Introduction

Secure Shell (SSH) is an essential tool for remotely managing your Raspberry Pi without needing a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. Whether you're building a home automation system or just want remote access to your Pi, enabling SSH is one of the first steps. Here's how to set it up.

What you'll need

• A Raspberry Pi (any model)
• A microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS installed
• A local network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
• Power supply for the Pi
• A monitor and keyboard

Step 1: Enable SSH

1. Boot up the Raspberry Pi with a display.
2. Go to Menu → Preferences → Raspberry Pi Configuration.
3. Open the Interfaced tab.
4. Set SSH to "Enabled".
5. Click OK.

Step 2: Find the Raspberry Pi’s IP Address

You’ll need the IP address to connect via SSH. You can:

Step 3: SSH into the Raspberry Pi

From a terminal (macOS/Linux) or using an SSH client like PuTTY (Windows):

ssh pi@<your_pi_ip_address>

The default credentials are:

• Username: pi
• Password: raspberry

Step 4: Secure Your Connection

1. Change the default password

passwd

2. Update the system

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Conclusion

With SSH enabled, your Raspberry Pi becomes a truly remote and flexible device. From coding and server setup to IoT applications, SSH opens the door to countless possibilities—all from the comfort of your terminal.

Have fun exploring your Pi remotely!