Home | Miscellaneous | Pi | Setup
Charles Varvayanis
Computer and Communication Systems
Charles Varvayanis Logo
Since 1990
(209) 586-3782
charles@varvayanis.com

Raspberry Pi Setup


Step-by-step instructions for setting up a Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi Connect and SSH

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) with or without Raspberry Pi Connect and/or SSH.


General Notes


1. General:  The procedures below are optimized for setting up a Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit), (Legacy 64-Bit) or (Legacy 32-Bit) connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.  Management connectivity is provided via the optional components Raspberry Pi Connect and SSH and/or a Display, Keyboard and Mouse.

2. 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 and a DHCP server is on the network configured for DHCP clients to access the Internet.  This is the standard and/or default configuration for most networks, so in most cases nothing additional will need to be done.

3. Management Connectivity Options:  The Management Connectivity options, Raspberry Pi Connect and/or SSH, can be omitted while configuring the Raspberry Pi Imager in the section below "Load Raspberry Pi OS onto a Micro SD Card".



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.



Contents:


Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

Download and Install the Raspberry Pi Imager onto a Computer

Load the Raspberry Pi OS onto a Micro SD Card

Insert the Micro SD Card into the Raspberry Pi

Connect to the Raspberry Pi

Update the Raspberry Pi OS and Components

Update the Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Image Version

Remove packages that automatically installed and are no longer required







Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

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






Download and Install the Raspberry Pi Imager onto a Computer


Notes:


The Raspberry Pi Imager can be installed onto a Windows PC, Mac, Rapberry Pi or Linux Computer.

Install Raspberry Pi Imager documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html#imager-install


Download the Raspberry Pi Imager

https://www.raspberrypi.com/software

Install the Raspberry Pi Imager

Run the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions.






Load the Raspberry Pi OS onto a Micro SD Card


Notes:


Install Raspberry Pi OS onto boot media documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html#install

Configure the Raspberry Pi fundamentals documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html#step-2-configure-the-fundamentals


Connect the Micro SD Card

Connect the Micro SD Card to a computer with the Raspberry Pi Imager installed.


Open the Raspberry Pi Imager


Windows 11:  Start | All Apps | Raspberry Pi | Raspberry Pi Imager

Windows 10:  Start | Raspberry Pi | Raspberry Pi Imager

Mac OS:  Applications [Shift + Command + A] | Raspberry Pi Imager

Raspberry Pi OS:  Start (Raspberry - On the left side of the Task Bar at the top of the Raspberry Pi desktop) | Accessories | Raspberry Pi Imager

Linux:  Terminal | sudo rpi-imager


Select the Desired Options



APP OPTIONS | (Located near the lower left corner of the window)

Play sound when finished | Off

Eject media when finished | On

Enable anonymous statistics (telemetry) | On

Disable warnings | Off

[SAVE]


Device |

Select your Raspberry PI device |

<Your Raspberry Pi model>
Example:
Raspberry Pi 5

[NEXT]


OS |

Choose operating system |

<Select the desired operating system>
(Raspberry Pi OS, preferrably (64-bit) for this configuration)
Example:
Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)

[NEXT]


Storage |

Select your storage Device |

Exclude system drives | Checked

<Select the storage Device>
Example:
Generic-SD/MMC USB Device

[NEXT]


Customisation |

Hostname |

<Enter your hostname>
(This gives the Raspberry Pi a name)
Example:
Pi-0001

[NEXT]


Localisation |

Capital city:
<Select your Wi-Fi Country>
Example:
Washinton, D.C. (United States)

Time zone:
<Select your time zone>
Example:
America/Los_Angels

Keyboard layout:
<Select your keyboard layout>
Example:
us

[NEXT]


User |

Username:
<Enter your username>
(This gives the Raspberry Pi a username)
Example:
pi

Password:
<Enter your password>
(This gives the Raspberry Pi a password)
Example:
PiPassword

Confirm password:
<Re-enter your password>
(This confirms the Raspberry Pi password)
Example:
PiPassword

[NEXT]


Wi-Fi |

[SECURE NETWORK]

SSID:
<Network name>
Wi-Fi SSID (Optional)
Example:
My Wi-Fi

Password:
<Network password>
Wi-Fi Password (Optional)
Example:
Wi-FiPassword

Confirm password:
<Re-enter password>
Wi-Fi Password (Optional)
Example:
Wi-FiPassword

Hidden SSID | Un-Checked

[NEXT]


Remote access |

Enable SSH | On
(Optional - See "General Notes" 5. near the top of this document)

Use password authentication | Selected

[NEXT]


Raspbery Pi Connect |

Enable Raspbery Pi Connect | On
(Optional - See "General Notes" 5. near the top of this document)

[OPEN RASPBERRY PI CONNECT]

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

Create auth key and launch Raspberry Pi Imager

Go back to the "Raspberry Pi Imager" window if it did not go there automaticly

[NEXT]


Writing |

[WRITE]

You are about to ERASE all data on: Generic-SD/MMC USB Device |

[I UNDERSTAND, ERASE AND WRITE]


When the message "Write Complete" is displayed | [FINISH]


Remove the Micro SD card from the reader.






Insert the Micro SD Card into the Raspberry Pi


Be certain the Raspberry Pi is powered off.

Insert the Micro SD Card loaded with the Raspberry Pi OS into the Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3.  Note:  It inserts up-side-down (contacts up) into the Raspberry Pi.

Power on the Raspberry Pi.

It is typical for the Raspberry Pi to reboot one to three times the first time it is powered up before it is ready for its first use.  This often takes three to five minutes.






Connect to the Raspberry Pi


Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen share


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

  - or -

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:

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

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

sudo raspi-config
Advance Options | Bootloader Version | Latest | Yes | Finish | Would you like to reboot now? | Yes






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



Charles Varvayanis
Sonora, CA  95370
e-mail:  charles@varvayanis.com
Phone:  (209) 586-3782
Business Card (PDF 153 KB) PDF
www.varvayanis.com
www.varvayanis.com

© 2026 Charles Varvayanis
All rights reserved