Arduino UNO Q multiple Button
Managing multiple buttons simultaneously on Arduino UNO Q is easy with the right approach. In this tutorial, you will learn how to handle five buttons at once using the ezButton library — with full debounce and press/release detection — and then extend the project to track press counts remotely via Telegram.
In this tutorial, you will learn:
- How to wire multiple buttons to Arduino UNO Q
- How to read and debounce multiple buttons simultaneously using the ezButton library
- How to use an array of buttons for cleaner, scalable code
- How to track press counts via Bridge and query them remotely via Telegram
Hardware Preparation
Or you can buy the following kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
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Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
MCU Code — Multiple Buttons with Debounce
The Arduino UNO Q has two processors: the STM32 MCU (handles real-time hardware control) and the Qualcomm MPU (runs Debian Linux). In this section, only the STM32 MCU is programmed — the Linux side stays idle. A later section will show how both processors work together.
The ezButton library handles debounce and press/release detection for each button automatically — no manual timestamp tracking required:
/*
* This Arduino UNO Q code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino UNO Q code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-uno-q/arduino-uno-q-multiple-button
*/
#include <ezButton.h>
#define BUTTON_NUM 5
#define BUTTON_PIN_1 2 // The Arduino UNO Q pin connected to button 1
#define BUTTON_PIN_2 3 // The Arduino UNO Q pin connected to button 2
#define BUTTON_PIN_3 4 // The Arduino UNO Q pin connected to button 3
#define BUTTON_PIN_4 5 // The Arduino UNO Q pin connected to button 4
#define BUTTON_PIN_5 6 // The Arduino UNO Q pin connected to button 5
ezButton button1(BUTTON_PIN_1);
ezButton button2(BUTTON_PIN_2);
ezButton button3(BUTTON_PIN_3);
ezButton button4(BUTTON_PIN_4);
ezButton button5(BUTTON_PIN_5);
void setup() {
button1.setDebounceTime(100);
button2.setDebounceTime(100);
button3.setDebounceTime(100);
button4.setDebounceTime(100);
button5.setDebounceTime(100);
}
void loop() {
button1.loop(); // MUST call the loop() function first
button2.loop();
button3.loop();
button4.loop();
button5.loop();
if (button1.isPressed()) { /* TO DO: button 1 pressed action */ }
if (button1.isReleased()) { /* TO DO: button 1 released action */ }
if (button2.isPressed()) { /* TO DO: button 2 pressed action */ }
if (button2.isReleased()) { /* TO DO: button 2 released action */ }
if (button3.isPressed()) { /* TO DO: button 3 pressed action */ }
if (button3.isReleased()) { /* TO DO: button 3 released action */ }
if (button4.isPressed()) { /* TO DO: button 4 pressed action */ }
if (button4.isReleased()) { /* TO DO: button 4 released action */ }
if (button5.isPressed()) { /* TO DO: button 5 pressed action */ }
if (button5.isReleased()) { /* TO DO: button 5 released action */ }
}
Detailed Instructions
- First time with Arduino UNO Q? Follow the Getting Started with Arduino UNO Q tutorial to get your development environment ready before proceeding.
- Wire the buttons: Connect five buttons to pins 2–6 according to the wiring diagram. Each button has one pin on GND and the other on the signal pin.
- Connect: Plug the Arduino UNO Q into your computer with a USB-C cable.
- Open Arduino App Lab: Launch Arduino App Lab and wait until it detects your Arduino UNO Q.
- Create a new App: Click the Create New App button.
- Give the App a name, for example: DIYables_MultiButton
- Click Create to confirm.
- You will see a set of folders and files generated inside your new App.
- Find the sketch/sketch.ino file — this is where you will paste the MCU sketch.
Paste the sketch: Copy the MCU code above and paste it into the sketch file. Keep other files as default.
- Install the library: Click the Add sketch library button (the open book icon with a + sign) in the left sidebar.
- Search for ezButton created by ArduinoGetStarted.com and click the Install button.
Bricks
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sketch
.gitignore
README.md
app.yaml
sketch.ino
- Search for Arduino_RouterBridge created by Arduino and click the Install button.
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sketch.ino
- Upload: Click the Run button in Arduino App Lab to compile and upload to the STM32.
- Press the buttons one at a time — press and release each button and see the result in the Bridge section below.
- Pro Tip: Add action code inside each isPressed() / isReleased() block to control LEDs, servos, or other components.
Linux + MCU Bridge Programming
The Arduino UNO Q has two processors that work together: the MPU (Qualcomm, runs Debian Linux) and the MCU (STM32, runs Zephyr OS with your Arduino sketch). They communicate using RPC via the Arduino_RouterBridge library — never via raw serial ports.
- All buttons are connected to the MCU (STM32) — wired to digital input pins on the STM32. The MCU handles debounce and press counting using ezButton.
- The MPU cannot read buttons directly — it must request data from the MCU via Bridge.call(). The MCU responds with press counts or resets them.
- The MPU has Wi-Fi — because the MPU runs full Debian Linux with Wi-Fi, it can forward press counts via Telegram and accept reset commands remotely.
- Communication: Bridge.call() on the Linux side invokes Bridge.provide() functions on the MCU side
- ⚠️ Reserved: /dev/ttyHS1 (Linux) and Serial1 (MCU) are used by the Arduino Router — never open them directly
In short: MCU counts button presses → MPU requests counts → MPU forwards them via Telegram.
MCU sketch — multiple buttons with press counting and Bridge:
/*
* This Arduino UNO Q code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino UNO Q code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-uno-q/arduino-uno-q-multiple-button
*/
#include "Arduino_RouterBridge.h"
#include <ezButton.h>
#define BUTTON_NUM 5
#define BUTTON_PIN_1 2
#define BUTTON_PIN_2 3
#define BUTTON_PIN_3 4
#define BUTTON_PIN_4 5
#define BUTTON_PIN_5 6
ezButton buttonArray[] = {
ezButton(BUTTON_PIN_1),
ezButton(BUTTON_PIN_2),
ezButton(BUTTON_PIN_3),
ezButton(BUTTON_PIN_4),
ezButton(BUTTON_PIN_5)
};
int press_count[BUTTON_NUM] = {0};
void get_press_counts() {
String msg = "Press counts: ";
for (int i = 0; i < BUTTON_NUM; i++) {
msg += "B" + String(i + 1) + "=" + String(press_count[i]);
if (i < BUTTON_NUM - 1) msg += ", ";
}
Monitor.println(msg);
}
void reset_counts() {
for (int i = 0; i < BUTTON_NUM; i++) press_count[i] = 0;
Monitor.println("All press counts reset");
}
void setup() {
for (byte i = 0; i < BUTTON_NUM; i++)
buttonArray[i].setDebounceTime(100);
Bridge.begin();
Monitor.begin();
Bridge.provide("get_press_counts", get_press_counts);
Bridge.provide("reset_counts", reset_counts);
Monitor.println("Multiple Button Bridge ready");
}
void loop() {
for (byte i = 0; i < BUTTON_NUM; i++)
buttonArray[i].loop();
for (byte i = 0; i < BUTTON_NUM; i++) {
if (buttonArray[i].isPressed()) {
press_count[i]++;
Monitor.println("Button " + String(i + 1) + " PRESSED (count: " + String(press_count[i]) + ")");
}
if (buttonArray[i].isReleased())
Monitor.println("Button " + String(i + 1) + " RELEASED");
}
}
Python script (Arduino App Lab) — poll press counts from Linux:
/*
* This Arduino UNO Q code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino UNO Q code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-uno-q/arduino-uno-q-multiple-button
*/
from arduino.app_utils import *
import time
def loop():
while True:
counts = Bridge.call("get_press_counts")
print(f"Button press counts: {counts}")
time.sleep(5)
App.run(user_loop=loop)
- Note: Make sure Bridge.begin() is called in the MCU sketch and the sketch is uploaded before running the Python script on the Linux side.
- ⚠️ Warning: Never directly open /dev/ttyHS1 (on Linux) or use Serial1 (on MCU) in your code — these are reserved by the Arduino Router and accessing them will break the Bridge.
Detailed Instructions
- Upload the MCU sketch: Open Arduino App Lab, create a new App, paste the Bridge MCU sketch above into sketch/sketch.ino, install the ezButton and Arduino_RouterBridge libraries, and click Run.
- Add the Python script: Paste the Python code above into the Python tab of the same App.
- Run the App: Click Run — the Python side polls press counts every 5 seconds.
- Press the buttons several times.
- Check the console: Open the Console tab → MCU Monitor subtab to see press/release events.
App Lab Console Output
sketch.ino
1#include "Arduino_RouterBridge.h"
Serial Monitor
Python
Multiple Button Bridge ready
Button 1 PRESSED (count: 1)
Button 1 RELEASED
Button 3 PRESSED (count: 1)
Button 3 RELEASED
Button 5 PRESSED (count: 1)
Button 5 RELEASED
Telegram Integration
Query button press counts or reset them remotely over Telegram.
If you do not have a Telegram bot yet, see How to Create a Telegram Bot to get your bot token before continuing.
MCU sketch: Keep the same MCU sketch from the previous Bridge section — no changes needed. Make sure it is already uploaded and running on the STM32 before proceeding.
Python script (Arduino App Lab) — Telegram bot for multiple button tracking:
/*
* This Arduino UNO Q code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino UNO Q code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-uno-q/arduino-uno-q-multiple-button
*/
from arduino.app_utils import *
import requests
import time
BOT_TOKEN = "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"
API_URL = f"https://api.telegram.org/bot{BOT_TOKEN}"
last_update_id = 0
def send_message(chat_id, text):
requests.post(f"{API_URL}/sendMessage", json={"chat_id": chat_id, "text": text})
def get_updates():
global last_update_id
resp = requests.get(f"{API_URL}/getUpdates", params={"offset": last_update_id + 1, "timeout": 5})
return resp.json().get("result", [])
def loop():
global last_update_id
updates = get_updates()
for update in updates:
last_update_id = update["update_id"]
msg = update.get("message", {})
chat_id = msg.get("chat", {}).get("id")
text = msg.get("text", "").strip()
if text == "/counts":
counts = Bridge.call("get_press_counts")
send_message(chat_id, f"Button press counts:\n{counts}")
elif text == "/reset":
Bridge.call("reset_counts")
send_message(chat_id, "All press counts reset to 0")
else:
send_message(chat_id, "Commands:\n/counts — get all button press counts\n/reset — reset all counts to 0")
time.sleep(1)
App.run(user_loop=loop)
- Note: Replace YOUR_BOT_TOKEN with the token obtained from @BotFather on Telegram.
- Send /counts to get all five button press counts.
- Send /reset to reset all counts to zero.
Detailed Instructions
- Upload the MCU sketch: Use the Bridge MCU sketch from the previous section (upload it first if not already done).
- Paste the Telegram script: Copy the Python code above into the Python tab of your App in Arduino App Lab.
- Set your token: Replace YOUR_BOT_TOKEN in the script with your actual bot token.
- Run the App: Click Run — the bot starts listening for Telegram messages.
- Test it: Press each button a few times, then send /counts on Telegram. Then send /reset to clear all counts.
App Lab Console Output
sketch.ino
1#include "Arduino_RouterBridge.h"
Serial Monitor
Python
[2026-04-29 12:00:01] Telegram: /counts
[2026-04-29 12:00:01] Button press counts: B1=3, B2=1, B3=5, B4=0, B5=2
[2026-04-29 12:01:10] Telegram: /reset
[2026-04-29 12:01:10] All press counts reset to 0
Telegram
12:45
Welcome to Telegram!
ArduinoBot
10:19
Chatting with Arduino...
BotFather
Yesterday
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ArduinoBot
bot
OpenClaw Integration
OpenClaw integration for Arduino UNO Q multiple button reading is coming soon.
- Coming Soon: OpenClaw support for reading multiple button states on Arduino UNO Q will be covered in a future update.
Application/Project Ideas
- Keyboard panel: Each button sends a different Telegram message — useful for quick presets or commands
- Vote counter: Each button records a vote for a different option; query results via Telegram
- Mode selector: Press button 1 for mode A, button 2 for mode B — each triggers a different action on the MPU
- Multi-zone alarm: Each button is tied to a different zone sensor; press counts log how many times each zone was triggered
- Remote test panel: Press buttons to test different hardware features, with results sent via Telegram
Challenge Yourself
- Easy: Add a sixth button to the sketch on pin 7 and track its press count the same way
- Medium: Modify the Bridge sketch to expose get_count(int button_num) so Python can query individual button counts instead of all at once
- Advanced: Build a Telegram bot that sends an alert automatically when any button's press count exceeds a threshold (e.g., 10 presses)