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Sonora Computer Repair
A subsidiary of Charles Varvayanis
Since 1990

(209) 586-3782
charles@varvayanis.com

Raspberry Pi Connect Setup

Step-by-step instructions for setting up Raspberry Pi Connect.

These procedures apply to Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit), (Legacy 64-Bit) or (Legacy 32-Bit).

General Notes

1. General: The procedures below are optimized for setting up Raspberry Pi Connect on a Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit), (Legacy 64-Bit) or (Legacy 32-Bit) runnig bookworm (debian 12), trixie (debian 13) and above.

2. Raspberry Pi Connect: Raspberry Pi Connect runs on Raspberry Pi OS bookworm (debian 12), trixie (debian 13) and above, older versions of Raspberry Pi OS are not supported. Raspberry Pi Connect is installed by default in newer Raspberry Pi OS bookworm (debian 12) installations, all trixie (debian 13) and above installations, but is disabled by default. Raspberry Pi Connect can be enabled and setup during SD card setup as an option in Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 (released in November 2025) and above.

3. Internet access during setup: Many of the steps below assume and require the Raspberry Pi is connected to a network with access to the Internet.

Notice about updates, upgrades and installations failing due to repository or network congestion or outages

Occasionally updates, upgrades and installations fail due to repository or network congestion or outages. Sometimes there is an appropriate message saying as such, sometimes a missing file is reported, and sometimes there is just a failure message without an explanation. When this occurs, simply run the command again. If that does not solve the issues immediately, try again later.

Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/os.html

Connect to the Raspberry Pi

Via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse

- or -

Via SSH

Connect using the IP address or URL of the Raspberry Pi.

Determine the Raspberry Pi IP Address:

Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen sharing, then open a Terminal window

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect

sudo hostname -I

Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse, then open a Terminal window

sudo hostname -I

Use an IP Scanner tool such as Advanced IP Scanner on a PC or alike to locate the IP Address assigned to the Raspberry Pi

https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com

Use the SSH command in your OS to connect to the Raspberry Pi or on Windows systems use a third party tool such as PuTTY

OS SSH command documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/remote-access.html#connect-to-an-ssh-server
https://putty.software/
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html
https://www.putty.org
Note: The first time a connection is made, a security warning may be displayed | Yes

Update the Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Note:

Update Raspberry Pi software documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/os.html#update-software

Download the latest package lists

sudo apt update -y

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Update the Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Image Version

Notes:

This tool only works with Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5. Raspberry Pi 3B+ and below have a ROM that can not be updated.

Update Raspberry Pi bootloader documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html#update-the-bootloader-configuration

Check for a newer Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM image version and if found download and apply it

sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a

Select the latest Bootloader Version

Install or update and setup Raspberry Pi Connect

Notes:

Raspberry Pi Connect runs on Raspberry Pi OS bookworm (debian 12), trixie (debian 13) and above, older versions of Raspberry Pi OS are not supported. Raspberry Pi Connect is installed by default in newer Raspberry Pi OS bookworm (debian 12) installations, all trixie (debian 13) and above installations, but is disabled by default. However, it could have been enabled and setup during SD card setup as an option in Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 (released in November 2025) and above. If it was enabled and setup in Raspberry Pi Imager, it sould not require being enabled and setup here. There is no danger in enabeling and seting it up again here.

Raspberry Pi Connect Screen sharing requires Wayland (Remote Graphics Support, A.K.A. compositor), the default for Raspberry Pi OS bookworm (debian 12), trixie (debian 13) and above, therefore does not work with X11.

Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell does not use the compositor and will work with either Wayland or X11.

Raspberry Pi Connect documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/services/connect.html

Update Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Download the latest package lists

sudo apt update -y

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Install or update Raspberry Pi Connect as required

sudo apt install rpi-connect

Setup Raspberry Pi Connect

rpi-connect signin

"rpi-connect signin" will return a message similar to:

"Complete sign in by visiting https://connect.raspberrypi.com/verify/XXXX-XXXX"

Paste or type the provided URL into a browser on any device.

"Sign in with Raspberry Pi ID" or "Create one for free"

The Raspberry Pi has been automticaly added to your account when you see the message below on the Raspberry Pi:

✓ Signed in

Connect to the Raspberry Pi via Raspberry Pi Connect (Optional)

Note:

Connect to Raspberry Pi Connect documentation: https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/services/connect.html#access-your-device-in-connect

Connect to Raspberry Pi Connect

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect

Usefull Raspberry Pi Connect Commands (Optional)

Raspberry Pi Connect Diagnostics

rpi-connect doctor

View Raspberry Pi Connect status

rpi-connect status

View Raspberry Pi Connect version

rpi-connect version

Disable Raspberry Pi Connect

rpi-connect off

Enable Raspberry Pi Connect

rpi-connect on

Remove packages that automatically installed and are no longer required

Occasionally excess update, upgrade and installation packages install automatically, but are no longer required. These can be removed automatically.

Automatically detect and remove packages no longer required

sudo apt autoremove -y

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e-mail: charles@varvayanis.com
Phone: (209) 586-3782
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Raspberry Pi Connect Setup

General Notes

Notice about updates, upgrades and installations failing due to repository or network congestion or outages

Contents:

Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

Connect to the Raspberry Pi

Via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse

Via SSH

Determine the Raspberry Pi IP Address:

Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen sharing, then open a Terminal window

Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse, then open a Terminal window

Use an IP Scanner tool such as Advanced IP Scanner on a PC or alike to locate the IP Address assigned to the Raspberry Pi

Login to your router and examine the IP address assignments, sometimes labeled "Connected Devices" or similar

Use the SSH command in your OS to connect to the Raspberry Pi or on Windows systems use a third party tool such as PuTTY

Update the Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Note:

Download the latest package lists

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

Update the Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Image Version

Notes:

Check for a newer Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM image version and if found download and apply it

Select the latest Bootloader Version

Install or update and setup Raspberry Pi Connect

Notes:

Update Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Download the latest package lists

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

Install or update Raspberry Pi Connect as required

Setup Raspberry Pi Connect

Connect to the Raspberry Pi via Raspberry Pi Connect (Optional)

Note:

Connect to Raspberry Pi Connect

Usefull Raspberry Pi Connect Commands (Optional)

Raspberry Pi Connect Diagnostics

View Raspberry Pi Connect status

View Raspberry Pi Connect version

Disable Raspberry Pi Connect

Enable Raspberry Pi Connect

Remove packages that automatically installed and are no longer required

Automatically detect and remove packages no longer required