Setup Remote Desktop for Raspberry Pi - 2023

This Instructables is an up-to-date tutorial to configure a remote desktop to your Raspberry Pi.

The main advantage of using a remote desktop is you no longer need a keyboard, a mouse or a screen. You just use the peripherals of your computer.

Using only two software, PuTTY and VNC Viewer, you will configure your remote desktop for your Raspberry Pi in less than 30 minutes.

Why use a remote Desktop ?

The main purpose of using a remote desktop to a Raspberry Pi is to access the graphical user interface (GUI) of the Pi from a remote computer. This allows you to control the Raspberry Pi, without needing to physically connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the Pi.

Remote desktop access is particularly useful for projects that require the Raspberry Pi to be located in a different room or even in a different building. With remote desktop access, you can perform tasks on the Pi, such as running applications, managing files, or configuring settings, from a more comfortable or convenient location.

Overall, remote desktop access provides a convenient and flexible way to control and interact with a Raspberry Pi, making it a popular choice for developers and hobbyists.

Supplies :

• Raspberry Pi 2 or greater
• Micro SD card 16Go or 32Go
• Power supply 5Vdc
• Ethernet cable

Software (No account needed) :

• Raspberry Pi Imager (Flash the Raspberry Pi OS on the SD card)
• PuTTY (Open source software to connect using SSH to the Raspberry)
• VNC Viewer : VNC CONNECT(N°1) or Ultra VNC (Open source)

Hardware and software used in the tutorial :

• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ with a 16Go micro SD card
• Raspberry Pi Imager v1.7.4
• PuTTY v0.78
• VNC CONNECT Viewer v7.0.1

More information :

• OS for Operating System (wikipedia)
• SSH for Secure SHell (wikipedia)
• VNC for Virtual Network Computing (wikipedia)
• Format your micro SD Card (FAT32 default) (wikipedia)

Using Raspberry Pi Imager, follow the step below :

• Using a Micro SD adapter, plug your card on your computer
• CHOOSE OS : Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit)
• CHOOSE STORAGE : Select your Micro SD card
• SETTINGS :
• Set hostname : raspberrypi.local
• Enable SSH : Use password authentication
• Set username and password : Put a Username and Password
• Configure wireless LAN : Put your SSID and Password
• Set locale settings : Put your Time zone and Keyboard layout
• SAVE
• WRITE : YES
• Wait ~10 minutes

Activate VNC using PuTTY :

• Plug your Micro SD card on your Raspberry Pi and power it with a 5V Power Supply
• Open PuTTY (picture 1) :
• Host name : raspberrypi.local
• Connection Type : SSH
• OPEN and Accept
• On the terminal (picture 2) :
• Put your login
• Validate with "Enter"
• Put your password (nothing is displayed when you enter the password)
• Validate with "Enter"
• Activate the VNC communication
• Enter the command sudo raspi-config and press Enter. (picture 3)
• Use the arrow keys to select Interface Options and press Enter. (picture 4)
• Use the arrow keys to select VNC and press Enter. (picture 5)
• Select Yes and press Enter. (picture 6)
• Select Ok and press Enter. (picture 7)
• Select Finish and press Enter, to return to the terminal. (picture 8)
• Close the terminal

Use Remote Desktop With VNC Viewer :

• Open VNC Viewer
• Enter the Host name : raspberrypi.local and press Enter. (picture 1)
• Enter your Username and Password and press Enter (the same as for PuTTY). (picture 2)
• Now you have access to your Raspberry Pi using a remote Desktop
• If you close the remote desktop, you can double-click on your VNC server when you open VNC Connect. (picture 3)

Now you can enjoy using your Raspberry Pi, the simplest way. No mouse, keyboard and screen, just the remote desktop using a Wi-Fi connection.

Have a nice day !