iOS Notifications on Windows using ESP32

This is a simple project to get notifications from an iOS device on a Windows PC using an ESP32.

Requirements

• ESP32 board (Tested with NodeMCU)
• Windows PC
• iOS Device
• Node.js (tested with v16.17.1) or Python (tested with v3.10.6)

Setup

Clone repository: git clone https://github.com/MaxPuig/iOS-Notifications-on-Win.git

ESP32 Setup

• Install Arduino IDE
• Install package https://www.github.com/Smartphone-Companions/ESP32-ANCS-Notifications.git
• Upload ./ESP32_Notifications.ino to the ESP32

Usage JavsScript (node.js) or Python

JavaScript

• Install node.js https://nodejs.org/en/download/
• Install dependencies npm install

Run index.js for the first time: node index.js. This will output something similar to this:

No port selected.
Listing ports:
COM1 - BlaBlaBla (COM1)
COM3 - USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3)

In this case, we know that the ESP32 is connected to COM3, in which case we'll edit index.js and change the name_of_device variable to CH340. This will make the ESP32 connect to the correct port.

Any string can be used as name_of_device as long as it is contained in the name. For example, USB-SERIAL would also work instead of CH340.

Once index.js has been changed, run it again, and you'll see:

Selected port: COM4

This means the js script has found the port and is reading its serial output.

That's it! The script will now output notifications from the iOS device to the Windows PC.

Python

• Install Python https://www.python.org/downloads/
• Install dependencies pip install -r requirements.txt
  • pyserial>=3.5
  • plyer>=2.0.0

Run main.py for the first time. This will output something similar to this:

All ports:
COM1 - BlaBlaBla (COM1)
COM3 - USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3)

In this case, we know that the ESP32 is connected to COM3, in which case we'll edit main.py and change the name_of_device variable to CH340. This will make the ESP32 connect to the correct port.

Any string can be used as name_of_device as long as it is contained in the name. For example, USB-SERIAL would also work instead of CH340.

Once main.py has been changed, run it again, and you'll see:

All ports:
COM1 - BlaBlaBla (COM1)
COM3 - USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3)
Chosen port: COM3

This means the python script has found the port and is reading its serial output.

That's it! The script will now output notifications from the iOS device to the Windows PC.

Extra details

You will have to have the python file running for it to receive notifications.

I personally don't like having to access the console and manually type the commands to get the python file running, so a solution has been to write a .bat file that runs the python file. Double-click on receive_notifications.bat and that's it :)

Want to run the js/python file on boot?

JavaScript

• Using PM2:

  • https://pm2.keymetrics.io/
  • https://www.npmjs.com/package/pm2-windows-startup

• You'll have to enable scripts on boot:

  • (Spanish) https://www.cdmon.com/es/blog/la-ejecucion-de-scripts-esta-deshabilitada-en-este-sistema-te-contamos-como-actuar
  • (English using Google Translate) https://www-cdmon-com.translate.goog/es/blog/la-ejecucion-de-scripts-esta-deshabilitada-en-este-sistema-te-contamos-como-actuar?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=es&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Python

• How to run a batch file each time the computer loads Windows: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000322.htm