptimeStr = String(uptime) + "s";
}
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Uptime", uptimeStr);
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Slider 1", String(currentSlider1));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Slider 2", String(currentSlider2));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick X", String(currentJoystickX));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick Y", String(currentJoystickY));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Temperature", String(currentTemperature, 1) + " °C");
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Gauge Value", String(currentGaugeValue, 1) + "%");
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Rotator Angle", String(currentRotatorAngle, 0) + "°");
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Messages", String(messageCount));
}
void loop() {
bluetoothServer.loop();
if (!bluetooth.isConnected()) {
delay(10);
return;
}
// ---- Monitor: periodic status every 5 seconds ----
if (millis() - lastMonitorUpdate >= 5000) {
lastMonitorUpdate = millis();
messageCount++;
bluetoothMonitor.send("[INFO] Heartbeat #" + String(messageCount) + " - Uptime: " + String(millis() / 1000) + "s");
}
// ---- Temperature: update every 2 seconds ----
if (millis() - lastTempUpdate >= 2000) {
lastTempUpdate = millis();
// Simulate temperature with slight variation
static float tempOffset = 0;
tempOffset += random(-10, 11) / 10.0;
if (tempOffset > 5.0) tempOffset = 5.0;
if (tempOffset < -5.0) tempOffset = -5.0;
currentTemperature = 25.0 + tempOffset;
bluetoothTemperature.send(currentTemperature);
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Temperature", String(currentTemperature, 1) + " °C");
}
// ---- Plotter: update every 100ms ----
if (millis() - lastPlotUpdate >= 100) {
lastPlotUpdate = millis();
float sine = sin(plotPhase);
float cosine = cos(plotPhase);
float noise = random(-50, 51) / 100.0;
bluetoothPlotter.send(sine, cosine, noise);
plotPhase += 0.1;
if (plotPhase > 2 * PI) plotPhase = 0;
}
// ---- Table: update uptime every 5 seconds ----
if (millis() - lastTableUpdate >= 5000) {
lastTableUpdate = millis();
unsigned long uptime = millis() / 1000;
String uptimeStr;
if (uptime >= 60) {
uptimeStr = String(uptime / 60) + "m " + String(uptime % 60) + "s";
} else {
uptimeStr = String(uptime) + "s";
}
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Uptime", uptimeStr);
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Messages", String(messageCount));
}
// ---- Gauge: simulate sensor every 3 seconds ----
if (millis() - lastGaugeUpdate >= 3000) {
lastGaugeUpdate = millis();
float sensorValue = 50.0 + 30.0 * sin(millis() / 10000.0);
currentGaugeValue = sensorValue;
bluetoothGauge.send(currentGaugeValue);
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Gauge Value", String(currentGaugeValue, 1) + "%");
}
delay(10);
}
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino Nano 33 IoT
- Open the Serial Monitor
- Check out the result on Serial Monitor. It looks like the below:
8
Serial.println("Hello World!");
Message (Enter to send message to 'Arduino Nano 33 IoT' on 'COM15')
New Line
9600 baud
DIYables Bluetooth - Multiple Apps Example
Waiting for Bluetooth connection...
Mobile App
Note: The DIYables Bluetooth App supports both BLE and Classic Bluetooth on Android, and BLE on iOS. Since the Arduino Nano 33 IoT uses BLE, the app works on both Android and iOS. No manual pairing is needed for BLE — just scan and connect.
- Open the DIYables Bluetooth App
- When opening the app for the first time, it will ask for permissions. Please grant the following:
- Nearby Devices permission (Android 12+) / Bluetooth permission (iOS) - required to scan and connect to Bluetooth devices
- Location permission (Android 11 and below only) - required by older Android versions to scan for BLE devices
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone
- On the home screen, tap the Connect button. The app will scan for BLE devices.
- Find and tap "DIYables Multi-App" in the scan results to connect.
- If not found, please update the firmware for the Bluetooth module following this guide on How to Upgrade the Firmware on Arduino Nano 33 IoT
- Once connected, the app automatically goes back to the home screen. The home screen shows all available apps. The 9 apps initialized in the Arduino code will respond and work — other apps on the home screen will appear but will not function with this sketch.
Note: You can tap the settings icon on the home screen to hide/show apps on the home screen. For more details, see the DIYables Bluetooth App User Manual.
- Tap some of the following apps to open and interact with the Arduino: Monitor, Chat, Slider, Joystick, Temperature, Plotter, Table, Analog Gauge, Rotator
- Switch between apps freely — they all share the same BLE connection
Now look back at the Serial Monitor on Arduino IDE. You will see:
8
Serial.println("Hello World!");
Message (Enter to send message to 'Arduino Nano 33 IoT' on 'COM15')
New Line
9600 baud
Bluetooth connected!
Monitor: System running, uptime: 5s
Chat message: Hello
Slider value: 128
Joystick: X=0.50, Y=-0.30
Temperature: 22.50 °C
How It Works
App Initialization
Each app is created with its own configuration and callbacks:
// All apps share the same Bluetooth server
DIYables_BluetoothServer bluetoothServer(bluetooth);
// Create individual apps
DIYables_BluetoothMonitor bluetoothMonitor(bluetoothServer);
DIYables_BluetoothChat bluetoothChat(bluetoothServer);
DIYables_BluetoothSlider bluetoothSlider(bluetoothServer, 0, 255, 1);
DIYables_BluetoothJoystick bluetoothJoystick(bluetoothServer, false, 5);
DIYables_BluetoothTemperature bluetoothTemp(bluetoothServer, -10.0, 50.0, "°C");
DIYables_BluetoothPlotter bluetoothPlotter(bluetoothServer);
DIYables_BluetoothTable bluetoothTable(bluetoothServer);
DIYables_BluetoothAnalogGauge bluetoothGauge(bluetoothServer, 0.0, 100.0, "%");
DIYables_BluetoothRotator bluetoothRotator(bluetoothServer, ROTATOR_MODE_CONTINUOUS);
Cross-App Interaction
Apps can interact with each other — when one app receives input, it can update other apps:
// Slider updates gauge and table
bluetoothSlider.onSliderValue([](int value) {
float percent = value * 100.0 / 255.0;
bluetoothGauge.send(percent);
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Slider 1", String(value));
});
// Joystick updates table
bluetoothJoystick.onJoystickValue([](float x, float y) {
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick X", String(x, 2));
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Joystick Y", String(y, 2));
});
// Rotator updates table
bluetoothRotator.onRotatorAngle([](float angle) {
bluetoothTable.sendValueUpdate("Rotator Angle", String(angle, 1) + "°");
});
Update Timing
Each app has its own update interval to balance responsiveness and bandwidth:
void loop() {
bluetoothServer.loop();
unsigned long now = millis();
// Plotter: fastest updates (100ms)
if (now - lastPlotterTime >= 100) { ... }
// Temperature: every 2 seconds
if (now - lastTempTime >= 2000) { ... }
// Gauge: every 3 seconds
if (now - lastGaugeTime >= 3000) { ... }
// Monitor, Table: every 5 seconds
if (now - lastMonitorTime >= 5000) { ... }
if (now - lastTableTime >= 5000) { ... }
}
Table Structure
The example creates a table with 10 rows showing data from all apps:
| Row | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Status | Connection/running status |
| 1 | Uptime | Time since boot |
| 2 | Slider 1 | Current slider value |
| 3 | Slider 2 | Second slider value |
| 4 | Joystick X | Joystick X position |
| 5 | Joystick Y | Joystick Y position |
| 6 | Temperature | Current temperature |
| 7 | Gauge Value | Current gauge percentage |
| 8 | Rotator Angle | Current rotation angle |
| 9 | Messages | Chat message count |
Creative Customization - Adapt the Code to Your Project
Add or Remove Apps
You don't need all 9 apps. Simply include only the ones you need:
// Minimal setup: just Monitor and Slider
DIYables_BluetoothMonitor bluetoothMonitor(bluetoothServer);
DIYables_BluetoothSlider bluetoothSlider(bluetoothServer, 0, 100, 1);
// That's it! The app will only show these two
Custom Cross-App Logic
// Example: Temperature alarm via Monitor
void checkTemperatureAlarm(float temp) {
if (temp > 40.0) {
bluetoothMonitor.send("⚠️ HIGH TEMP ALERT: " + String(temp, 1) + "°C");
bluetoothChat.send("Temperature alarm triggered!");
}
}
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
1. Cannot find the device in the app
- Make sure the Arduino Nano 33 IoT is powered on and the sketch is uploaded
- Ensure your phone's Bluetooth is enabled
- On Android 11 and below, also enable Location services
2. Some apps not showing in the menu
- All apps that are initialized will appear automatically
- Check that each app object is properly created
- The app discovers available apps from the Arduino
3. Updates seem slow
- Each app has different update intervals — this is by design
- BLE has limited bandwidth; too many fast updates can cause congestion
- Reduce update frequency for apps that don't need real-time data
4. Cross-app updates not working
- Verify the callback functions are properly set up
- Check that table row names match exactly (case-sensitive)
- Ensure the target app object is accessible in the callback scope
5. Memory issues or crashes
- Running 9 apps uses significant memory
- Remove unused apps to free resources
- Reduce table row count if needed
6. Upload fails or board not recognized
- Install the latest Arduino SAMD Boards package via Boards Manager (≥ 1.8.13)
- Try a different USB cable or port
Project Ideas
- Comprehensive IoT dashboard
- Robot control panel (joystick + monitor + sliders)
- Weather station (temperature + gauge + plotter + table)
- Home automation hub (sliders + pins + monitor + chat)
- STEM learning platform (all apps for experimentation)
Next Steps
After mastering the Multiple Apps example, explore individual app tutorials for deeper understanding:
- Bluetooth Chat - For messaging details
- Bluetooth Slider - For value control details
- Bluetooth Plotter - For data visualization details
- Bluetooth RTC - For time synchronization (uses built-in hardware RTC)
Support
For additional help:
- Check the API Reference documentation
- Visit DIYables tutorials
- Arduino community forums