The Ultimate Guide to Raspberry Pi 4 and its WiFi Capabilities

Unravel the mystery behind whether Raspberry Pi 4 has built-in WiFi support or not. Discover how you can connect your Raspberry Pi device to the internet using various methods. …


Updated October 3, 2023

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Unravel the mystery behind whether Raspberry Pi 4 has built-in WiFi support or not. Discover how you can connect your Raspberry Pi device to the internet using various methods.

The Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost computer that has gained immense popularity for its versatility and ease of use in embedded systems, robotics, and IoT projects. One of the most important features of any such device is connectivity, which typically involves WiFi or Ethernet. This article will explain if Raspberry Pi 4 has built-in WiFi support and how you can connect it to the internet.

Does Raspberry Pi 4 Have WiFi?

The answer to this question depends on the specific model of Raspberry Pi 4 that you have. The basic model, called the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, does not come with built-in WiFi support. However, there are other models like the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B+ and Raspberry Pi 4 Model A+ that include WiFi connectivity.

To determine whether your Raspberry Pi has built-in WiFi capabilities, you can check the model number on the product label or by running the cat /proc/cpuinfo command in the terminal. If you see a line that says “BCM43430” under the Revision field, it indicates that your Raspberry Pi has built-in WiFi.

Connecting Raspberry Pi 4 to WiFi

If your Raspberry Pi does not have built-in WiFi support, you can connect it to a wireless network using a USB WiFi dongle or an Ethernet cable. Here are the two methods:

  1. Using a USB WiFi Dongle

    • Purchase a compatible USB WiFi dongle that has drivers for Raspberry Pi, such as the Edimax EW-78111Un or TP-Link TL-WN725N v3.
    • Plug the WiFi dongle into any of the USB ports on your Raspberry Pi.
    • Power on the device and follow the on-screen instructions to set up a wireless network connection.

  2. Using an Ethernet Cable

    • Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to your router or modem and the other end to the Raspberry Pi’s Ethernet port.
    • Power on the device and follow the on-screen instructions to set up a wired network connection.

Conclusion

In summary, Raspberry Pi 4 does not come with built-in WiFi support in all models. If your device does not have WiFi capabilities, you can use a USB WiFi dongle or an Ethernet cable to connect it to the internet. The choice between these two methods depends on your specific needs and preferences. Both options will provide reliable connectivity for your Raspberry Pi projects.