Securely Access Your Raspberry Pi from Anywhere with SSH

Learn how to enable secure shell (SSH) access on your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to remotely control and manage it from anywhere with an internet connection. …


Updated September 8, 2023

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Learn how to enable secure shell (SSH) access on your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to remotely control and manage it from anywhere with an internet connection.

SSH, or Secure Shell, is a powerful tool that allows users to access and manage remote systems over the internet. With SSH enabled on your Raspberry Pi, you can perform administrative tasks, update software, and even run programs without being physically present at the device. This guide will show you how to enable SSH on your Raspberry Pi in just a few steps.

Step 1: Check if SSH is Already Enabled

Before enabling SSH, it’s important to check whether it’s already active on your Raspberry Pi. Open the terminal and run the following command:

sudo systemctl status ssh

If the output shows that the service is running and active, you can skip directly to Step 3. Otherwise, continue with the next step.

Step 2: Enable SSH

SSH can be enabled using the raspi-config tool that comes preinstalled on Raspberry Pi OS. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal and run the command sudo raspi-config.
  2. Navigate to the “Interfacing Options” menu.
  3. Select “SSH”.
  4. Choose “Yes” when prompted to enable SSH.
  5. Exit the tool by selecting “” and then “Reboot” to apply the changes.

Step 3: Connect to Your Raspberry Pi with SSH

To connect to your Raspberry Pi using SSH, you’ll need an IP address or hostname and a username/password combination for authentication. If you don’t have these details, follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal and run ifconfig to find your Raspberry Pi’s local IP address (usually starts with 192.168).
  2. The default username is “pi” and the password is “raspberry”. Make sure to change the password for security reasons after logging in.
  3. Open an SSH client on your computer and enter the following command:
ssh pi@<IP_ADDRESS>

Replace <IP_ADDRESS> with your Raspberry Pi’s IP address. You’ll be prompted to enter the password “raspberry”. After logging in successfully, you can run commands on your Raspberry Pi as if you were using the terminal directly.

Step 4: Secure Your SSH Connection (Optional)

While SSH provides a secure way to access your Raspberry Pi remotely, it’s still recommended to take additional steps to improve security. Here are some best practices:

  1. Use public-key authentication instead of password-based login by generating an SSH key pair on your computer and copying the public key to the Raspberry Pi. This eliminates the need for a password and provides better protection against brute force attacks.
  2. Disable root login and use a non-root user with sudo privileges for daily tasks.
  3. Set up port forwarding or a VPN to further secure your connection and protect your privacy when accessing the internet.
  4. Regularly update your Raspberry Pi and any installed software packages to keep it secure from vulnerabilities.

By following these steps, you can enable SSH on your Raspberry Pi and securely access it from anywhere with an internet connection. With this powerful tool at your disposal, you can perform administrative tasks, automate processes, and even develop applications remotely.