How to Monitor Raspberry Pi Behind a Firewall: A Step-by-Step Guide – Raspberry Pi Connect (Beta) | PiShop
Raspberry Pi Connect is a secure and convenient way to access your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world. Whether you need to control your Raspberry Pi’s desktop or use a remote shell, Connect allows you to do so directly from your web browser.
This article will guide you through installing, setting up, and using Raspberry Pi Connect, including troubleshooting common issues. Please note that this service is currently in its beta phase, and the information in this article may become outdated after publication. You can read the documentation of the tool here.
Installing Raspberry Pi Connect
To use Raspberry Pi Connect, your Raspberry Pi must be running Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm or later.
Install via Terminal
If Connect is not pre-installed, update your system and install it using the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt install rpi-connect
Once installed, start Connect for your current user:
rpi-connect on
Alternatively, you can enable it from the menu bar by selecting Turn On Raspberry Pi Connect.
Install Connect Lite
For users who only require remote shell access (without screen sharing), install Connect Lite:
sudo apt install rpi-connect-lite
After installation, start it with:
rpi-connect on
Linking Your Raspberry Pi to Raspberry Pi Connect
Once installed and activated, you must link your Raspberry Pi to your Connect account.
- Click Turn On Raspberry Pi Connect in the menu bar.
- A browser window will open, prompting you to sign in with your Raspberry Pi ID.
- If you don’t have an ID, create one for free.
- Assign a unique name to your Raspberry Pi.
- Click Create Device and Sign In.
- You’ll receive an email confirming the new linked device.
Your Raspberry Pi is now accessible via the Connect dashboard.
Remote Access Methods
Screen Sharing
Screen sharing allows you to control your Raspberry Pi’s desktop from a web browser.
Requirements:
- Your Raspberry Pi must be running Wayland (default in Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm).
- Not compatible with Raspberry Pi OS Lite.
How to Access:
- Visit connect.raspberrypi.com.
- Sign in with your Raspberry Pi ID.
- Select your device and click Connect via > Screen Sharing.
- A browser window will open, displaying your Raspberry Pi’s desktop.
To disable screen sharing, click the Connect icon in the menu bar and deselect Allow Screen Sharing, or run:
rpi-connect vnc off
To re-enable it, select Allow Screen Sharing or run:
rpi-connect vnc on
Remote Shell Access
The remote shell feature allows you to control your Raspberry Pi using a terminal in a web browser.
How to Access:
- Visit connect.raspberrypi.com.
- Sign in and select your device.
- Click Connect via > Remote Shell.
- A terminal session will open, allowing remote command execution.
To disable remote shell access, deselect Allow Remote Shell Access in the menu bar or run:
rpi-connect shell off
To enable it again, select Allow Remote Shell Access or run:
rpi-connect shell on
Persistent Remote Access
By default, Raspberry Pi Connect runs as a user-level service, meaning it only works when a user is logged in. To ensure it runs even when you’re logged out, enable user-lingering:
loginctl enable-linger
This is recommended for headless Raspberry Pi OS Lite setups.
Managing Your Devices
The Connect dashboard lists all linked devices and available access methods.
Rename or Remove Devices
- Click on a device in the dashboard.
- Edit the device name or select Remove Device.
Removing a device signs it out from Connect, and the menu bar icon will turn gray.
Updating and Uninstalling Raspberry Pi Connect
Update to the Latest Version
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade rpi-connect
For Connect Lite, replace rpi-connect with rpi-connect-lite in the command.
Uninstall Raspberry Pi Connect
To remove Connect completely:
sudo apt remove --purge rpi-connect
For Connect Lite:
sudo apt remove --purge rpi-connect-lite
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Screen Sharing Not Available
Run the doctor command to diagnose screen sharing issues:
rpi-connect doctor
If issues are detected, ensure:
- Wayland is active (
raspi-config> Advanced Options). - Desktop Auto-login is enabled.
- You are using Raspberry Pi OS Desktop, not a different environment like KDE.
Unable to Connect After Restart
If Connect stops working after a reboot, ensure user-lingering is enabled:
loginctl enable-linger
Network and Firewall Issues
If Connect fails to establish a direct connection, your network might be blocking necessary ports. Check connectivity with:
rpi-connect doctor
If certain tests fail, allow access to:
- HTTPS (port 443) to
api.connect.raspberrypi.com - UDP (port 3478) and TCP (ports 3478, 443, 49152–65535) to
stun.raspberrypi.com,turn1.raspberrypi.com,turn2.raspberrypi.com, andturn3.raspberrypi.com.
Check Connect Status
Run:
rpi-connect status
Expected output:
Signed in: yes
Screen sharing: allowed (0 sessions active)
Remote shell: allowed (0 sessions active)
If Connect is not running, start it with:
rpi-connect on
Raspberry Pi Connect provides an easy and secure way to access your Raspberry Pi remotely. Whether you need full desktop access or a simple remote shell, Connect makes it seamless. With proper installation and troubleshooting, you can manage your Raspberry Pi from anywhere effortlessly.
