# Raspberry Pi headless setup: Imager, OS Lite, SSH and VNC > Set up a Raspberry Pi without a monitor: Imager customisation (hostname, user, Wi-Fi, SSH), OS Lite vs desktop, connecting over SSH, and VNC on the desktop OS. [HTML version](https://soldr.ai/blog/raspberry-pi-headless-setup) 8 November 2026 ยท Soldr **Short answer:** use Raspberry Pi Imager to write the OS to a microSD card, and set the hostname, user, Wi-Fi and SSH in its customisation settings before you write. Boot the Pi, then connect from your computer with `ssh username@hostname.local`. Choose Raspberry Pi OS Lite for a command-line Pi. If you want the desktop over VNC, use the full Raspberry Pi OS, because the official docs say VNC isn't compatible with Lite. "Headless" means no monitor, keyboard or mouse on the Pi. You set it up from another computer over the network. It's the usual way to run a Pi as a sensor hub, a small server or a project brain. Everything below follows the official Raspberry Pi documentation (getting started and remote access), and links our reference pages for the [Raspberry Pi 5](https://soldr.ai/docs/boards/raspberry-pi-5), [Raspberry Pi 4 Model B](https://soldr.ai/docs/boards/raspberry-pi-4-model-b) and [Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W](https://soldr.ai/docs/boards/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w). ## What you need - **A Raspberry Pi** and a microSD card. - **The right power supply.** The official docs recommend 5 V at 5 A (a 27 W USB-C supply) for the Pi 5, 5 V at 3 A (15 W USB-C) for the Pi 4, and 5 V at 2.5 A (12.5 W micro USB) for the Zero models. Those voltages are measured at the plug, so allow for some loss in the cable. Our page for the [27 W USB-C supply](https://soldr.ai/docs/components/raspberry-pi-27w-usb-c-psu) has its own details. - **Another computer** on the same network, with Raspberry Pi Imager installed. It's available for Windows, macOS and Linux. ## Step 1: write the OS with Raspberry Pi Imager In Imager, work through the three choices: - **Device:** pick your Pi model. - **OS:** pick the operating system. **Raspberry Pi OS Lite** is "a command-line-only version for headless setups", in the docs' words. It's the lighter choice for a Pi you'll only reach over SSH. - **Raspberry Pi OS** (with desktop) if you want to see a desktop remotely over VNC. - **Storage:** pick the microSD card. Keep Exclude system drives ticked, so you can't overwrite your computer's own disk by mistake. ## Step 2: customise before you write This is the step that makes headless work. Imager's customisation settings let you set: - **Hostname**: letters, numbers and hyphens only. Other devices can reach the Pi at `.local` (or `.lan`). - **Localisation**: pick your capital city to set the time zone and keyboard, and the Wi-Fi regulatory domain. - **User**: a lowercase username and a password. - **Wi-Fi**: your network name (SSID) and password. Tick Hidden SSID if your network doesn't broadcast its name. - **Remote access**: turn on Enable SSH, with either password authentication or a public key. Then write the card. The official docs note that on first boot, the only remote access options on a headless Pi are SSH or Raspberry Pi Connect, so enabling SSH here matters. ## Step 3: boot and find the Pi - Put the card in the Pi and connect power. The status LED lights when it has power. If you didn't set up Wi-Fi, connect an Ethernet cable instead. - Give the first boot a few minutes. - From your computer, check that it's reachable: `ping yourhostname.local`. If `.local` names don't resolve on your network, find the Pi's IP address in your router's list of connected devices and use that instead. ## Step 4: connect over SSH ``` ssh yourusername@yourhostname.local ``` Or use the IP address in place of the hostname. Enter the password you set in Imager. Once you're in, `hostname -I` shows the Pi's IP address for next time. ## Step 5 (optional): the desktop over VNC On the desktop version of Raspberry Pi OS, VNC is built in: the official docs name the server as wayvnc. Turn it on from the command line with `sudo raspi-config` โ†’ Interface Options โ†’ VNC โ†’ Yes, or in the desktop's Control Centre under Interfaces. Then connect from your computer with a VNC viewer. The official guide walks through TigerVNC. Remember: VNC isn't compatible with Raspberry Pi OS Lite. If you started with Lite and want a desktop, re-image with the full OS. For access from outside your home network, the docs describe **Raspberry Pi Connect**, a free browser-based screen sharing and remote shell service from Raspberry Pi. It doesn't need you to know the Pi's local IP address or change your firewall. ## Common problems - **Can't find `hostname.local`:** try the IP address from your router, and check the Pi joined the right Wi-Fi network. Re-check the SSID and password in Imager. - **SSH refused:** SSH is off by default. Make sure you enabled it in Imager's customisation before writing. - **Random reboots or warnings:** check the power supply against the recommendations above, especially on a Pi 5. - **No VNC option:** you're probably on Lite. Use the desktop OS for VNC. ## Then build something A headless Pi is a good brain for sensor logging and dashboards. Our reference pages list the 40-pin header for each model, and Soldr can plan a Pi build with sensors and show how to wire them. 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