75+ Most Useful Raspberry Pi Commands

Table of Contents

Introduction

For Beginners If you’re just getting started with your Raspberry Pi, you might be wondering what all the terminal commands are about. Here’s a beginner’s guide to some of the most common commands.

you have a Raspberry Pi, you can use it to control various devices or perform various tasks. In order to do so, you will need to know some basic commands. This guide will teach you some of the most basic Raspberry Pi commands.

Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that can be used for various purposes. It is a versatile device that can be used for both home and industrial applications. Raspberry Pi has many capabilities and can be used as a regular computer for browsing the Internet, playing media, and even gaming. It can also be used for more advanced applications such as monitoring environmental data or controlling robots. the Raspberry Pi can do it all. What is Raspberry Pi? A Basic Overview & Introduction

This reader overviews some of the most commonly used Raspberry Pi commands for beginners. These commands can be used to perform various tasks on the device, including opening and closing programs, viewing files, and changing settings. With a little practice, anyone can become proficient in using these commands to get the most out of their Raspberry Pi

Enhancing Your Command-Line Talent

For those who are new to Raspberry Pi and Linux. This first post will cover the main pages and keyboard shortcuts. In the following post, I will Raspberry Pi commands and their functions.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are everywhere in Linux. Below are a few I discover especially useful:

Ctrl-A goes to the beginning of the line.
Ctrl-E goes to the end of the line.
Ctrl-r reverse search your history for a command.
cd move to your home directory.
cd – go to the last directory (especially useful when jumping back and forth between a pair of directories.
Ctrl-l clears the screen (the same as clear).
sudo !! run the last command with sudo.
Tab auto-complete command, file and folder names
Up arrow previous command (walk back through the command history).
Down arrow walk forward via the command history.

Best Raspberry Pi Commands

Here, we have had both basic and advanced commands for Raspberry Pi. Based on your expertise rank, go via the list and put these commands to the right use.

A Quick Reference Guide In this guide, we’ll show you a quick reference of useful Raspberry Pi commands. The Raspberry Pi is a great little device with a wide range of uses. From a basic computer to a gaming console, the Raspberry Pi can do it all. And with the right commands, you can get the most out of your Raspberry Pi.

Looking at the terminal we observe the following information that we explain below:

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cd /home/pi

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cd /home/pi

pi: indicates the user connected to the terminal
@: means “in”
raspberry pi: indicates the name of the machine to which we are connected
~: indicates the path in which we are, in this case, the default home path
$: indicator to start typing new orders or commands

As an example, we could say that we are connected to the raspberry pi device with the raushan user, who is inside the /Zeba/www folder and is executing the command to list all the files showing all their properties:

raushan@raspberrypi: /Zeba/www $ ls -la

1	raushan@raspberrypi: /Zeba/www $ ls -la

Basic Raspberry Pi Commands

1. Raspberry Pi Configuration Command

pi@raspberrypi: ~  sudo raspi-config

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo raspi-config

2. Update Raspberry Pi Command

pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get update 
pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get upgrade
pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get full-upgrade

pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get update

pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get upgrade

pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get full-upgrade

3. Command used to install and update packages

pi@raspberrypi: ~  apt-get

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ apt-get

4. List Files and Directories

pi@raspberrypi: ~    ls

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ls

5. Show files in sub-directories as well

pi@raspberrypi: ~  ls -R

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ls -R

6. Show hidden files as well

pi@raspberrypi: ~  ls -a

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ls -a

7. Show files and directories with detailed information like permissions, size etc.

pi@raspberrypi: ~  ls -al

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ls -al

8. Navigate to the HOME directory

pi@raspberrypi: ~  cd or cd ~

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cd or cd ~

9. Move one level up

pi@raspberrypi: ~  cd ..

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cd ..

10. Move to the root directory

pi@raspberrypi: ~  cd /

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cd /

11. Creates a new file

pi@raspberrypi: ~ cat &gt; filename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cat > filename

12. Displays the file content

pi@raspberrypi: ~  cat filename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cat filename

13. Deletes a directory

pi@raspberrypi: ~  rmdir

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ rmdir

Raspberry Pi File Permission commands

To show file type and access permission

pi@raspberrypi: ~  ls -l

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ls -l

2. Read the permission

pi@raspberrypi:  ~r

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~r

3. write permission

pi@raspberrypi: ~  w

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ w

4. execute permission

pi@raspberrypi: ~  x

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ x

5. No permission

pi@raspberrypi: ~  -=

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ -=

Raspberry Pi Networking command

Network Configuration Details

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ ifconfig

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ ifconfig

2. Login into a remote Pi machine using SSH

SSH username@ip-address or hostname

1	SSH username@ip-address or hostname

3. Show files in the current directory of a remote computer

pi@raspberrypi: ~  dir

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ dir

4. change the directory to “dirname” on a remote computer

pi@raspberrypi: ~  cd "dirname"

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ cd "dirname"

5. upload ‘file’ from a local to a remote computer

pi@raspberrypi: ~  put file

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ put file

6. Download ‘file’ from the remote to the local computer

pi@raspberrypi: ~  get file

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ get file

7. Logout

pi@raspberrypi: ~  quit

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ quit

Raspberry Pi Process command

Change the Password of the Raspberry Pi

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  passwd

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ passwd

2. Upgrade Raspberry Pi OS Distribution

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

3. Remove a Package

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo apt-get remove packagename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo apt-get remove packagename

4. Now Shutdown the machine

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -h now

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -h now

5. Schedule a machine shutdown

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -h 10:30 &amp;

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -h 10:30 &

6. Cancel a scheduled shutdown

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -c

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -c

7. Restart Your Raspberry Pi

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo reboot

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo reboot

8. Reboot the machine

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -r now

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ shutdown -r now

9. Log out user

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ logout

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ logout

10. Close the terminal

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ exit

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ exit

11. Details on all Active Processes

pi@raspberrypi: ~  top

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ top

12. To send a process to the background

pi@raspberrypi: ~  bg

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ bg

13. To run a stopped process in the foreground

pi@raspberrypi: ~  fg

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ fg

14. Give the status of processes running for a user

pi@raspberrypi: ~  ps

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ ps

15. Shows free RAM on your system.

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  free

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ free

16. Show free hard disk space on your system

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ df

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ df

17. Kills a process

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  kill PID

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ kill PID

Raspberry Pi System information commands

Displays The Cpu Temperature

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ vcgencmd measure_temp

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ vcgencmd measure_temp

2. Details on all Active Processes

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ top

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ top

3. Shows The Architecture Of The Machine Command

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ arch

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ arch

4. Shows The Name Of The Operating System Command

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ uname

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ uname

5. Show Active Processes

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo top

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo top

6. View Connected USB Devices

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ lusb

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ lusb

7. Shows The History Of Entered Commands

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ <span class="hljs-built_in">history</span>

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ <span class="hljs-built_in">history</span>

8. Displays The System Date

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ date

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ date

9. Shows Current Directory

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ <span class="hljs-built_in">pwd</span>

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ <span class="hljs-built_in">pwd</span>

10. Open the File and Edit a Text File

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo nano filename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo nano filename

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo nano filepath

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo nano filepath

11. Find a File

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  find / -name filename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ find / -name filename

12. Run a Script

chmod a+x filename.sh
pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ ./filename.sh

1 2	chmod a+x filename.sh pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ ./filename.sh

13. View Background Tasks

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  htop

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ htop

14. Install a Program

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo apt-get install programname

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo apt-get install programname

15. Find the IP Address of the Raspberry Pi

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  hostname -I

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ hostname -I

16. Download a File

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  wget http://www.website.com/example.txt

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ wget http://www.website.com/example.txt

17. Check the Raspberry OS Version

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  cat /proc/version

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cat /proc/version

18. Check Hardware Information

lscpu
pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  cat /proc/meminfo
pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  cat /proc/partitions

lscpu

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cat /proc/meminfo

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cat /proc/partitions

19. Create a Directory

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  mkdir foldername

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ mkdir foldername

20. Delete Files or Folder

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  rm foldername

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ rm foldername

21. Extract Files

pi@raspberrypi: ~  unzip filename

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ unzip filename

22. Extract TAR Files

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  tar -cvzf filename.tar.gz

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ tar -cvzf filename.tar.gz

23. Access the directory that follows

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cd /home/pi

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cd /home/pi

24. Opens the GUI (Graphical User Interface).

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  startx

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ startx

25. Show the contents of the file example.txt

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  cat example.txt

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ cat example.txt

26. Deletes the file example.txt.

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ rm example.txt

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ rm example.txt

27. Take an image with a camera

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  raspistill

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ raspistill

28. Set image width

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  --width, -w

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ --width, -w

29. Set image height

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  --height, -h

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ --height, -h

30. Take a Video with a camera

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  raspivid

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ raspivid

How to install a Program

Type the following command in the terminal to install the program.

Install a Program

pi@raspberrypi: ~ $  sudo apt-get install programname

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ $ sudo apt-get install programname

2. How to Install Python 3 on Raspberry Pi

pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get install python3

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get install python3

3. How to install Python IDLE 3 on Raspberry Pi

pi@raspberrypi: ~  sudo apt-get install idle3

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ sudo apt-get install idle3

4. Shows the version of Python you currently have installed

pi@raspberrypi: ~  python

1	pi@raspberrypi: ~ python

Cheat Sheet The Raspberry Pi commands cheat sheet covers the most important and basic commands used to operate a Raspberry Pi. These include basic Linux commands, file management, and some hardware-specific commands. This cheat sheet will help you get started with the Raspberry Pi and make the most of its capabilities.

I hope you like this guide. Share it with a friend that will find it useful!