If Raspberry Pi Connect is not working, start on the Pi with rpi-connect status. The result shows whether Connect is running, whether the device is signed in, and which services are enabled. Turn on a stopped service with rpi-connect on; if the device is signed out, use rpi-connect signin and complete the verification on the account that owns the Pi or manages it through an organisation. For a session or screen-sharing problem, run rpi-connect doctor and follow the failed check.
This order separates local service, account, desktop-session, and network problems instead of treating every connection failure as a password issue. Raspberry Pi Ltd documents the commands, prerequisites, and network requirements in its Raspberry Pi Connect documentation.
1. Check that the Pi is online, running Connect, and signed in
Connect needs the Raspberry Pi to be online and linked to the account you use in the browser. On the Pi, open a terminal and run:
rpi-connect status
Use the status output to distinguish two separate conditions: whether the local Connect service is on, and whether the device is signed in. Turning the service on does not sign in or link the device.
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If Connect is stopped
Run:
rpi-connect on
Then check the status again. If it is already running, continue to the sign-in and diagnostic checks rather than repeatedly toggling the service.
If the device is signed out
Run:
rpi-connect signin
The command prints a verification URL. Open it on another device and complete sign-in with the Raspberry Pi ID that owns the Pi or belongs to the organisation managing it. If the Pi appears in the browser under a different account, verify that you signed in with the expected Raspberry Pi ID.
If you moved an SD card from one Raspberry Pi to another, Connect signs the user out because the device association uses the Pi’s serial number. Sign in again on the new device.
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2. Run the built-in diagnostic and follow the failed check
For a connection or screen-sharing problem, run:
rpi-connect doctor
The diagnostic checks local screen-sharing availability and services, communication with the Connect WebSocket server and API, API authentication, and STUN/TURN connection candidates. Treat each failed result as evidence about a particular layer: a local screen-sharing failure calls for a platform or service check, while failed API, WebSocket, or connection-candidate checks point toward authentication or network access.
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Connect normally attempts a direct connection and can use relays when direct peer-to-peer communication is unavailable. A relay is part of the connection path; it does not indicate that a physical accessory is missing.
3. Separate remote shell problems from screen-sharing problems
Remote shell and screen sharing do not have identical requirements. Raspberry Pi Connect Lite supports remote shell but not screen sharing. If the device is visible or remote shell works while screen sharing does not, check the screen-sharing prerequisites below.
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Screen-sharing prerequisites
- Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm or later.
- The full
rpi-connectpackage;rpi-connect-litedoes not include screen sharing. - A supported Wayland compositor, such as wayfire or labwc. X is not supported for this screen-sharing setup.
- A supported desktop environment and an active graphical session for the same user who signed in to Connect.
These are screen-sharing requirements, not requirements for remote shell. If the diagnostic reports a local service problem despite the prerequisites being met, inspect the WayVNC service and logs.
Check WayVNC when the local screen-sharing service fails
Check the service state with:
systemctl --user status rpi-connect-wayvnc.service
To follow the WayVNC log while reproducing the problem, run:
journalctl --follow --user-unit rpi-connect-wayvnc.service
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To follow both the Connect and WayVNC logs, use:
journalctl --follow --user-unit rpi-connect.service --user-unit rpi-connect-wayvnc.service
4. If Connect disappears after logout, SSH disconnect, or reboot
Connect runs as a user-level service, so its availability can depend on whether that user has an active login session. For remote shell that must remain available without another active login, enable user lingering:
loginctl enable-linger
Screen sharing is different: lingering does not create a desktop session. Screen sharing needs an existing graphical session, and Desktop Autologin can start that session when the Pi boots.
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5. If the diagnostic shows network or firewall failures
On a restrictive network, ask the network administrator to allow the specific traffic associated with the failed diagnostic. Do not disable the firewall wholesale. Raspberry Pi Ltd lists these destinations and ports for Connect:
| Purpose | Destination | Traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Connect API and WebSocket | api.connect.raspberrypi.com and ws.connect.raspberrypi.com |
HTTPS requests on port 443 |
| STUN | stun.raspberrypi.com and turn1.raspberrypi.com through turn3.raspberrypi.com |
UDP port 3478 |
| TURN relays | turn1.raspberrypi.com through turn3.raspberrypi.com |
TCP ports 3478 or 443; UDP ports 3478, 443, or 49152–65535 |
Share the relevant row with the administrator rather than requesting every rule by default. For example, failed API or WebSocket checks call for the HTTPS destinations; failed STUN/TURN candidate checks call for the corresponding connection traffic.
6. Check browser support and local-network permission
Raspberry Pi Connect requires a browser that implements ECMAScript 2022 (ES13). If the browser or operating system asks for permission to access the local network, allowing it enables the local route. Refusing permission does not disable Connect entirely, but nearby sessions cannot use that route.
7. If sign-in uses a temporary Imager token
If you are setting up Connect through Raspberry Pi Imager authentication rather than signing in from the Pi’s terminal, follow the separate Raspberry Pi getting-started documentation for auth-key setup and temporary-token expiry handling.
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