Complete Guide: How to Set Up a Raspberry Pi and Install an OS

Welcome to today’s organic blog! Today’s topic is all about how to set up a Raspberry Pi and how to install the Operating System (OS). Before doing anything else, you first need to know exactly how a Raspberry Pi is connected.Setting up a Raspberry Pi for the first time might seem daunting, but it is actually a straightforward and rewarding process. Just learning to code, getting the hardware connected and the operating system (OS) installed is your first step.

Table of Contents

What You Need to Connect a Raspberry Pi

To get started, you need to gather three basic hardware requirements:

Storage: A 64GB Memory Card / Micro SD Card.
Display: A Micro HDMI to HDMI cable (or VGA adapter).
Power: A power supply using a Type-C cable.

Step 1: Preparing the Micro SD Card

Right now, our focus is only on installing the OS. To do this, take your 64GB Micro SD card, insert it into a card reader, and plug it directly into your computer’s CPU USB port.

Step 2: Downloading the Raspberry Pi Imager

Go to Google and search for “Raspberry Pi Imager“.
Click on the very first result, which is the official Raspberry Pi website.
Once you enter the website, scroll down to find the Raspberry Pi Imager section. Just below it, you will see three download options:¹

Download for Windows

Download for macOS

Download for Linux (x86_64)

Select the correct option for your computer. For example, I clicked on Download for Windows.
Before the download begins, a prompt will ask you to select the file path where you want to save it.
After selecting the path, the download will start. The downloaded file name is imager_2.0.12 and the .exe file size is 21.3 MB.
Once the download is complete, install the software on your computer. Make sure your SD card and card reader are securely plugged into your USB port.

Step 3: Installing the OS to the SD Card

Open the Raspberry Pi Imager software and follow these quick steps:

Select Device: Choose the exact Raspberry Pi model you are using.
Select OS: Choose the OS (just pick the one at the very top of the list).
Select Storage: Choose your plugged-in SD card.
Settings: Create a hostname and set your location.
Write: Click to start the writing process.

Step 4: Final Raspberry Pi Connection

Once the write process is 100% complete, safely remove the SD card from your computer. Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi, connect your HDMI and Type-C power cables, and turn the power on. Check your display, and you will see your Raspberry Pi booting up successfully!