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Yes—a spare Raspberry Pi can turn an HDMI monitor or TV into a wall-mounted calendar. The straightforward route is to run Google Calendar in Chromium kiosk mode; for a more customizable, dashboard-style display, use MagicMirror² and its calendar module. You’ll also need a network connection, a suitable display mount, and time to configure the software.
What the project needs
The basic setup connects a Raspberry Pi to a monitor or television over HDMI, connects the Pi to your network, and runs software that keeps the calendar visible on the screen. The Calendar Pi project guide describes a Google Calendar display that starts in a browser kiosk. Its listed hardware includes a Raspberry Pi, HDMI display, short HDMI cable, 8GB-or-larger SD card, 2.5A USB power supply, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and a keyboard and mouse for initial setup. It also lists a USB hub and TV wall mount.
Those are the guide’s listed parts, not a current compatibility specification. The guide names a Raspberry Pi 3 B as its author’s hardware; it does not establish that as the minimum, or that its installer works with the latest Raspberry Pi OS. Check the guide’s compatibility notes before relying on its installation method.
Choose how the calendar will appear
Chromium kiosk: a focused Google Calendar display
The Calendar Pi project uses Chromium in kiosk mode to show Google Calendar. Kiosk mode keeps the browser focused on the calendar rather than presenting a normal desktop window. The guide describes installing Raspberry Pi OS to an SD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, connecting the Pi to the display, completing the initial setup, and then using either a local installer or a remote Ansible setup. It says the browser display autostarts and instructs users to sign in to Google on the Pi.
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These are the project guide’s documented steps, not independently tested instructions. Because its operating-system references include historical caveats, treat its installer as a project-specific option to verify rather than a guaranteed current setup.
MagicMirror²: a configurable dashboard with a calendar module
MagicMirror²’s official installation documentation describes the software as designed for a Raspberry Pi connected to a screen. Its calendar module documentation covers the included default calendar module. This route is suited to a display that may combine a calendar with other dashboard elements, rather than showing only a browser page.
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MagicMirror² says manual installation is its only officially supported installation method and cautions that third-party installation scripts are used at the user’s own risk. Its documentation also describes MagicMirrorOS, an option that runs a default MagicMirror setup on a Raspberry Pi OS-based image. Consult the current installation documentation for the applicable steps and compatibility details.
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| Approach | What it displays | Setup and support notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium kiosk with Calendar Pi | Google Calendar in a browser kiosk | The project guide documents a local installer or remote Ansible setup; current compatibility is not established by the guide. |
| MagicMirror² | A configurable dashboard that includes a calendar module | Manual installation is the officially supported method; the project also documents MagicMirrorOS. See the official installation and module documentation. |
The sources do not provide a controlled comparison of setup time, performance, or ease of use. Choose based on whether you want a focused calendar page or a broader dashboard, and on which documented installation route fits your comfort level.
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Set up the display and software
- Check the screen and mounting location. Confirm that the monitor or TV has an HDMI input and can be positioned where it is readable. Before buying a mount, match its VESA pattern, supported screen size, and weight rating to the display. The project guide lists a TV wall mount but does not name a model or specify compatibility standards.
- Prepare the Pi and SD card. The project guide describes using Raspberry Pi Imager to install Raspberry Pi OS on an SD card, then connecting the Pi to the TV over HDMI. Its 8GB-or-larger card and 2.5A supply are items on that guide’s bill of materials, not universal requirements for every current Pi configuration.
- Complete initial setup and connect to the network. The guide walks through language, keyboard, time zone, password, and network setup, using Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A keyboard and mouse are listed for setup; once the calendar is running, whether you need them connected depends on how you manage the installation.
- Install the chosen calendar software. For the kiosk route, follow the Calendar Pi guide while checking that its installer still supports your operating-system version. For MagicMirror², follow its official installation documentation; do not assume an unofficial script is supported.
- Authorize the calendar account if prompted. The Calendar Pi guide instructs users to sign in to Google on the Pi. Calendar integrations can involve granting account access: a separate Raspberry Pi Magazine appointment-reminder project, for example, uses Google Calendar API authorization, but that is not the same software or authorization flow as the wall-display project.
- Test before mounting. Confirm that the calendar loads, the display remains readable from the intended viewing distance, and the setup behaves as expected after a restart. Resolve any account or software issues while the Pi is accessible, then mount the display securely.
Protect account access and the device
A calendar display may show private events and requires care with account access. Sign in only through the software’s intended flow, use a password you do not share with other services, and consider what event details will be visible to people in the room. The separate Raspberry Pi Magazine appointment-reminder project illustrates that a calendar integration may request Google Calendar API authorization; it should not be treated as the authorization procedure for Calendar Pi or MagicMirror².
Do not expose a MagicMirror² system directly to the internet. Its official security guidance recommends a properly configured reverse proxy with authentication and HTTPS, together with strict network access controls, for remote access.
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