How to set up remote desktop connection with raspberry pi

Pradeep Kumar

Dec 14, 2020

2 min read

In this Blog, we will discuss the following things

Installation of xrdp.
Installation of tightvncserver.
Remote desktop connection of raspberry pi to the windows client.

Pre-requisites

Installed with noobs / Raspbian operating system.
Local area network (LAN / Wireless LAN).

Follow the below steps & procedure in the same order

Step 1

You need to update the raspberry pi. Since your current operating system may not support the remote connection.
"-y " is used to accept all the prompts of (Do you want to continue (y/n)).

command : sudo apt -y update

Step 2

Now we need to upgrade the raspberry pi software's to the latest versions.

command : sudo apt -y upgrade

Step 3

After upgrading reboot your raspberry pi to apply the latest changes.
Now we need to install tightvncserver & xrdp, But before installing remove the existed vnc server & xrdp

sudo apt-get remove xrdp vnc4server tightvncserver

Step 4

install tightvncserver followed by xrdp

sudo apt-get install tightvncserver

sudo apt-get install xrdp

Step 5

Now we need to enable ssh.

Rapberry pi icon -> Preferences -> Raspberyy Pi Configuration -> Interfaces

Step 6

Make sure you had a network setup (WIFI / LAN).
Note the raspberry pi IP address.
use the "ifconfig" command to know the IP address.

ifconfig

Step 7

Now, search Remote desktop connection in your window's search.

Click on connect you will be redirected to the raspberry pi authentication page.

if your username & password are correct you will be redirected to the raspberry pi noobs ui.

Now, we successfully connected to the raspberry pi device

Limitations / Issues which I faced & how I fixed them

Initially, I don't have a keyboard I had a mouse & desktop connected to a raspberry pi. So, I need to install this software without a keyboard. Here's how I did -> I took my android mobile. Since raspberry pi comes with a micro sd card as a hard disk. I removed my sd card and inserted it into my mobile ->it showed me two sd cards(one has less memory occupied, and the other has most of the memory occupied) & says something is wrong with my sd card. -> android os created some predefined folders like Android, DCIM, downloads, etc., -> so, I had installed a notepad app in my mobile and entered all the commands that required & wifi password, etc., and saved in a raspcmds.txt file -> and then I removed sd card and inserted it into raspberry pi and copy-pasted the commands with a new line(for enter key) which executes the command -> must install matchbox-keyboard which is virtual keyboard if this is a case which saves lot's of time

sudo apt install matchbox-keyboard

After updating & upgrading I faced an issue i.e., I tried to open the file manager and it was automatically closing itself., the below command resolved the issue.

sudo apt-get install -y --reinstall pcmanfm

if your default password is empty the raspberry pi authentication may be failed, just cross-check your password before authenticating or set your password using the following command.

passwd

Hope this blog saved your time. If yes please hit a like and comment if you have any queries or issues please comment below will reach you as soon as possible. Thanks & Regards,

PRADEEP KUMAR BAISETTI

Associate Trainee – Enterprise Application Development 

Digital Transformation

w. www.mouritech.com