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Connect to your Raspberry Pi from a web browser, anywhere in the world - here's how
Remote access can be a stumbling block in maximizing your Raspberry Pi's potential. Many enthusiasts turn to tools like RealVNC, but the limitations of the free version can be frustrating, particularly with limited access spots.
Enter Raspberry Pi Connect -- the remote desktop tool that the Raspberry Pi community has been eagerly awaiting. This tool allows for seamless remote management of your Raspberry Pi devices directly from your browser, provided they have an active internet connection.
Also: The best Raspberry Pi alternatives
To use Raspberry Pi Connect, your hardware -- whether it's a Raspberry Pi 5, Raspberry Pi 4, or Raspberry Pi 400 -- must be running a 64-bit distribution of the Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm that utilizes the Wayland window server.
You'll also need a Raspberry Pi ID. If you don't already have one, setting one up is straightforward, free, and quick.
Raspberry Pi Connect is just like being in front of your Pi, no matter where you are in the world.
For those looking to get started, there's comprehensive, step-by-step documentation available that guides you through the process. This includes updating your Raspberry Pi, installing Connect, and linking your Raspberry Pi hardware to your Raspberry Pi ID account.
Once set up, each of your Raspberry Pis will be visible in your account, and as long as they are connected to the internet, you can access them directly from your browser -- simplifying the way you interact with and manage your devices remotely.
Also: My 2 must-have tools to make DIY projects a lot less frustrating (and they're cheap)
Raspberry Pi Connect is a promising new tool for remote access to Raspberry Pi devices, but it's important to note that it is currently in beta. Gordon Hollingworth, the Chief Technology Officer for software at Raspberry Pi, acknowledged this in a blog post on the company's website, saying that users might experience "the occasional limitation or imperfection" while the tool is still under development.
Hollingworth also pledged that Connect will remain free for individual users with non-relayed connections. For relayed connections, the company currently has a single relay server and will "keep an eye on the use of bandwidth and decide how to treat these connections in future."