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2024 May 20 Stickied -FAQ- & -HELPDESK- thread - Boot problems? Power supply problems? Display problems? Networking problems? Need ideas? Get help with these and other questions!
MOD

Welcome to the r/raspberry_pi Helpdesk and Frequently Asked Questions!

Link to last week's thread

Having a hard time searching for answers to your Raspberry Pi questions? Let the r/raspberry_pi community members search for answers for you! Looking for help getting started with a project? Have a question that you need answered? Was it not answered last week? Did not get a satisfying answer? A question that you've only done basic research for? Maybe something you think everyone but you knows? Ask your question in the comments on this page, operators are standing by!

This helpdesk and idea thread is here so that the front page won't be filled with these same questions day in and day out:

  1. Q: What's a Raspberry Pi? What can I do with it? How powerful is it?
    A: Check out this great overview

  2. Q: Does anyone have any ideas for what I can do with my Pi?
    A: Sure, look right here!

  3. Q: My Pi is behaving strangely/crashing/freezing, giving low voltage warnings, ethernet/wifi stops working, USB devices don't behave correctly, what do I do?
    A: 99.999% of the time it's either a bad SD card or power problems. Use a USB power meter or measure the 5V on the GPIO pins with a multimeter while the Pi is busy (such as playing h265/x265 video) and/or get a new SD card 1 2 3. If the voltage is less than 5V your power supply and/or cabling is not adequate. When your Pi is doing lots of work it will draw more power. Even if your power supply claims to provide sufficient amperage, it may be mislabeled or the cable you're using to connect the power supply to the Pi may have too much resistance. You can use a USB load tester to test your power supply and cable. Some power supplies require negotiation to provide more than 500mA, which the Pi does not do. If you're plugging in USB devices try using a powered USB hub with its own power supply and plug your devices into the hub and plug the hub into the Pi.

  4. Q: I'm having a hard time finding a place to purchase a Raspberry Pi for an affordable price. Where's the secret place to buy one without paying more than MSRP?
    A: https://rpilocator.com/

  5. Q: I just did a fresh install with the latest Raspberry Pi OS and I keep getting errors when trying to ssh in, what could be wrong?
    A: There are only 4 things that could be the problem:

    1. The ssh daemon isn't running

    2. You're trying to ssh to the wrong host

    3. You're specifying the wrong username

    4. You're typing in the wrong password

  6. Q: I'm trying to install packages with pip but I keep getting error: externally-managed-environment
    A: This is not a problem unique to the Raspberry Pi. The best practice is to use a Python venv, however if you're sure you know what you're doing there are two alternatives documented in this stack overflow answer:

    • --break-system-packages

    • sudo rm a specific file as detailed in the stack overflow answer

  7. Q: The only way to troubleshoot my problem is using a multimeter but I don't have one. What can I do?
    A: Get a basic multimeter, they are not expensive.

  8. Q: My Pi won't boot, how do I fix it?
    A: Step by step guide for boot problems

  9. Q: I want to watch Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/Vudu/Disney+ on a Pi but the tutorial I followed didn't work, does someone have a working tutorial?
    A: Use a Fire Stick/AppleTV/Roku. Pi tutorials used tricks that no longer work or are fake click bait.

  10. Q: What model of Raspberry Pi do I need so I can watch YouTube in a browser?
    A: No model of Raspberry Pi is capable of watching YouTube smoothly through a web browser, you need to use VLC.

  11. Q: I want to know how to do a thing, not have a blog/tutorial/video/teacher/book explain how to do a thing. Can someone explain to me how to do that thing?
    A: Uh... What?

  12. Q: Is it possible to use a single Raspberry Pi to do multiple things? Can a Raspberry Pi run Pi-hole and something else at the same time?
    A: YES. Pi-hole uses almost no resources. You can run Pi-hole at the same time on a Pi running Minecraft which is one of the biggest resource hogs. The Pi is capable of multitasking and can run more than one program and service at the same time. (Also known as "workload consolidation" by Intel people.) You're not going to damage your Pi by running too many things at once, so try running all your programs before worrying about needing more processing power or multiple Pis.

  13. Q: Why is transferring things to from disks/SSDs/LAN/internet so slow?
    A: If you have a Pi 4 or 5 with SSD, please check this post on the Pi forums. Otherwise it's a networking problem and/or disk & filesystem problem, please go to r/HomeNetworking or r/LinuxQuestions.

  14. Q: I only have one outlet and I need to plug in several devices, what do I do?
    A: They make things called power strips aka multi-tap extensions.

  15. Q: The red and green LEDs are on/off/blinking or the screen is just black or blank or saying no signal, what do I do?
    A: Start here

  16. Q: I'm trying to run x86 software on my Raspberry Pi but it doesn't work, how do I fix it?
    A: Get an x86 computer. A Raspberry Pi is ARM based, not x86.

  17. Q: How can I run a script at boot/cron or why isn't the script I'm trying to run at boot/cron working?
    A: Try one of these numerous solutions

  18. Q: Can I use this screen that came from ____ ?
    A: No

  19. Q: I run my Pi headless and there's a problem with my Pi and the best way to diagnose it or fix it is to plug in a monitor & keyboard, what do I do?
    A: Plug in a monitor & keyboard.

  20. Q: My Pi seems to be causing interference preventing the WiFi/Bluetooth from working
    A. Using USB 3 cables that are not properly shielded can cause interference and the Pi 4 can also cause interference when HDMI is used at high resolutions.

  21. Q: I'm trying to use the built-in composite video output that is available on the Pi 2/3/4 headphone jack, do I need a special cable?
    A. Make sure your cable is wired correctly and you are using the correct RCA plug. Composite video cables for mp3 players will not work, the common ground goes to the wrong pin. Camcorder cables will often work, but red and yellow will be swapped on the Raspberry Pi.

  22. Q: I'm running my Pi with no monitor connected, how can I use VNC?
    A: First, do you really need a remote GUI? Try using ssh instead. If you're sure you want to access the GUI remotely then ssh in, type vncserver -depth 24 -geometry 1920x1080 and see what port it prints such as :1, :2, etc. Now connect your client to that.

  23. Q: I want to do something that has been well documented and there are numerous tutorials showing how to do it on Linux. How can I do it on a Raspberry Pi?
    A: A Raspberry Pi is a full computer running Linux and doesn't use special stripped down embedded microcontroller versions of standard Linux software. Follow one of the tutorials for doing it on Linux. Also see question #1.

  24. Q: I want to do something that has been well documented and there are numerous tutorials showing how to do it with an Arduino. How can I do it on a Raspberry Pi Pico?
    A: Follow one of the tutorials for doing it on Arduino, a Pico can be used with the Arduino IDE.

  25. Q: I'm trying to do something with Bluetooth and it's not working, how do I fix it?
    A: It's well established that Bluetooth and Linux don't get along, this problem is not unique to the Raspberry Pi.

Before posting your question think about if it's really about the Raspberry Pi or not. If you were using a Raspberry Pi to display recipes, do you really think r/raspberry_pi is the place to ask for cooking help? There may be better places to ask your question, such as:

Asking in a forum more specific to your question will likely get better answers!


See the /r/raspberry_pi rules. While r/raspberry_pi should not be considered your personal search engine, some exceptions will be made in this help thread.
‡ If the link doesn't work it's because you're using a broken buggy mobile client. Please contact the developer of your mobile client and let them know they should fix their bug. In the meantime use a web browser in desktop mode instead.


State of r/raspberry_pi (May 2024)
MOD

Hello Raspberry Pi enthusiasts! This post outlines the latest changes to our community rules, inspired by your valuable discussions, comments, and contributions.

Over the past few months, r/raspberry_pi has experimented with allowing posts that lack preliminary research, particularly those with vague questions or requests for extremely basic content that would normally be redirected to the helpdesk sticky. These posts overwhelmingly receive minimal engagement, remaining at zero points, and never reaching a wider audience. When there are replies, they often consist of simple links to Google or tutorials, leading to dissatisfaction from the original posters. Additionally, such low-effort posts negatively impact the quality of search results, not only within our community but also in external search engines, making it harder for future seekers to find useful answers.

Participation in the sub has dwindled, both in the amount of people trying to answer questions and in the number of projects being posted. Looking at the "online now" numbers shows extremely low engagement. People subscribe to the sub to see things that they haven't seen before, get information on the latest Raspberry Pi updates, and to be inspired to do their own Raspberry Pi projects. With the sub filled with low-effort posts, the people who subscribed no longer get value from the sub and stop visiting.

Feedback on numerous posts has underscored a community consensus: it's essential to do some groundwork before posting questions. By encouraging members to put thought into their inquiries, we uphold the quality of discussions, dialogue, and in-depth exploration, as well as encourage participants to hone their problem-solving skills. This keeps valuable discussions and troubleshooting efforts prominent and allows inspirational content such as show-and-tell and tutorial posts to receive the visibility they deserve. Posts with positive engagement extend beyond our community and attract a broader audience.

Thoughtful questions resonate with our most seasoned members, enriching the community with high-quality responses and ensuring knowledgeable contributors feel motivated to participate, rather than sidelined by repetitive or simplistic inquiries. When you seek help here, having done the necessary preparation is more likely to receive the detailed advice you desire. This helps maintain an environment where innovation flourishes and sustained participation from skilled members is encouraged, essential for a thriving community.

Remember, this is a Maker/Do-It-Yourself community. Participation here means being ready to invest effort into bringing your projects to life. For effective troubleshooting, you should provide detailed descriptions of your attempts and the specific results you've encountered.

The rules have been updated and simplified; here are the guidelines on what types of posts are welcome:

  • ✅ allowed

  • 🚫 not allowed

  • ⚠️ discouraged

  • ✅ Show-and-Tell
    This should be pretty self-explanatory. It’s for showing off your project and telling people what it is, what it does, and how you made it to spark creativity in others to embark on their own inventive projects.

  • ✅ Tutorial
    Similar to Show-and-Tell, but intended for complete step-by-step guides and details including specific parts required to do a project. Not for asking for a tutorial.

  • ✅ Opinions Wanted
    For non-project discussions seeking diverse viewpoints and experiences about Raspberry Pi-related topics. Not for troubleshooting, project advice, if something is worth doing, what’s the best way, aesthetic judgments, feasibility assessments, rants, complaints, or meta posts.

  • ✅ Design Collaboration
    For members seeking constructive feedback on their project designs who are ready to engage in a collaborative effort and shared expertise. It’s for projects that have a plan put together and are looking for input to refine concepts, solve specific design challenges, or optimize functionality. Not for asking "What do I buy?" or "Tell me how to do my idea."

  • ✅ Troubleshooting
    For when you encounter issues with your project, such as bugs or wiring errors. Please provide source code, schematics, complete error messages, and a summary of any troubleshooting steps already taken to avoid redundant efforts.

  • ✅ News
    News about the Raspberry Pi organization, new products and announcements, notable developments in the Raspberry Pi community, and significant technological advancements related to Raspberry Pi hardware and software. Content should be a link to a reputable news source or Raspberry Pi themselves, not a personal blog.

  • 🚫 “What do I buy” posts
    These questions always have narrow use case requirements which limit the relevance of answers to other users. Inevitably, askers complain about suggested items not meeting requirements, being unavailable for purchase in their location, being out of stock, discontinued, or exceeding their budget.

  • 🚫 “How do I get started”, “What’s the best way”, or “Tell me how to do my idea”
    Do research first and come up with a plan. There are many ways to do something and there’s really no best way. What's best for some situations doesn't mean they are best for all situations. You don’t need to get it right on the first try, refining and improvement are part of DIY. If you’re not sure how to begin with research then ask in the stickied helpdesk thread.

  • 🚫 Extreme beginner programming
    How to write your first program, what are variables, what language is best, etc. These kinds of questions are better served by other subs such as r/LearnProgramming or r/LearnPython.

  • 🚫 Self-promotion, memes, and off-topic content
    Posts about Raspberry Pi clones or boards targeted at the same market or form factor are considered off-topic, however discussions about microcontrollers that use the RP2040 chip are permitted, even if the board itself is not an official Raspberry Pi product. Accounts that only post their own content and comment only in their own posts will be considered self-promotion spam.

  • 🚫 Selling or giveaways

  • ⚠️ Posts with vague or generic titles
    The title of your post should summarize the question clearly & concisely. This helps future searches and others to quickly identify topics they can contribute to.

We know it can be difficult to get started on a project when you don't know the right terminology or keywords to search for. In those cases, please use the stickied helpdesk thread where people can assist with getting the right search terms. Once you've started your project and you're running into specific issues, you can return and post a more detailed inquiry outside of the helpdesk thread. Consider also using a Chat AI to help find the keywords. While an AI should not be considered an expert on any topic, they can be useful for getting pointed in the right direction.

If you're replying to someone with direct links to a search engine, we recommend using DuckDuckGo because its results tend to be more consistent across different users, with minimal influence from individual browsing history. Also include a few relevant results from your search to ensure users can easily find the information you found useful. Others, if you receive a reply that includes just a link to search results, consider it as potentially helpful rather than rude. Such links can provide targeted keywords you might not have considered, serving as a useful starting point for more detailed research.

Thanks for being such an awesome part of our Raspberry Pi community! Your input and enthusiasm help us keep improving and make sure our space is as helpful and creative as possible for everyone. Here’s to more cool projects, great chats, and new discoveries together!