Remote Access and Control with Virtual Network Computing (VNC)

Learn how to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely from any device using the Virtual Network Computing (VNC) protocol. …


Updated September 30, 2023

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Learn how to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely from any device using the Virtual Network Computing (VNC) protocol.

Introduction

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop sharing system that allows users to access and control a remote computer’s screen, keyboard, and mouse from another device on the network. In this article, we will explore how you can use VNC to connect to your Raspberry Pi remotely, providing you with a convenient way to work on your Pi regardless of its physical location.

Preparation

Before getting started, make sure you have the following:

  • A Raspberry Pi device running Raspbian or another Linux-based operating system
  • An internet connection for both devices (your computer and the Raspberry Pi)
  • The RealVNC Viewer app installed on your computer. You can download it from here for free.

Setting up VNC on the Raspberry Pi

  1. Open a terminal window on your Raspberry Pi and enter the following command to update the package list:
sudo apt-get update
  1. Install the realvnc-vnc-server package by running:
sudo apt-get install realvnc-vnc-server
  1. Start the VNC server with the following command:
sudo systemctl start vncserver-x11-serviced.service
  1. Enable the VNC server to run on boot by entering:
sudo systemctl enable vncserver-x11-serviced.service
  1. Create a password for your VNC connection. Enter the following command and follow the prompts:
vncpasswd

This will set a password for accessing the VNC server. Make sure to remember this password, as you’ll need it later when connecting from your computer.

Connecting to VNC

  1. Open the RealVNC Viewer app on your computer.
  2. Enter the IP address of your Raspberry Pi in the “Host” field and click “Connect.” If you are not sure what your Pi’s IP address is, check by running hostname -I in a terminal window on your Pi.
  3. When prompted for credentials, enter the VNC password you set earlier.
  4. After successful authentication, you will have full access to your Raspberry Pi’s desktop from your computer! You can now control it as if you were sitting at the device itself.

Conclusion

VNC provides a simple and convenient way to remotely access and control your Raspberry Pi from any device with an internet connection. By following this guide, you should be able to connect to your Pi in no time! Once connected, you can run programs, edit files, and perform other tasks as if you were sitting right in front of the device.