Ever had a Raspberry Pi stuck in a boot loop? Learn how to restart it remotely using SSH without needing physical access.

This guide will show you how to restart your Raspberry Pi remotely using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. SSH allows you to access and control your device from anywhere, even if it’s stuck in a boot l …


Updated October 11, 2023

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This guide will show you how to restart your Raspberry Pi remotely using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. SSH allows you to access and control your device from anywhere, even if it’s stuck in a boot loop or otherwise unresponsive. It’s an essential skill for any Raspberry Pi enthusiast.

SSH stands for Secure Shell, a protocol that allows you to securely control another computer or device over a network connection. By connecting to your Raspberry Pi with SSH, you can restart it without needing physical access. This is especially useful if you’re running a headless setup where there’s no monitor or keyboard attached to the device.

Here are the steps to restart your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH:

  1. First, ensure that you have enabled SSH on your Raspberry Pi. If you haven’t already done so, open the terminal and type:

    sudo raspi-config

    Navigate to “Interfacing Options” > “SSH” and enable it. Save and exit the configuration tool.

  2. Find your Raspberry Pi’s IP address. You can do this by either checking your router’s DHCP client list or using a network scanning tool like AngryIP Scanner. Make sure to note down the IP address as you will need it later.

  3. Open a terminal on your local computer and type:

    ssh pi@your_raspberry_pi_ip_address

    Replace “your_raspberry_pi_ip_address” with the IP address you found in step 2. You will be prompted to enter your Raspberry Pi’s username and password (the default username is “pi” and the default password is “raspberry”).

  4. Once connected, restart the Raspberry Pi by typing:

    sudo reboot

    This command will initiate a graceful shutdown and restart of your device. You can then disconnect from the SSH session using exit. Your Raspberry Pi should now be rebooting.

That’s it! You have successfully restarted your Raspberry Pi remotely using SSH. This technique is especially helpful if you’re running a headless setup or if your device is inaccessible due to a boot loop. Just remember to always enable SSH for future remote accessibility and troubleshooting.