Virtually Raspberry Pi models now ship with on-board connectivity options. The Raspberry Pi three, 3B+, Raspberry Pi Zero Due west, and Raspberry Pi 4 all feature built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

This inclusion extends the possibilities for your projects, saving you from relying on USB dongles and hubs. But merely how practice you set up Wi-Fi on a Raspberry Pi 3 or later? How does Bluetooth connect?

Here's what you lot need to know about setting up wireless networking via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on Raspberry Pi.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the Raspberry Pi iii and 4

The Raspberry Pi 3 is the first version of the computer to have on-board wireless and Bluetooth. Subsequent version with these features include the Raspberry Pi Zero W, the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, and the Raspberry Pi 4.

With Wi-Fi congenital-in, the Raspberry Pi tin be hands connected to wireless networks. This enhances connectivity considerably. Meanwhile, including a Bluetooth radio on the Raspberry Pi (the Pi 3 has Bluetooth 4.i BLE, the Pi three B+ 4.ii BLE, and the Pi iv Bluetooth 5.0) means you can add whatever device, such as a smartphone, a Television set, or an Xbox One controller

Gear up Wi-Fi on the Raspberry Pi via Desktop PC

The easiest manner to connect your Raspberry Pi to a wireless network is to use the desktop tool. Nevertheless, this means that you will demand to set it upward with a keyboard, mouse, and display. The alternative is to offset hook up an Ethernet cablevision, and so connect via VNC or RDP. Just retrieve to disconnect Ethernet when the Pi is connected wirelessly!

To connect to your router, right-click the grayed-out wireless networking icon in the right corner of the panel. Select the option to Turn on Wi-Fi, so select the desired network from the menu.

Enable Wi-Fi on a Raspberry Pi

Input the Pre Shared Key when prompted, so wait for the connection to be established.

Input the passkey for your wireless network

You should at present exist online.

Configure Wireless Networking to Connect the Raspberry Pi to Wi-Fi

Alternatively, you can prepare wireless networking in the control line. This is a skillful pick if yous're accessing your Raspberry Pi using SSH (initially over Ethernet).

          sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

You have two options for setting up a wireless connectedness. Information technology might seem easier to boot into the GUI, but it'south more straightforward to do it in the control line. Y'all should already accept your SSID name, simply if not, use

          sudo iwlist wlan0 browse

This will reveal the SSID in the line "ESSID". Side by side, open wpa_supplicant.conf:

          sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

You'll need to add or edit the following:

          ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant Group=netdev
update_config=1
country=US
network={
ssid="SSID"
psk="PASSWORD"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

Have the time to alter the value for land equally appropriate and add together the SSID and countersign for your network.

Use Ctrl + X to exit and save, pressing Y and Enter to confirm. Wireless connectivity should start immediately. If not, use this command to restart wireless:

          sudo ifdown wlan0
sudo ifup wlan0

Y'all could besides but enter 

          sudo reboot

.

Set Up Wi-Fi on Raspberry Pi iii Before Booting

Another pick for Wi-Fi on the Raspberry Pi 3 and afterwards is to configure it before the start kicking. This is possible past inserting the microSD carte in your PC's card reader and browsing to the /boot/ directory. Here, create a text file called wpa_supplicant.conf then open it and add the details as you did above.

Save this, close the file, then safely eject the microSD card. Note that the success of this method will depend on your Raspberry Pi operating system. It works with pre-Raspbian Buster OSs, equally well as various other operating systems. Raspbian Buster has a Wi-Fi driver that prevents the use of a wpa_supplicant.conf file in this style.

Configure Bluetooth on the Raspberry Pi 3 and 4

As with Wi-Fi, the software to configure and connect Bluetooth is built into Raspbian Buster. For older versions, run update and upgrade, and so

          sudo apt install bluetooth-pi

You can now activate Bluetooth from the control line with:

          bluetoothctl

A host of options are available with this. Type "help" to see them.

Raspberry Pi Bluetooth help commands

For Bluetooth to piece of work, it needs to exist enabled, discoverable and capable of discovering devices.

We apply three commands to practice this:

  1.               power on            
  2.               agent on            
  3.               browse on
Enable Bluetooth in the command line

In this screen, you lot tin see the Raspberry Pi has detected my Ubuntu phone. A connectedness can be fabricated past inbound connect, followed past the MAC accost. If a passcode is required on the remote device, enter this when prompted.

Moments afterwards, your Bluetooth connection volition be established.

Connect to Bluetooth on the Raspberry Pi Desktop

If y'all adopt to setup your Raspberry Pi Bluetooth connections on the desktop, click the Bluetooth icon in the panel. In the carte du jour, select Add Device to find discoverable devices, select the i y'all want, and then Pair to brainstorm the pairing/trust process.

Raspberry Pi Bluetooth selection menu

Bluetooth is upward and running!

Connect an Older Raspberry Pi to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

If you lot own a Raspberry Pi ii or earlier, or a standard Raspberry Pi Cipher, Wi-Fi is not an option. Indeed, in the example of the Raspberry Pi Nothing, Ethernet is not an option either. The solution is USB dongles that add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability to the Pi.

Top USB Wi-Fi Dongle for Raspberry Pi

Demand to connect your older Raspberry Pi to a wireless network? You'll need a USB Wi-Fi dongle, but with limited USB ports on the original models, this can be frustrating. Ethernet might be preferable.

Get a USB Bluetooth Dongle for Raspberry Pi

USB Bluetooth dongles are also available for the Raspberry Pi. However, yous may find that you won't savor the functionality from a dongle that tin exist enjoyed with integrated Bluetooth

For Raspberry Pi Goose egg-based projects requiring Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, you have two options. The get-go is to switch to a Raspberry Pi Zero W, which is incredible value for a computer.

Otherwise, you'll need to connect standard USB dongles to your Pi Zero using a USB hub with a micro-USB cable. The dongles in a higher place will piece of work on the Pi Zero with this USB hub.

Wi-Fi on the Raspberry Pi 3 and 4 Is Enabled!

Yous should now be upwards and running with wireless and Bluetooth on the Raspberry Pi iii and iv. As with any computer, it is straightforward to gear up; with some operating systems, you can configure it before booting.

Meanwhile, Bluetooth is just as simple, and allows remote controls to be connected, too equally audio devices. The hardware is reliable and the software uncomplicated. And if you're using an older Raspberry Pi, these features are also available via USB dongles.

If y'all haven't already, here's why you should try the new Raspberry Pi iv.

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About The Author

Christian Cawley (1574 Manufactures Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop and software back up. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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