TFT_eSPI library supports many drivers, I tested the following procedure with a 2.4 inch TFT LCD module with a ILI9341V driver.
Other than ILI9431, the library also supports:
ILI9341_2, ST7735, ILI9163, S6D02A1, RPI_ILI9486, HX8357D, ILI9481, ILI9486, ILI9488, ST7789, ST7789_2, R61581, RM68140, ST7796, SSD1351, SSD1963_480, SSD1963_800, SSD1963_800ALT, ILI9225, GC9A01.
Downloading the library
You can install the library on the Arduino IDE: Tools -> Manage Libraries…
Search for “TFT_eSPI”, and we are finding the library by Bodmer.
Editing the User_Setup.h file
By default, this library setup will work for NodeMCU using a ILI9341 driver. But in our case, we are using ESP32, so some of the setups have to be changed.
Open the User_Setup.h file with your favorite editor, it is ok to use notepad. (If you do not know where is the User_Setup.h file, you can File -> Preferences -> Sketchbook location:
Inside the directory, go into libraries -> TFT_eSPI. You could now see the User_Setup.h file.)
Uncomment the driver you are using, the default driver is already ILI9341, so we can skip Section 1.
// USER DEFINED SETTINGS
// Set driver type, fonts to be loaded, pins used and SPI control method etc
//
// See the User_Setup_Select.h file if you wish to be able to define multiple
// setups and then easily select which setup file is used by the compiler.
//
// If this file is edited correctly then all the library example sketches should
// run without the need to make any more changes for a particular hardware setup!
// Note that some sketches are designed for a particular TFT pixel width/height
// ##################################################################################
//
// Section 1. Call up the right driver file and any options for it
//
// ##################################################################################
// Define STM32 to invoke optimised processor support (only for STM32)
//#define STM32
// Defining the STM32 board allows the library to optimise the performance
// for UNO compatible "MCUfriend" style shields
//#define NUCLEO_64_TFT
//#define NUCLEO_144_TFT
// STM32 8 bit parallel only:
// If STN32 Port A or B pins 0-7 are used for 8 bit parallel data bus bits 0-7
// then this will improve rendering performance by a factor of ~8x
//#define STM_PORTA_DATA_BUS
//#define STM_PORTB_DATA_BUS
// Tell the library to use 8 bit parallel mode (otherwise SPI is assumed)
//#define TFT_PARALLEL_8_BIT
// Display type - only define if RPi display
//#define RPI_DISPLAY_TYPE // 20MHz maximum SPI
// Only define one driver, the other ones must be commented out
#define ILI9341_DRIVER // Generic driver for common displays
//#define ILI9341_2_DRIVER // Alternative ILI9341 driver, see https://github.com/Bodmer/TFT_eSPI/issues/1172
//#define ST7735_DRIVER // Define additional parameters below for this display
//#define ILI9163_DRIVER // Define additional parameters below for this display
//#define S6D02A1_DRIVER
//#define RPI_ILI9486_DRIVER // 20MHz maximum SPI
//#define HX8357D_DRIVER
//#define ILI9481_DRIVER
//#define ILI9486_DRIVER
...
...
...In section 2, we need to select the suitable pinout for your MCU. The default setup is for NodeMCU 8266, so comment out those lines by adding two slash characters //. And uncommenting those lines for esp32.
// ###### EDIT THE PIN NUMBERS IN THE LINES FOLLOWING TO SUIT YOUR ESP8266 SETUP ######
// For NodeMCU - use pin numbers in the form PIN_Dx where Dx is the NodeMCU pin designation
//#define TFT_CS PIN_D8 // Chip select control pin D8
//#define TFT_DC PIN_D3 // Data Command control pin
//#define TFT_RST PIN_D4 // Reset pin (could connect to NodeMCU RST, see next line)
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if the display RESET is connected to NodeMCU RST or 3.3V
//#define TFT_BL PIN_D1 // LED back-light (only for ST7789 with backlight control pin)
...
...
...
// ###### EDIT THE PIN NUMBERS IN THE LINES FOLLOWING TO SUIT YOUR ESP32 SETUP ######
// For ESP32 Dev board (only tested with ILI9341 display)
// The hardware SPI can be mapped to any pins
#define TFT_MISO 19
#define TFT_MOSI 23
#define TFT_SCLK 18
#define TFT_CS 15 // Chip select control pin
#define TFT_DC 2 // Data Command control pin
#define TFT_RST 4 // Reset pin (could connect to RST pin)
//#define TFT_RST -1 // Set TFT_RST to -1 if display RESET is connected to ESP32 board RST
// For ESP32 Dev board (only tested with GC9A01 display)
// The hardware SPI can be mapped to any pins
...
...
...Connecting the Esp32 to the display
| TFT Display side Esp32 side | ESP32 side |
| GND | GND |
| 3.3v | 3.3v |
| SCL (sometimes called SCLK) | GPIO18 |
| SDA (sometimes called MOSI) | GPIO23 |
| RES (sometimes called Reset) | GPIO4 |
| DC (sometimes called data/ command) | GPIO2 |
| CS ( sometimes called SS) | GPIO15 |
| BLK-LED backlight signal | N/A |
Now you are ready to use the display module, you may try some built-in examples, File -> Examples -> TFT_eSPI.