1. Install Raspberry Pi Imager, and follow the simple steps to install the OS. You can skip the next two steps if you use the gear icon in the bottom right corner (or Ctrl + Shift + X) to configure the Pi. In fact, if you’re installing the “Lite” version, you must configure it this way.

Raspberry Pi Imager

If you are installing Raspberry Pi OS Lite and intend to run it headless, you will still need to create a new user account. Since you will not be able to create the user account on first boot, you MUST configure the operating system using the Advanced Menu.

  1. Add wpa_supplicant.conf to the root of the SD card to automatically connect to wifi. For the Zero 2W, this must be 2.4 gigahertz.

     country=US
 ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
 update_config=1

 network={
 scan_ssid=1
 ssid="wifi-name"
 psk="password"
 }

  2. Add an empty file called ssh to the root to enable SSH.

  3. After booting Raspberry Pi, connect via SSH.

    ssh pi@raspberrypi.local

    Default settings

    • hostname : raspberrypi
    • user: pi
    • pass: raspberry

  4. Run raspi-config to change hostname and password. Also consider expanding the file system under ‘Advanced’.

  5. Update

     sudo apt update -y
 sudo apt upgrade -y

Troubleshooting

  • Restart the router
  • Connect via USB to computer