Install Raspberry Pi OS: First-Time Setup for Pi 5

What you will learn

Select a supported image for the actual board.
Identify the correct storage device before writing.
Configure a personal account and optional remote access.
Verify OS architecture, network and storage after boot.
Shut down cleanly and preserve project files.

Before you begin

Prepare the compatible equipment list from PI02 and back up anything on the microSD card. Writing an OS erases the selected storage device.

How to Choose a Raspberry Pi and Essential Accessories

Prepare the card deliberately

A Raspberry Pi needs instructions and files from which to boot. Raspberry Pi Imager writes a ready-made operating-system image to storage. This replaces the existing contents; it is not the same as copying a document onto a card.

Use the official Raspberry Pi Imager downloaded from Raspberry Pi. Insert the intended microSD card into your computer’s reader. Check its capacity and device identity, and remove unrelated removable drives if that helps avoid a selection error.

Choose Raspberry Pi 5 as the device and a currently supported Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit image. For this beginner sequence, choose the desktop edition. An image for another board or an old unsupported release may fail even if writing succeeds.

The official installation guide is the reference when Imager screens change. Read labels rather than matching screenshots from an older tutorial.

Configure an identity and access

Set a memorable hostname, such as learningpi, so the computer has a name on your network. Create your own username and a strong password; do not assume an old universal pi account or default password exists.

Set locale, keyboard layout and time zone carefully. A keyboard-layout mismatch can make a typed password differ from what you expected. If using Wi-Fi, enter the intended network credentials and country settings accurately. Ethernet is an alternative for the first boot.

For a headless setup, enable SSH in Imager’s customization and use key-based authentication when you already know how to manage keys. Password authentication can be used on a trusted local network with a strong unique password. Keep the Pi behind your home or classroom network and do not configure public port forwarding for this lesson.

Review the selected storage device once more before writing. Let Imager complete its write and verification stages, then use your computer’s safe-eject action. Verification checks the written image; it does not prove every accessory is connected correctly.

Part	Purpose
Pi 5 with compatible case/cooling	Reference computer
Board-compatible power supply	Stable boot power
microSD card and reader	Boot storage and image preparation
Computer running official Imager	Writes the OS
Monitor, correct micro-HDMI cable, keyboard and mouse	Recommended first-boot interaction
Ethernet or configured Wi-Fi	Updates and optional remote access

Connect before powering on

With the Pi unpowered, insert the prepared card, connect the display and input devices, and attach Ethernet if using it. Leave GPIO and camera accessories disconnected until the basic system works. Ensure the board is secure and no conductive object touches its underside.

Connect the intended power supply last. First boot may take longer than subsequent boots while setup tasks run. Allow the system to finish and follow any displayed setup prompts rather than removing power because the first screen is slow.

After logging in, confirm that the keyboard produces the characters you expect and that the desktop can save a small text file. Check the network using the desktop indicator or a browser. A failed web page can mean no network, a DNS issue or that one website is unavailable; it does not automatically mean installation failed.

The finish condition is not merely a power LED. You should be able to interact with the OS, save a file, restart and find the file again.

Record the system you actually installed

Open a terminal from the desktop and run these Bash commands individually. They inspect the OS, architecture and home filesystem; they do not change the installation.

bash

cat /etc/os-release
uname -m
df -h "$HOME"
hostname -I

os-release names the installed distribution and release. uname -m reports the machine architecture; a 64-bit Pi OS installation normally reports aarch64. df shows filesystem capacity and free space. hostname -I lists assigned addresses; there may be several, and this is not the same as a public Internet address.

Expected result: Your actual OS details, architecture, filesystem usage and any assigned network addresses. Save these in project notes; exact versions and addresses differ.

Update and shut down with care

Once the network works, run sudo apt update to refresh available package information, then sudo apt full-upgrade to apply available updates. Read the proposed changes before confirming. These commands use administrator privileges, so keep their purpose clear and allow them to finish.

If a restart is requested, use the desktop’s restart control. Before disconnecting power, use the desktop shutdown action or sudo shutdown -h now. Wait for the shutdown process to complete, then remove power. A sudden power cut during a write can leave damaged files.

For a headless connection, use ssh your_username@learningpi.local from another computer on the same network, replacing the username and hostname with your own values. If local-name discovery is unavailable, use the Pi’s verified local IP address. Confirm the device identity before accepting a first SSH host key.

If there is no display, check monitor input, cable and supported image first. If the Pi repeatedly reboots, inspect the power supply and connections. If login fails, check the configured username and keyboard layout. Rewriting the card is a last step after identifying whether the problem is software, power or interaction.

Back up project files to another device regularly. An OS can be reinstalled; your measurements and notes are harder to reconstruct. Keep secrets such as Wi-Fi passwords out of shared troubleshooting screenshots.

Important terms

Image: A prepared representation of an operating system’s storage contents.
Boot: The process of starting the computer and loading its operating system.
Hostname: A device name used on a network.
SSH: A protocol for authenticated encrypted remote terminal access.
Architecture: The processor instruction environment targeted by software.
Package: Software managed as an installable unit.

Mini project: Verify a recoverable first setup

Write and verify the correct image after checking the storage target.
Boot with only essential peripherals and log in.
Save a file describing the board and OS details.
Restart cleanly and reopen the saved file.
Finish by copying the file to a second device and shutting the Pi down correctly.

Common mistakes and debugging

Selecting the wrong drive in Imager: confirm identity and capacity before writing.
Assuming default credentials from an old tutorial: use the account you configured.
Treating a slow first boot as immediate failure: allow setup to complete and observe messages.
Pulling power during updates: wait for completion and use a clean shutdown.

Independent challenge

Connect through SSH on the local network, locate your saved notes and exit with exit. Explain which computer executes commands during the remote session.

Check your understanding: 10 questions

What happens to existing files on the selected card when Imager writes an OS?
Why record the OS release and architecture?
Does hostname -I necessarily show a public Internet address?
What does apt update do?
Why shut down before removing power?
In your own words, what does “Image” mean?
In your own words, what does “Boot” mean?
In your own words, what does “Hostname” mean?
In your own words, what does “SSH” mean?
In your own words, what does “Architecture” mean?

Quiz answers

Reveal all 10 answers after your attempt

They are overwritten by the image, so back them up beforehand.
They help select compatible software and make troubleshooting reproducible.
No. It lists assigned addresses, often local-network addresses.
It refreshes package information; it does not itself apply all available upgrades.
It allows the OS to finish writes and close files cleanly.
A prepared representation of an operating system’s storage contents.
The process of starting the computer and loading its operating system.
A device name used on a network.
A protocol for authenticated encrypted remote terminal access.
The processor instruction environment targeted by software.

Summary

A successful installation includes correct storage selection, personal credentials, verified boot behavior and a safe shutdown routine. Record the actual environment before adding hardware.

Continue learning

PI04 makes the terminal and Linux filesystem familiar enough for everyday project work.

Choose a connected learning path

Sources and further reading

Prepared 2026-09-18. Editorial draft; primary documentation consulted. Hardware build not bench-tested; code has not been executed on the reference board.