The Raspberry Pi is a great little machine---it's affordable, highly portable, and user-friendly. But when you first get one, it can be tricky to figure out which projects you should take on first.
These Raspberry Pi projects for beginners are a great introduction to the hardware and software capabilities of the Pi.
Raspberry Pi Projects for Beginners to Try
Don't be put off by the barebones appearance of the Raspberry Pi. The projects you can build can be as complex or simple as you like. For this guide, we're looking at the following straightforward, basic Raspberry Pi projects for beginners:
- Add a button to your Pi
- Control LED lights
- Build an alarmed motion sensor
- Add a power button
- Make an old printer wireless
- Make music with Sonic Pi
- Build a network game server
- Connect two 4K monitors to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 400
- Create a crypto price ticker
- Use an Android tablet as a Raspberry Pi display
These projects can be run (with varying levels of power) with any Raspberry Pi model.
If you're new to the Raspberry Pi, there's something you'll need to do before you start. Here's the all-important guide to installing a Raspberry Pi operating system.
1. Add a Button to a Raspberry Pi
One of the few things missing on a Raspberry Pi is a button. You basically plug it in to power up, boot the operating system, and start using the computer.
Adding a button is best done using a breadboard and additional wiring, resistor, and the RPi.GPIO library. If you’re also new to electronics, this project is ideal; it also has an element of programming in Python, which will help any beginner to understand the importance of the Raspberry Pi's GPIO.
2. Control LED Lights With Raspberry Pi
Another simple Raspberry Pi project for beginners is to learn how to control on or more LEDs via the GPIO.
This involves building a simple LED circuit using a breadboard, two LEDs, two resistors, and suitable wires. Once set up, you'll develop knowledge of Python, breadboards, and learn how to safely connect LEDs and other components.
3. Pi-Powered Motion Sensor and Alarm
Sensors and alarms are often considered to be tricky, but your Raspberry Pi can work with hardware via the GPIO.
Creating a simple motion sensor and piezo buzzer alarm will teach you the basics of working with external hardware with the Pi, and this project uses Python, so you'll start learning a bit of that, too.
This beginner Raspberry Pi project requires any Pi model, a passive infrared sensor, a piezo buzzer, a single resistor, and some wires. A breadboard may be useful, too.
4. Add a Power Button to Your Raspberry Pi
One of the cost-saving measures of the Raspberry Pi is that it doesn't include a power switch. Instead, you safely shut down using the operating system and power off when this has completed.
Alternatively, you could add your own. Adding a power button is one of the most basic Raspberry Pi projects for beginners, suitable for Raspberry Pi Zero and Raspberry Pi 4 as well as standard models. (Here’s the difference between Raspberry Pi models.)
5. Make Your Printer Wireless
Wireless printers are great and these days they're affordable. But if you have an old USB printer knocking around, don't send it to landfill just yet.
With one of the easiest Raspberry Pi projects, you can make an old printer wireless with a few simple commands. If your Pi model doesn't have built-in Wi-Fi, you can buy a $10 Wi-Fi dongle. Simply insert the Wi-Fi dongle, plug in your printer, enter some commands, and remote printing will be enabled in minutes.
This is a simple Raspberry Pi project with a useful purpose. If you've got an old printer, try it out!
6. Make Music with Sonic Pi
Sonic Pi turns your Raspberry Pi into a music-coding machine, letting you use basic programming skills to make music. This can be anything from sound effects and short samples to full-length songs.
Although Sonic Pi uses its own programming language, the principles you'll learn while making songs translate into more traditional languages. Leave yourself plenty of time to play around with this one---it can be quite addicting!
Sonic Pi comes preinstalled with Raspberry Pi OS, making it a perfect Raspberry Pi beginner project for anyone with some musical ability.
7. Build a Network Game Server
Particularly suited to more recent Raspberry Pi models, game server projects are remarkably straightforward. All you need to do is make sure the Pi is connected to your network, then install the server software for your preferred game from the command line.
Various games have servers that will run on the Pi, including Minecraft and Quake. If you have any compatible games running on another device, you can set up network play sessions on your Pi.
If you're looking for easy Raspberry Pi projects without any wiring requirements, this is a great option. Given the improved hardware of the device, it's also a perfect Raspberry Pi 4 project for beginners.
8. Connect Dual 4K Monitors to a Raspberry Pi 4 or 400
Most Raspberry Pi 4 projects for beginners are identical to other models of the Pi. But this one is specific to the Raspberry Pi 4 and 400 due to their dual HDMI outputs.
If you have two suitable HDMI monitors, you’ll also need a pair of micro-HDMI to HDMI cables. Support for dual displays is built into Raspberry Pi OS, which makes set up particularly straightforward.
If you’re comfortable connecting a computer to a monitor, this is the perfect Raspberry Pi beginner project.
9. Build a Cryptocurrency Price Ticker
Interested in cryptocurrency? Have some Bitcoin or altcoins in your portfolio? If so, you can keep an eye on the current price with this price ticker project.
You’ll need a Raspberry Pi 3 or later with an attached display, preferably something pretty compact like a HyperPixel, rather than a larger wall-hanging TV. Once everything is set up, you’ll have a Raspberry Pi that displays the latest cryptocurrency prices, sourced from markets including CoinGecko, Binance, Coinbase Pro, Kraken, and many others.
This is essentially an ideal Raspberry Pi 4 project, although it will run on the Raspberry Pi 3 and 3B.
10. Set Up an Android Tablet as a Raspberry Pi Display
Need a simple “Raspberry Pi for beginners” style project that saves you from using the family TV? With this project, you can wirelessly connect an Android tablet to the Pi for use as a display.
No cables are required, no wiring is necessary, and there is little software to install. But by the end you’ll have a handy portable display that lets you use your Raspberry Pi anywhere you can plug it in.
Simple Raspberry Pi Projects You Can Try Today
With all these great Raspberry Pi projects for beginners, you're sure to come across something you're interested in. These beginners projects are suitable for Raspberry Pi 3, Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi Zero and pretty much any model you can name.
The best way to get started is to just pick a project and get going; you'll learn the basics of how to use a Pi and might even get some ideas for your first Raspberry Pi project.