{"id":41735,"date":"2023-12-18T12:20:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T12:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/?p=41735"},"modified":"2025-11-28T13:29:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T13:29:50","slug":"installing-raspbian-lite-enabling-and-connecting-with-ssh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/randomnerdtutorials.com\/installing-raspbian-lite-enabling-and-connecting-with-ssh\/","title":{"rendered":"Install Raspberry Pi OS, Set Up Wi-Fi, Enable and Connect with SSH"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to get started with the Raspberry Pi by installing the operating system, setting up Wi-Fi, and enabling and connecting with SSH. You can configure everything without the need for an extra monitor, keyboard, or mouse\u2014the Raspberry Pi will be running headless.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Install<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Updated 28 November 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Table of Contents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll cover the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. MicroSD Card<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Installing Raspberry Pi OS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Connecting the Raspberry Pi to the Internet<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Enabling SSH<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Connecting via SSH to the Raspberry Pi <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1) MicroSD Card for Raspberry Pi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Raspberry Pi<\/a> is a computer and like any other computer, it needs an Operating System (OS) installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Pi doesn\u2019t have built-in storage, so you\u2019ll need a microSD card<\/a> to install your OS. We’ll install the operating system on the microSD card. I recommend using a microSD card class 10 with at least 16GB of memory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"16<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    2) Installing Raspberry Pi OS<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are several operating systems suitable for the Pi. The official distribution for the Raspberry Pi is Raspberry Pi OS, and that\u2019s the one we recommend you install.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1)<\/strong> Start by connecting the microSD card to your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2)<\/strong> Go to the Raspberry Pi Software page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3)<\/strong> Select and download the Raspberry Pi Imager (a tool to flash the OS on the microSD card) for your computer’s operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Download<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    4)<\/strong> Click on the downloaded file to install the Raspberry Pi Imager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5)<\/strong> When the installation is complete, the Raspberry Pi Imager will open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6)<\/strong> Select the Raspberry Pi board you\u2019re using.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    7)<\/strong> Then, select the Operating System. For beginners, and for most scenarios, we recommend the Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    8)<\/strong> Choose the microSD card where you want to install the OS.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    9)<\/strong> Next, choose a hostname for your board. It\u2019s the name you\u2019ll use to connect to your board via SSH later. We\u2019re giving it the name raspberrypi<\/strong><\/em>5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    10)<\/strong> Set your location, time zone, and keyboard layout.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    11)<\/strong> Then, you need to create a username and password to access your Raspberry Pi later on. Make sure you memorize or save this.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    12)<\/strong> Set up Wi-Fi with your local network credentials. Don\u2019t make any mistakes here. Otherwise, your Pi won\u2019t be able to connect to your network, and you won\u2019t be able to connect to the Pi via SSH.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    13)<\/strong> Enable SSH with password authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    14)<\/strong> The following step is optional. You can set up Raspberry Pi Connect or not. For more information about Raspberry Pi Connect, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    15) <\/strong>Finally, click Next<\/strong>. You\u2019ll be given an overview of your setup. Click Write <\/strong>to start the process.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

     16)<\/strong> After a few minutes, the process will be completed.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"Raspberry<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    17)<\/strong> When the installation is complete. It will eject the microSD card safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    18)<\/strong> Now, remove the card from your computer and insert it into your Pi. Then, apply power to the Raspberry Pi to start it and proceed to the next unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3) Connecting the Raspberry Pi to the Internet<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you’ve already set up the network credentials in the previous instructions, you can skip this section.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This method is useful if you want to change the credentials after you already have a microSD card with the OS installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Insert the microSD card in your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1)<\/strong> Create a new file called wpa_supplicant.conf<\/span> and paste the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    country=PT # Your 2-digit country code\nctrl_interface=DIR=\/var\/run\/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev\nnetwork={\n    ssid=\"YOUR_NETWORK_NAME\"\n    psk=\"YOUR_PASSWORD\"\n    key_mgmt=WPA-PSK\n}<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
    Insert your 2-digit country code and the network credentials (SSID and password) of the network that you want the Raspberry Pi to connect to.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
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    \"wpa_supplicant.conf<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
    2) <\/strong>Open the microSD card folder and move the wpa_supplicant.conf<\/span> file there.<\/p>\n\n\n
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    \"wpa_supplicant.conf<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
    4) Enabling SSH<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    If you’ve already enabled SSH in the previous instructions, you can skip this section.<\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To access your Raspberry Pi remotely (via a computer on your local network) so you don’t need to connect a monitor, keyboard, or mouse to the Raspberry Pi, you need to enable SSH. SSH allows you to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely from another machine and access the command line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To enable SSH, you need to create a file called ssh<\/span> (without any extensions<\/strong>) in the boot<\/span> folder of the microSD card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    1)<\/strong> You can click here to download the ssh file<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    2)<\/strong> Move that file to the boot<\/span> folder of the microSD card.<\/p>\n\n\n
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    \"ssh<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
    When the Raspberry Pi starts up, the OS will find the ssh<\/span> file and will automatically activate SSH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Now, safely eject the microSD card from your computer and insert it into the Raspberry Pi. Then, power up the Pi using a 5V DC power source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    5) Connecting via SSH to the Raspberry Pi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    SSH (which stands for secure shell) is a method of establishing a secure connection\u00a0with another computer. All data sent via SSH is encrypted. SSH is based on a Unix shell, so it allows you to access your Raspberry Pi files from a remote machine by using terminal commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    This part is divided into two sections: <\/p>\n\n\n\n