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After completing the installation of Raspberry Pi OS and booting the system for the first time, there are several important settings that should be checked and configured before fully using the Raspberry Pi.
This initial setup process has a significant impact on system stability, ease of use, and the overall learning and development environment.
In particular, for users who are new to Raspberry Pi, carefully going through these steps will help them understand how to configure and use both the operating system and the Raspberry Pi system itself.
During the initial boot process, users are asked to select language, region, and keyboard layout settings. However, these settings are not always configured correctly.
You can review and adjust them by navigating to:
Preferences → Control Centre
Key items to check include:
Language
Timezone
Keyboard Layout
Incorrect settings may cause issues with terminal input or system time synchronization.
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| Control Centre |
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| Localisation |
Immediately after installation, the Raspberry Pi OS image may not be fully up to date. Running a system update should be one of the first steps.
Open a terminal and execute the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
This ensures that security patches, bug fixes, and driver improvements are applied, resulting in a more stable system.
For security reasons, it is strongly recommended to change the default user password, especially if the Raspberry Pi will be connected to a network.
You can change the password using the following command:
passwd
Choose a password that is not overly simple while still being easy to remember.
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| password command |
If you plan to use the Raspberry Pi with a wireless network, verify that the Wi-Fi connection is stable.
If the signal is weak, consider adjusting the device’s location or using a wired Ethernet connection.
It is also useful to check the assigned IP address, particularly for remote access or server-related tasks.
ip addr
SSH is essential if you want to manage your Raspberry Pi remotely or use it without a monitor.
To enable SSH:
Preferences → Control Centre
Go to the Interfaces tab
Enable SSH
Once enabled, you can remotely access the Raspberry Pi from another computer using a terminal.
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| Interfaces |
Depending on the monitor being used, the screen resolution may not display correctly, or parts of the screen may be cut off.
You can adjust these settings under:
Preferences → Control Centre
Go to Screens tab
Proper display settings improve readability and reduce eye strain during extended use.
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| Screens |
Depending on whether you plan to use a graphical desktop or a command-line interface, adjusting boot options can be beneficial.
You can choose between:
Console auto login
Desktop auto login
Manual login options
For server or experimental use, booting directly into the console may be more appropriate.
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| System |
Since Raspberry Pi is commonly used for learning and development, installing essential tools in advance can save time later.
Commonly used packages include:
Git
Python development tools
build-essential
Example command:
sudo apt install git build-essential
These tools are frequently required for software development and project work.
The point at which initial setup is complete is an ideal time to create a system backup. Backing up the entire SD card as an image allows for quick recovery if issues arise later.
This is especially useful for learning or experimental environments where system settings may change frequently.
After the first boot following the installation of Raspberry Pi OS, carefully completing the settings introduced above will help you build a more stable and efficient Raspberry Pi environment.
Regardless of whether the Raspberry Pi is used for learning, development, or server purposes, properly configuring the initial settings is extremely important.
Establishing a solid foundation at the beginning will make all future tasks much smoother and easier to manage.