Access A Raspberry Pi Zero Using A Laptop

Configure OS settings and use the USB port to access both the command line and GUI from anothe computer

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There’s no doubt that the Raspberry Pi boasts a wide range of resources – software and hardware which can be used for computing, programming and creating exciting and engaging projects. There are numerous add-on boards and components to expand the capabilities of the Pi. A lot of these require access to the command line or the GUI via a screen, available in a range of sizes, styles and colours.

To use your Raspberry Pi you also require a keyboard, mouse, power supply or USB battery. The Raspberry Pi Zero also requires additional conversion sockets to add the various components. This often means you must carry around an additional kit if you want to access your Pi away from your desk or on the go.

This tutorial covers a step-by-step solution for using a USB cable and a few setup changes in order to configure your Raspberry Pi Zero to be accessible via the USB port of your laptop or device. Simply plug in your Pi, wait for it to boot up and then access it via the command line or the GUI: no need for an extra screen, keyboard, mouse or power supply. All code, projects and changes are saved directly to your SD card.

This makes it ideal for accessing them when travelling on a plane or train, or when you want to demonstrate a feature but don’t have all the additional peripherals.

01 Getting started

Before we configure the settings to enable you to use and access your Raspberry Pi via the USB port, there are a few pieces of software to install. If you already have these, skip to step four. Depending on which operating system you’re using to access your Pi Zero, you might need to install the following additional software. For a computer running Windows, you’ll need Bonjour, which is part of an iTunes install