How to turn that old tablet into a touchscreen display for your Raspberry Pi projects!

A step-by-step guide on how to connect an old tablet screen to your Raspberry Pi and use it as a touchscreen display for your awesome DIY projects. …


Updated September 25, 2023

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A step-by-step guide on how to connect an old tablet screen to your Raspberry Pi and use it as a touchscreen display for your awesome DIY projects.

As the popularity of Raspberry Pi continues to grow, so does the demand for new and creative ways to utilize this versatile computer. One fun way to expand your Raspberry Pi capabilities is by adding an old tablet screen as a touchscreen display. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Preparation

    • Make sure you have the necessary tools and materials ready:

      • Raspberry Pi (any model)
      • Old tablet with broken screen (or one you don’t need anymore)
      • HDMI to micro-HDMI adapter
      • Micro-USB cable
      • USB OTG (On-The-Go) cable
      • Soldering iron and solder
      • Wire cutters
      • Screwdriver

    • Power off the Raspberry Pi and your tablet.

  2. Disassemble the Tablet

    • Carefully open up the tablet and locate the broken screen. Take note of the connector pins and their respective cables. You’ll need to disconnect these later on in the process.

  3. Connecting the Tablet Screen to Raspberry Pi

    • Connect the HDMI cable from your tablet screen to the HDMI port on your Raspberry Pi using the micro-HDMI adapter. The other end of the adapter should be connected to the HDMI port on your monitor or TV.

  4. Configuring the Raspberry Pi for Touchscreen Functionality

    • Power on your Raspberry Pi and connect it to your tablet using the USB OTG cable. This will allow you to use the tablet’s touch functionality with your Pi.

    • Open a terminal window and run the following commands:

      sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-evdev
sudo nano /boot/config.txt

    • Add the following lines at the end of the file and save it:

      hdmi_force_hotplug=1
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=87
display_rotate=3

    • Reboot your Raspberry Pi by running sudo reboot.

  5. Wiring the Touchscreen

    • Locate the touchscreen’s data and power cables. These are usually labeled as “D+” (data positive), “D-” (data negative), “VCC” (power), and “GND” (ground).

    • Using your wire cutters, remove a small section of each cable to expose the wires. Strip about half an inch of insulation from the ends.

    • Use the soldering iron to connect the D+ and D- wires to GPIO pins 19 and 26 on your Raspberry Pi, respectively. Connect VCC to 5V and GND to ground (pin 39).

  6. Calibrating the Touchscreen

    • Run sudo nano /boot/config.txt again and add the following lines at the end of the file:

      dtparam=spi=on
dtparam=i2c_arm=on
gpu_freq=250
start_x=1
disable_overscan=1

    • Save and reboot your Raspberry Pi.

    • Once your Pi has booted, run the following commands:

      sudo apt-get install xinput-calibrator
sudo xinput_calibrator

    • Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate your touchscreen.

  7. Testing Your Setup

    • Launch a web browser or any other application that supports touch input to test your setup. You should now be able to use your old tablet screen as a touchscreen display for your Raspberry Pi projects!

Remember, this is just one way to connect an old tablet screen to your Raspberry Pi. There are many variations and alternative methods that you can explore depending on your specific needs and requirements. The key is to have fun with your setup and always keep learning new skills to enhance your projects!