Make an ESP module broadcast its own Wi-Fi network, from your phone

An ESP8266 with AT firmware can create its own Wi-Fi network, so a phone or computer can join it with no router. It takes seven AT commands in the right order. LinkJig sends them for you and checks each reply.

This is a real session: an ESP-01S with AT firmware 2.2.0, connected to an Android phone over USB OTG and a CH340 USB-UART adapter.

Create the network

Connect the adapter and open your serial device.
Open the Modules tab, pick ESP8266, then Create a Wi-Fi network.
Enter a network name and a password of at least 8 characters. Channel 6 and WPA2 are the defaults.
Tap Create network.

Network is on the air: ESP-bench at 192.168.42.1

Each step is checked before the next one is sent. The password never appears on screen; it is shown as stars.

The seven commands

19:54:42.563 TX AT
19:54:42.616 RX AT
OK
19:54:42.627 TX AT+SYSSTORE=0
19:54:42.648 RX AT+SYSSTORE=0
OK
19:54:42.670 TX AT+CWMODE=2
19:54:42.696 RX AT+CWMODE=2
OK
19:54:42.721 TX AT+CWSAP="ESP-bench","***",6,3

Command	What it does
`AT`	Checks that the module answers
`AT+SYSSTORE=0`	Keeps the next settings out of flash
`AT+CWMODE=2`	Switches to access point mode
`AT+CWSAP="name","password",6,3`	Starts the network: name, password, channel, security (3 = WPA2)
`AT+CWSAP?`	Reads the network back
`AT+CIPAP?`	Reads the module's own address
`AT+SYSSTORE=1`	Restores the default

The module answered with its address:

+CIPAP:ip:"192.168.42.1"
+CIPAP:gateway:"192.168.42.1"
+CIPAP:netmask:"255.255.255.0"
OK

Every command and reply also stays in the terminal, so you can see exactly what was sent.

Limits

Keep after restart was off in this session: the network disappears when the module restarts. Turn it on to save it to flash.
Recorded with AT firmware 2.2.0. Other AT versions may answer differently.
The factory address of an ESP8266 network is usually 192.168.4.1. This module had been set to 192.168.42.1 before recording.
Live-tested with a CH340 adapter on Android 9.

Try it

Watch the demo on YouTube. LinkJig is on Google Play and the Microsoft Store.