Step 2: Select Your Raspberry Pi Device

The updated Imager layout guides you with a left-hand navigation list: Device, OS, Storage, Customisation, Writing, and Done.

1. Under the Device step, choose your Raspberry Pi model (such as Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5).
2. Click NEXT at the bottom right.

Step 3: Choose Operating System

1. Under OS, select your desired operating system.
2. Click NEXT to proceed.

Recommended operating systems:

• Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) - Recommended for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 with standard desktop applications.
• Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) - Recommended for Raspberry Pi 3 or boards where memory footprint is constrained.
• Raspberry Pi OS Lite - CLI-only without desktop GUI, lightweight for pure headless server roles.

Step 4: Select Storage

1. Under Storage, click on your target microSD card (e.g. SDHC Card).
2. Verify you selected the correct removable card drive, then click NEXT.

Step 5: Pre-Configure Customisation Settings

The Customisation wizard pre-configures everything before writing so the Pi connects to your local network and enables SSH immediately on first boot - no external monitor or keyboard needed.

1. Choose Hostname

Enter a unique hostname to identify your Pi on your local network (for workshop boards, use the spelled number on your board - e.g. five or seven). Click NEXT.

2. Localisation

Select your capital city, timezone, and keyboard layout (for example: Capital city New Delhi (India), Time zone Asia/Kolkata, and Keyboard layout in). Click NEXT.

3. User Credentials

Under User, enter your username and password (in workshops, use your board number for both, e.g. five or seven). Click NEXT.

4. Wi-Fi Configuration

Enter your wireless network name (SSID) and network password so the Pi connects to your Wi-Fi automatically upon boot. Click NEXT.

5. Remote Access (SSH)

Turn the Enable SSH toggle switch ON and select Use password authentication. This is the essential setting that gives you terminal access over the network without a monitor. Click NEXT.

6. Raspberry Pi Connect (Ignore)

Leave the Enable Raspberry Pi Connect toggle switch turned off / ignored. Raspberry Pi Connect requires cloud account login and is not required for direct local SSH and RealVNC remote desktop access. Click NEXT.

Step 6: Write and Flash the Card

1. Review the choices and customisations listed on the summary screen. Click WRITE.
2. An erase confirmation modal will appear: You are about to ERASE all data on: SDHC Card. This action is PERMANENT and CANNOT be undone. Click I UNDERSTAND, ERASE AND WRITE.
3. Wait for the Imager to write the image and verify the card data.
4. Once finished, safely remove the microSD card from your computer.

Step 7: First Boot and SSH Connection

Insert the flashed card into your Raspberry Pi and connect the power supply. On first boot, allow 1 to 2 minutes for the system to expand the file system, apply your settings, and join the network.

Open PowerShell, Command Prompt, or terminal on your computer and connect:

Type your password when prompted (characters will not show in the terminal while typing). Once authenticated, you will have a shell on the Pi:

Step 8: Enable VNC and Switch from Wayland to X11

Recent versions of Raspberry Pi OS use Wayland and wayvnc by default. However, RealVNC Viewer is incompatible with the default Wayland session. To use RealVNC Viewer smoothly without connection drops, we turn on VNC in raspi-config, switch the display manager to X11, disable wayvnc, and enable vncserver-x11-serviced.

Part A: Turn On VNC in raspi-config

In your SSH terminal, open the Raspberry Pi configuration menu:

1. Navigate to 3 Interface Options and press Enter.
2. Select I3 VNC and press Enter.
3. When asked Would you like the VNC Server to be enabled?, select <Yes> and press Enter.
4. Select <Finish> to exit raspi-config back to the shell.

Part B: Switch to X11 Backend and Enable RealVNC Service

Run this single command in your terminal to switch from Wayland to X11, set the headless virtual resolution to 1080p, activate the X11 VNC server, and reboot:

What this command accomplishes:

• do_wayland W1 - Switches the graphical backend from Wayland to X11 (Openbox).
• do_vnc_resolution 1920x1080 - Fixes the virtual display resolution to 1920x1080 when running headless without an HDMI display.
• systemctl disable --now wayvnc - Stops and disables the Wayland VNC server.
• systemctl enable vncserver-x11-serviced - Enables the classic RealVNC service for X11.

The Pi reboots automatically. Wait 30 to 60 seconds for it to restart and reconnect to your network.

Step 9: Connect with RealVNC Viewer (No Sign-Up Required)

Recent RealVNC Viewer releases downloaded from realvnc.com require signing up and creating a cloud account. To skip this registration process, download the standalone installer hosted on the club Drive which allows direct local network connections without an account:

Download RealVNC Viewer for Windows (Club Drive, No Sign-Up)

1. Download and launch RealVNC Viewer on your computer.
2. Click File → New connection... (or press Ctrl+N).
3. In the VNC Server field, enter your hostname (e.g. eight.local) or your Pi IP address. Give the connection a name and click OK.
4. Double-click your new connection card. Enter your Pi username and password when prompted.

The full Raspberry Pi desktop interface will open inside a window on your computer screen - completely headless without ever plugging a monitor into the Pi.

Step 10: Update the System

Before installing project libraries, ensure all base system packages are up to date:

First Task: Blink an LED

The 40-pin header is how the Pi interfaces with external hardware. Mind the difference between physical pin numbers and BCM GPIO numbering.

Wire an LED on your breadboard:

• Pin 11 (GPIO17) → 330Ω resistor → LED long leg (anode)
• LED short leg (cathode) → Pin 9 (GND)

Raspberry Pi OS includes gpiozero by default. Save this script as blink.py and run python blink.py:

Bonus: A Light-Sensing Night Light

Add an LDR (light-dependent resistor) so the LED turns on automatically when ambient light drops.

gpiozero handles the analogue RC timing - wait_for_dark() pauses execution until the light reading drops below threshold, keeping your Python loop clean.

Troubleshooting

• ssh: Could not resolve hostname: mDNS (.local) resolution can be blocked by certain Wi-Fi routers. Find the IP assigned to your Pi from your router or phone hotspot, then connect with the IP (e.g. ssh user@192.168.1.100).
• Connection refused on port 22: SSH was not enabled during the Imager setup step, or the Pi has not finished booting yet. Wait 2 minutes or re-flash making sure Enable SSH is toggled ON.
• RealVNC shows "Cannot currently show the desktop": This occurs when Wayland is active instead of X11. Run the Wayland to X11 conversion command in Step 8 and reboot.
• Under-voltage warning or rainbow icon: The power supply cannot supply enough current. Pi 4 and Pi 5 require 3A and 5A supplies respectively - use official or high-current USB-C adapters.

Where to Go Next

• Attach a Raspberry Pi Camera Module and stream low-latency video.
• Connect I2C and SPI sensors (OLED displays, temperature sensors, gyroscopes).
• Check the Raspberry Pi Workshop CS sessions under Resources for full guided project builds.