Accessing Your Raspberry Pi Anywhere, Anytime with SSH

A step-by-step guide on how to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH and make it accessible from anywhere. …


Updated August 2, 2023

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A step-by-step guide on how to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH and make it accessible from anywhere.

To connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Enable SSH on the Raspberry Pi Firstly, ensure that your Raspberry Pi has a network connection by connecting an Ethernet cable or using Wi-Fi.

Next, enable SSH (Secure Shell) on your Raspberry Pi. By default, SSH is disabled on Raspbian OS (the operating system for the Raspberry Pi). To enable it, open the terminal and type:

sudo raspi-config

Navigate to Interfacing Options > SSH > Enable SSH and then select Ok. Once done, reboot your Raspberry Pi with:

sudo reboot

This will enable you to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely using an SSH client.

  1. Find the IP address of your Raspberry Pi To find the IP address of your Raspberry Pi, open a terminal and type:
hostname -I

This will display the IP address assigned to your device on the network. Make a note of this IP address as you’ll need it later.

  1. Install an SSH client (if needed) If you are using Windows or macOS, you probably already have an SSH client installed. If not, you can download and install one:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install openssh-client
  1. Connect to your Raspberry Pi using SSH Now that you have enabled SSH on your Raspberry Pi and found its IP address, it’s time to connect remotely. If you are using Windows or macOS, open the SSH client you installed in step 3 and enter the IP address of your Raspberry Pi when prompted for the hostname.

For Linux users, open a terminal and type:

ssh pi@<IP_ADDRESS>

Replace <IP_ADDRESS> with the IP address of your Raspberry Pi. When prompted, enter the default password raspberry. This is the default password for the pi user account on Raspbian OS.

You should now be connected to your Raspberry Pi remotely! You can run commands and interact with it as if you were sitting in front of it.

  1. Set up a static IP address (optional) While not necessary, setting up a static IP address for your Raspberry Pi ensures that its IP address remains the same even after rebooting or connecting to different networks. To set up a static IP address:
sudo nano /etc/dhcpcd.conf

Add the following lines at the end of the file (replace STATIC_IP, SUBNET_MASK, and ROUTER_IP with appropriate values):

interface eth0
static ip_address=<STATIC_IP>/<SUBNET_MASK>
static routers=<ROUTER_IP>
static domain_name_servers=<DNS_SERVERS>

Save the changes and exit the editor (CTRL + X, Y, Enter). Then restart the networking service:

sudo systemctl restart dhcpcd
  1. Use a VPN or port forwarding to access your Raspberry Pi from anywhere To access your Raspberry Pi remotely from any network, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or set up port forwarding on your router.

Using a VPN will route all your internet traffic through the VPN server, making your Raspberry Pi accessible wherever you have an internet connection. There are several free and paid VPN services available.

Alternatively, you can set up port forwarding on your router to forward incoming SSH connections to your Raspberry Pi’s IP address. This method requires you to know the external IP address of your network (which can be found online) and configure your router accordingly. Consult your router’s documentation for specific instructions.

That’s it! You are now able to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Enjoy exploring the world of remote computing with your Raspberry Pi!