How to Enable Raspberry Pi WiFi

To Enable Raspberry Pi Wifi, running the Raspbian Server involves a few steps. As usual with Linux servers, there is more than one way to do it. I prefer the path of least resistance. Upon downloading and installing Rapbian Server (the non-desktop edition).

Step 1: Accessing raspi-config

Open the terminal on your Raspberry Pi and run the following command to launch the raspi-config tool:

sudo raspi-config

Step 2: Navigate to System Options

Inside raspi-config, navigate using the arrow keys to select “System Options” and press Enter.

Step 3: Select Wi-Fi

In the “System Options” menu, select “S1 Wireless-LAN” and press. Enter.

Step 4: Enter SSID and Password

You’ll be prompted to enter your Wi-Fi network’s SSID (name) and password.

Input these details accurately and press Enter.

Step 5: Confirm & Reboot

Once you’ve entered the details, raspi-config will confirm the settings. Select “Yes” and press Enter to confirm.

Step 6: Reboot Raspberry Pi

After confirming the settings, raspi-config will prompt you to reboot to apply the changes. Select “Finish” and press Enter to exit the configuration tool. Then, reboot your Raspberry Pi by entering:

sudo reboot

Once your Raspberry Pi restarts, it should automatically connect to the configured Wi-Fi network.

Using raspi-config offers a more user-friendly interface for configuring Wi-Fi and other system settings, making it convenient for users who prefer a graphical interface over manual file editing.

Troubleshooting

Step 1: Check Wi-Fi Hardware

Ensure that your Raspberry Pi has a Wi-Fi adapter or built-in Wi-Fi capability. You can verify this by running the command:

iwconfig

This will display information about the connected hardware, including any Wi-Fi adapters.

Step 2: Update Raspbian

Before configuring Wi-Fi, it’s essential to have the latest updates. Run the following commands to update the package lists and upgrade the installed packages:

sudo apt update 
sudo apt upgrade

Step 3: Access Network Configuration

The network configuration for Wi-Fi can be managed through the wpa_supplicant configuration file. Open the file with a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf

Step 4: Edit Configuration File

Inside the wpa_supplicant.conf file, add the following lines at the bottom:

network={ ssid="YOUR_WIFI_SSID" psk="YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD" }

Replace YOUR_WIFI_SSID with your Wi-Fi network’s name (SSID) and YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD with your Wi-Fi password. Ensure the indentation and format match the example.

Step 5: Save and Exit

After entering the network details, save the changes and exit the text editor by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y to confirm changes, and Enter to overwrite the file.

Step 6: Reconfigure Wi-Fi

To apply the changes, either restart the Raspberry Pi or execute the following command to reconfigure the Wi-Fi without rebooting:

sudo wpa_cli -i wlan0 reconfigure

Replace wlan0 with the appropriate interface name if different.

Step 7: Verify Connection

Check if the Wi-Fi connection is established by using the command:

ip a

This command will display network interfaces and their assigned IP addresses. Look for wlan0 (or your Wi-Fi interface) to confirm the connection.

Step 8: Test Connection

Verify internet connectivity by running:

ping google.com

This will send packets to Google’s servers to ensure your Raspberry Pi has internet access through Wi-Fi.

That’s it! Your Raspberry Pi running Raspbian Server should now be connected to Wi-Fi.

Want more Raspberry Pi Procedures – check out this page.