Remote Access Raspberry Pi: A Simple Guide & Secure SSH!

Vicky Abshire IV 13 May 2025

Ever found yourself miles away from home, needing to tweak a setting on your Raspberry Pi, but stuck outside your local network? Gaining remote access to your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world is not only possible, but surprisingly straightforward with the right tools and techniques.

The Raspberry Pi, a marvel of miniaturized computing, offers a world of possibilities for hobbyists, developers, and tech enthusiasts alike. Its versatility shines when used for home automation, media servers, or even as a personal cloud. However, the real magic happens when you can control your Pi from anywhere, at any time. This article will guide you through the essential steps and considerations for securely accessing your Raspberry Pi remotely, regardless of your location.

Category	Information
Device	Raspberry Pi (any model)
Operating System	Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian)
Primary Access Method	SSH (Secure Shell)
Alternative Access Methods	VNC, Web-based Interfaces, Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale, SocketXP
Security Considerations	Strong Passwords, SSH Key Authentication, Firewall Configuration, Regular Updates
Networking Prerequisites	Internet Connection, Router Access (for Port Forwarding)
Dynamic DNS Services (Examples)	DuckDNS, No-IP, DynDNS
Tools for Finding Open Ports	Nmap
Reference	Raspberry Pi Remote Access Documentation

One of the most common and secure ways to access your Raspberry Pi remotely is through SSH (Secure Shell). SSH allows you to remotely control your Pi's command line interface, execute commands, and manage files. Heres a breakdown of how to make it happen:

Enabling SSH: The first hurdle is ensuring SSH is enabled on your Raspberry Pi. In recent versions of Raspberry Pi OS, SSH is disabled by default for security reasons. To enable it, you have a couple of options:

Headless Setup (Before First Boot): If you haven't booted your Pi yet, you can enable SSH by placing an empty file named "ssh" (without any extension) into the boot partition of your Raspberry Pi OS SD card.
Via Raspberry Pi Configuration (After Booting): If your Pi is already up and running, you can enable SSH through the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool. Access it via the desktop menu (usually under Preferences) or by running `sudo raspi-config` in the terminal. Navigate to Interface Options, then SSH, and enable it.

Connecting to your Pi Locally: Before venturing outside your local network, its wise to test your SSH connection within your home network. Open a terminal on another computer on the same network and use the following command:

ssh pi@raspberrypi.local

If that doesn't work, try using the Pi's IP address instead. You can find the IP address by running `hostname -I` on the Raspberry Pi itself.

The Challenge of External Access: Connecting within your local network is relatively simple. The challenge arises when you try to access your Pi from the outside world. Your home network sits behind a router, which typically uses Network Address Translation (NAT). This means your Raspberry Pi's internal IP address is not directly accessible from the internet.

Port Forwarding: This is where port forwarding comes in. Port forwarding allows you to direct traffic from a specific port on your router's public IP address to a specific device (your Raspberry Pi) on your local network. Here's how to set it up:

Access your Router's Admin Panel: Open a web browser and enter your router's IP address. This is often something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You'll need the router's administrator username and password.
Locate the 'Port Forwarding' Section: The location of this setting varies depending on your router's brand and model. Look for sections labeled "Port Forwarding," "NAT Forwarding," or similar.
Create a New Port Forwarding Rule: You'll need to specify the following:
- Service Name: A descriptive name for the rule (e.g., "Raspberry Pi SSH").
- Port Range: The external port you want to use (e.g., 22 or a higher, less common port for security).
- Internal IP Address: Your Raspberry Pi's local IP address.
- Internal Port: The port SSH is running on (typically 22).
- Protocol: TCP.
Enable the Rule: Make sure the rule is enabled.

Important Security Considerations: Forwarding port 22 directly to your Raspberry Pi is generally discouraged due to security risks. Bots and malicious actors constantly scan for open SSH ports. To mitigate this, consider the following:

Use a Non-Standard Port: Instead of forwarding port 22, choose a higher, less common port (e.g., 2222, 9022, or something even more obscure). You'll need to specify this port when connecting via SSH from outside your network.
Enable SSH Key Authentication: Password-based authentication is vulnerable to brute-force attacks. SSH key authentication uses cryptographic keys for a more secure login.
Disable Password Authentication: Once you have SSH key authentication set up, disable password authentication to further enhance security. Edit the `/etc/ssh/sshd_config` file and set `PasswordAuthentication no`.
Use a Firewall: Configure a firewall on your Raspberry Pi (e.g., `ufw`) to restrict access to SSH only from specific IP addresses or networks.

Dynamic DNS: Your home internet connection likely has a dynamic IP address, meaning it can change periodically. This poses a problem for remote access, as you'll need to know your current public IP address. Dynamic DNS (DDNS) services solve this by providing a hostname that automatically updates to reflect your current IP address. Popular DDNS providers include DuckDNS, No-IP, and DynDNS.

Choose a DDNS Provider: Sign up for an account with a DDNS provider.
Select a Hostname: Choose a unique hostname (e.g., mypi.duckdns.org).
Install a DDNS Client: Install a DDNS client on your Raspberry Pi that will automatically update your hostname's IP address. Most DDNS providers offer instructions for setting up a client on Linux systems.

Connecting from Outside Your Network: Once you've set up port forwarding and dynamic DNS, you can connect to your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world using the following command:

ssh pi@your_ddns_hostname -p your_external_port

Replace `your_ddns_hostname` with your DDNS hostname and `your_external_port` with the external port you forwarded in your router settings.

Alternative Solutions: SocketXP, Tailscale, and Cloudflare Tunnel: While port forwarding and dynamic DNS are traditional methods, several alternative solutions offer simpler and more secure ways to access your Raspberry Pi remotely. These include:

SocketXP: SocketXP provides a simple and secure way to access your Raspberry Pi without requiring any router configuration. It works by creating a secure tunnel between your Pi and SocketXP's servers.
Tailscale: Tailscale creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your devices, allowing you to access your Raspberry Pi as if it were on the same local network, regardless of its actual location. It's known for its ease of setup and strong security. A few readers suggested using tailscale. Learn how you can use tailscale to secure connect to your raspberry pi from outside your home network.
Cloudflare Tunnel: Cloudflare Tunnel creates an outbound-only connection from your Raspberry Pi to Cloudflare's network, eliminating the need for inbound port forwarding. This enhances security and simplifies network configuration. Earlier, I shared how you can use cloudflare tunnels to access raspberry pi outside your home network.

Using Nmap to Find Open Ports: If you're unsure which port your SSH server is listening on, you can use the `nmap` command to scan your Raspberry Pi. First, install nmap:

sudo apt updatesudo apt install nmap

Then, run the following command, replacing `your_raspberry_pi_ip` with your Pi's local IP address:

nmap your_raspberry_pi_ip

Nmap will list all open ports on your Raspberry Pi, including the port SSH is using.

Example Scenario: Imagine you've set up port forwarding on your router to forward external port 9022 to your Raspberry Pi's internal IP address on port 22. Your DDNS hostname is `mypi.duckdns.org`. To connect to your Pi from outside your network, you would use the following command:

ssh pi@mypi.duckdns.org -p 9022

In this case, you should connect to your raspberry pi over the internet by x.x.x.x:9022 because the router/switch/firewall will forward to 22.

Securing Your Raspberry Pi: Remote access opens up new possibilities, but it also introduces potential security risks. It's crucial to take steps to protect your Raspberry Pi from unauthorized access.

Strong Passwords: Change the default password of the `pi` user to a strong, unique password. Consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords. Enter your raspberry pi's credentials when prompted.
SSH Key Authentication: As mentioned earlier, SSH key authentication is a more secure alternative to password-based authentication.
Firewall: Configure a firewall to restrict access to your Raspberry Pi.
Regular Updates: Keep your Raspberry Pi OS and installed software up to date to patch security vulnerabilities. Regularly update your raspberry pi to keep it secure.
Disable Unnecessary Services: Disable any services you don't need to reduce the attack surface of your Raspberry Pi.
Monitor Logs: Regularly monitor your Raspberry Pi's logs for suspicious activity.

Addressing Common Issues: Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Cannot Connect: Double-check your port forwarding settings, DDNS configuration, and firewall rules. Make sure your Raspberry Pi is connected to the internet and has a valid IP address.
Connection Refused: This usually indicates that SSH is not running on your Raspberry Pi or that the port is blocked by a firewall.
Password Authentication Fails: Ensure you're using the correct password or have properly configured SSH key authentication.
Dynamic IP Address Changes: Verify that your DDNS client is running and updating your hostname with your current IP address.

Creating a Home Server on Pi2: Hi there, so I set up a Pi2 with quite a few servers running on it.

Remote access to your Raspberry Pi unlocks a wealth of opportunities, from managing your home automation system from afar to accessing your personal files on the go. By following these steps and prioritizing security, you can enjoy the convenience of remote access without compromising the safety of your data and your Raspberry Pi.