The Ultimate Guide to Running 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS on Your Raspberry Pi 4 Model B+ or Other Devices

Learn how to install the 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS on your Raspberry Pi 4 Model B+ or any other compatible devices. This guide will walk you through every step, from downloading the image to c …

Updated October 8, 2023

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Raspberry Pi OS is a popular operating system used on single board computers like the Raspberry Pi. The latest version of Raspberry Pi OS comes in two flavors - 32-bit and 64-bit. While the 32-bit version has been available since the beginning, the 64-bit version was introduced with the release of Raspberry Pi 4 Model B+. If you have a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B+ or any other compatible device, installing the 64-bit OS can provide better performance and more memory support.

Requirements:

A Raspberry Pi with at least 2GB RAM (recommended 4GB) and an SD card reader.
A microSD card with at least 8GB capacity.
The latest version of Raspberry Pi Imager, which can be downloaded from https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/.
A high-speed internet connection to download the 64-bit OS image.
An Ethernet cable or WiFi adapter (optional).

Step 1: Download the Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) Image

First, visit the official Raspberry Pi OS download page at https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/operating-systems/#raspberry-pi-os-64-bit and click on the “Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Other)” link to download the 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS Lite image. This is a lightweight version of Raspberry Pi OS without any graphical user interface, perfect for headless installations or when you want to configure your system manually.

Step 2: Flash the Image onto the SD Card

Insert the microSD card into your computer’s SD card reader and launch Raspberry Pi Imager. Select “Use custom” under “Operating System” and browse to the location where you downloaded the 64-bit OS image. Choose the correct drive for your SD card and click “Write.” This process may take a few minutes, depending on your computer’s speed and the size of the microSD card.

Step 3: Boot Your Raspberry Pi with the SD Card

Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi and connect it to power. If you have an Ethernet cable, plug it in for a wired connection. Alternatively, you can use a WiFi adapter to connect wirelessly. Wait for the device to boot up - this may take a few minutes.

Step 4: Configure Your Device

Once your Raspberry Pi has booted, open a terminal and run sudo raspi-config. This tool allows you to configure various settings on your device, such as expanding the filesystem, setting up WiFi, changing the password, and more.

To expand the root partition, select “Expand Filesystem.”
If you want to enable SSH for remote access, choose “Interfacing Options” and then “SSH.”
You can also configure your WiFi settings by selecting “Network Options” and then “WiFi.” Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your network credentials.
Finally, set a new password for the default user “pi” by choosing “Change Password” under “Passwords.” This is an important security step - don’t skip it!

Step 5: Update Your System and Install Additional Packages (Optional)

After configuring your device, run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade to ensure you have the latest software updates. You can also install additional packages like Python or Node.js by running sudo apt install <package-name>.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) on your device. Now, you can use your Raspberry Pi for a wide range of applications and projects, from web servers to machine learning to gaming. Don’t forget to check the official Raspberry Pi documentation for more advanced configuration options: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/.