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25-Jun-2025 ~ 3 min read

How to set up Raspberry Pi without a monitor and keyboard aka headless setup

How to Set Up Raspberry Pi 5 Without a Monitor and Keyboard (Headless Setup)

This guide will walk you through a headless setup using only your PC or Mac.

Table Of Contents

What You’ll Need

  • Raspberry Pi 5

  • microSD card (16GB or larger, Class 10 recommended)

  • microSD card reader

  • Power supply (USB-C, 5V/5A for Pi 5)

  • Wi-Fi network or Ethernet cable

  • Computer with Internet access

  • Optional: Case and cooling solution

Step 1: Download and Install Raspberry Pi OS

  1. Go to the official Raspberry Pi Imager: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/

  2. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager for your operating system (Windows/macOS/Linux).

  3. Insert the microSD card into your computer and launch Raspberry Pi Imager.

  4. Choose OS:

    • Click “Choose OS” → select “Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)” (Recommended).

    • Or choose “Raspberry Pi OS Lite” if you don’t need a desktop interface.

  5. Choose Storage:

    • Select your microSD card.

  6. Enable Advanced Options (click the ⚙️ gear icon in the Imager):

    • Set a hostname (e.g., raspberrypi)

    • Enable SSH (important!)

    • Configure WiFi SSID and password

    • Set locale (timezone, keyboard layout)

  7. Click “Save” → then “Write” to flash the OS onto the microSD card.

Step 2: Insert microSD Card and Power Up

  1. Insert the prepared microSD card into your Raspberry Pi 5.

  2. Connect the Ethernet cable or ensure Wi-Fi credentials are correct.

  3. Plug in the power supply. The Pi will boot up automatically.

Step 3: Find Your Raspberry Pi’s IP Address

You’ll need to know the Pi’s IP to connect via SSH. There are several ways:

  • Router Admin Page: Log in to your router and look for a device named raspberrypi.

  • Use a network scanner like:

    • Advanced IP Scanner (Windows)

    • arp -a or ping raspberrypi.local (macOS/Linux)

Step 4: SSH into Your Pi

Open a terminal (or use PuTTY on Windows):

ssh pi@raspberrypi.local

Or, using IP:

ssh pi@<your_pi_ip_address>

  • Default username: pi

  • Default password: raspberry

You should now be logged into your Raspberry Pi 5 remotely!

Step 5: (Optional) Update and Configure

Once logged in, it’s a good idea to update your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

To configure options like hostname, interfaces, and more:

sudo raspi-config

Conclusion

Setting up your Raspberry Pi 5 without a monitor and keyboard is surprisingly simple thanks to the Raspberry Pi Imager’s advanced options and SSH access. With just a bit of configuration, you can get your Pi up and running headlessly and ready for any project.