Connecting Your Raspberry Pi to a Monitor: A Complete Guide

While you can use and control your Raspberry Pi from the command line via an SSH connection, connecting it to a display monitor will give you full control and enable you to carry out more tasks. In this article, I will provide a step-by-step guide on connecting your Raspberry Pi to a display monitor.

The Raspberry Pi can connect to a display monitor using various onboard ports such as HDMI, Mini-HDMI, or Micro-HDMI. There are also options like the DSI port for official displays, Composite ports for analog connections, and GPIO pins for custom setups.

If you are looking forward to connecting your Raspberry Pi to a display monitor or you are facing issues with your current connection, then this is the perfect guide for you. You can use the Table of Contents below to jump to specific sections or read through the whole tutorial for comprehensive understanding.

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Requirements

You don’t need much hardware to connect a Raspberry Pi to any monitor, but make sure you have at least:

• Any Raspberry Pi model: This tutorial will work for any Raspberry Pi model you might have. Although the cables might be different, the steps for connecting your Raspberry Pi to a monitor are the same.
  
• HDMI-compatible monitor (TV, PC Monitor): To keep things simple, ensure your monitor accepts an HDMI cable as input (most do). There are other options, adapters, and monitor types you can use, but I won’t mention them in this guide.
  
• Cable: I am referring to the cable that will connect to your Raspberry Pi (output) and the monitor (input). This should preferably be an HDMI cable. Below are some cables you might need depending on your Raspberry Pi model. They are some of our best picks on Amazon.
  • Standard HDMI cable
  • Mini-HDMI to standard HDMI cable
  • Micro-HDMI to standard HDMI cable
    
• Other peripherals: You will also need a Keyboard, Mouse, and a power supply. For the power supply, I highly insist you use the official power supply. Do not connect your Raspberry Pi via a USB cable to your laptop. Even though it might boot, the differences in voltage might cause some display issues.

Personal note: I generally don’t recommend using an adapter, as they tend to cause more problems than anything else, and cables aren’t that expensive. I mean, an HDMI to VGA cable will generally work better than an HDMI to VGA adapter followed by a VGA cable. But of course, if you don’t have a choice, you can start with an adapter.

Identify the Ports on the Raspberry Pi

The first thing you need to do is identify the display port available on your Raspberry Pi. The good thing is that most Raspberry Pi models have some form of HDMI output, but the type of HDMI port (full-sized, Mini-HDMI, or Micro-HDMI) varies depending on the model.

If you are not sure about the Raspberry Pi model you have, click on the link to see several ways to find which Raspberry Pi model you are using.

Micro-HDMI port

The Micro-HDMI port is a compact version of the standard HDMI port, and it’s a feature on some of the more recent Raspberry Pi models.

If you have a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, Raspberry Pi 400, or the newest Raspberry Pi 5, you’ll notice that these models come equipped with Micro-HDMI ports.

• The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and Pi 400 come with two Micro-HDMI ports, allowing you to connect dual monitors for an extended display setup, perfect for multitasking or boosting productivity.
  
• The Raspberry Pi 5 also continues this trend, providing the same dual Micro-HDMI configuration for flexible and powerful display options.

To connect these models to a standard HDMI monitor or TV, you’ll need a Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable. You can get a quality cable here on Amazon.

Full-sized HDMI port

The full-sized HDMI port is the standard HDMI connector that most are familiar with, allowing for straightforward connections to monitors, TVs, and projectors.

This port is found on several Raspberry Pi models, including the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, and Raspberry Pi Model B+.

A standard HDMI-to-HDMI cable will do the trick, and you can get a cheap one here if you don’t already have one.

Mini-HDMI port

The Mini-HDMI port is a smaller version of the standard HDMI port. This port is found on the Raspberry Pi Zero series. If you have any of these models, you will require a Mini-HDMI to HDMI cable to connect to standard HDMI monitors or TVs.

How to connect the Raspberry Pi to a Monitor

Up to this point, I believe you have a good understanding of all you need to know when connecting a Raspberry Pi to a display monitor. Now let’s look at the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Gather Equipment

I have already mentioned the requirements you need for this project. That includes the normal Raspberry Pi peripherals like the power supply, keyboard mouse and display monitor.

Step 2: Connect the Cable

Now the crucial thing in this step is identifying the cable you will use to connect the Raspberry Pi to the display monitor.

In my case, I have a Raspberry Pi 4B. Therefore, I will be using a micro-HDMI to standard HDMI cable to connect my display monitor.

Connect the cable to the Raspberry Pi and monitor. Remember, your Raspberry Pi should still be off at this point. Don’t connect it to the power supply.

Step 3: Power on the monitor

Next, connect the monitor to the power supply and turn it on. Now you will need to choose the correct input source since most monitors support several display inputs. This includes HDMI, VGA, and DVI.

In certain monitors, like the one I am using, have two HDMI ports which are listed as HDMI-1 and HDMI-2. Therefore, you need to select the right HDMI input.

Step 4: Power On the Raspberry Pi

Now that you have connected your Raspberry Pi to the monitor, connect all the other peripherals including the Micro SD card, and the power supply to power it up.

I assume you have installed an operating system with a desktop environment. If you haven’t installed one, check our comprehensive guide on how to install the official Raspberry Pi OS.

Once your Raspberry Pi is powered on and you’ve reached the desktop, you may need to adjust the display settings to fit your monitor perfectly. Head to the Raspberry Pi menu and navigate to Preferences -> Screen Configuration.

From here, you can tweak the resolution, orientation, and refresh rate to match your monitor’s specifications. If you notice any black borders around the screen or the display looks stretched, adjusting these settings should help you get everything looking just right.

You can check this article which will give you a comprehensive guide on adjusting the screen resolution on your Raspberry Pi.

Troubleshooting common display issues

Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as we’d like. If you’re having trouble with the display after connecting your Raspberry Pi, don’t worry—these issues are common and usually easy to fix. Let’s look at a few common issues you might encounter.

No Display

If you’ve powered on your Raspberry Pi and the monitor shows a “No Signal” message or remains blank, there are several solutions that you can try.

• First, double-check that all cables are securely connected.
• Ensure you’ve selected the correct input source on your monitor (like HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.). If everything looks good, try another HDMI cable or port.
• Lastly, check the SD card. Make sure it’s properly inserted and has a valid operating system installed.

Display resolution issues

If you are seeing a display on your monitor but it looks stretched, squished, or has black borders, the resolution settings might need some tweaking. Go to Preferences > Screen Configuration from the desktop menu and select the appropriate resolution for your monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other display monitors can I use?

There are different display options beyond the standard HDMI monitors:

• ePaper Displays:
  ePaper displays connect via SPI pins on the GPIO header (here is an example). I have never used this display but ePapers are popular for low-power projects like digital signs where you want text or images to stay on the screen without using much power.
  
• OLED:
  OLED displays connect using I2C or SPI interfaces through the GPIO pins. They’re great for compact projects, providing vivid visuals for things like status indicators or small data displays (it looks like that).
  
• Raspberry Pi Touch Display:
  The official Raspberry Pi Touch Display connects directly to the Pi via the DSI port. It’s plug-and-play, with power and data coming from the Pi itself—perfect for touchscreen projects like smart home controllers.

Can I use a laptop as a display monitor?

You can turn your regular laptop into a display monitor for your Raspberry Pi by using some software and relying on various network protocols. Here’s how you can set it up:

• VNC:
  VNC allows you to access the Raspberry Pi’s desktop from your laptop remotely. Install a VNC server on the Raspberry Pi and a VNC viewer on your laptop. Once set up, you can connect to the Pi over the network and see its desktop on your laptop screen.
  
  Check this article on getting started with VNC on the Raspberry Pi for a more comprehensive guide.
  
• RDP:
  RDP is another way to view your Raspberry Pi desktop on your laptop. For this, you will need to install an RDP server on the Pi (like xrdp) and use Remote Desktop Connection on your laptop (built into Windows) or any RDP client software if you are using another operating system like Linux or macOS.
  
  From my experience, RDP is a little more complicated to set up compared to VNC. However, it’s the best option if you are on a Windows machine. Our post on getting started with XRDP on Raspberry Pi will give you a step-by-step guide.

What if my monitor doesn’t have an HDMI port?

If your monitor doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can still connect your Raspberry Pi using adapters. Here’s how you can do it:

• VGA Port:
  If your monitor has a VGA port, you can use an HDMI to VGA adapter. Just plug the HDMI end into the Raspberry Pi and connect the VGA cable from your monitor to the adapter. Remember that VGA doesn’t carry audio, so you’ll need an additional solution (like external speakers) if you need sound.
  
• DVI Port:
  For monitors with a DVI port, you can use an HDMI to DVI adapter. This setup is straightforward because DVI and HDMI are compatible with video signals. Just connect the adapter and enjoy the display!
  
• DisplayPort (DP):
  If you have a monitor with DisplayPort (DP), you’ll need an HDMI to DisplayPort adapter. This works similarly to the other adapters and is easy to set up.

How to set up dual screens?

Dual screen support is only available for Raspberry Pi 5, Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 400 which come with two micro-HDMI ports. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up dual screens.

• Connect Cables: Use two Micro-HDMI to HDMI adapters to connect each port (HDMI0 and HDMI1) on your Raspberry Pi to your monitors.
• Power On: Turn on the monitors and Raspberry Pi.
• Configure: Go to Preferences > Screen Configuration in Raspberry Pi OS to arrange and adjust your screens.

Now that you have successfully connected your Raspberry Pi to a monitor, there are tonnes of things that you can do. For starters, I recommend going through the essential Raspberry Pi tips every beginner should know. This will give some tips on how to maneuver the Raspberry Pi desktop.

Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:

The RaspberryTips Community: If you want to hang out with me and other Raspberry Pi fans, you can join the community. I share exclusive tutorials and behind-the-scenes content there. Premium members can also visit the website without ads.

Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.

The Raspberry Pi Bootcamp: Understand everything about the Raspberry Pi, stop searching for help all the time, and finally enjoy completing your projects.

Master Python on Raspberry Pi: Create, understand, and improve any Python script for your Raspberry Pi. Learn the essentials step-by-step without losing time understanding useless concepts.

You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.