Unlock Your Pi: Free Remote Access To Your Raspberry Pi Over The Internet

Roselyn Buckridge 05 Jun 2025

If you're a Raspberry Pi enthusiast, you've likely mastered controlling your tiny computer from the same local network. But what if you're at work, a friend's house, or even on vacation and need to access your Pi? The thought of being able to manage your device from anywhere, without being physically present, is incredibly appealing. Maybe you already know how to do it from the same network, but would like a similar solution for remote access, from work or a friend’s house. This guide is for you!

Remote access to your Raspberry Pi via the internet is a powerful feature that enables you to manage your device from anywhere. It offers endless possibilities for remote control, automation, and monitoring. Whether you're managing a home server, controlling IoT devices, or accessing files remotely, this guide will walk you through the process step by step. In this article, I’ll share a few easy (and free) ways to access your Pi remotely, ensuring that you can enjoy the benefits of remote computing without incurring additional costs.

Why Remote Access Your Raspberry Pi?

The idea is to control your Raspberry Pi from another computer, either on the same local network or from anywhere (depending on the solution you use). Remote access to your Raspberry Pi can be incredibly useful for a variety of reasons:

Unparalleled Convenience: Imagine being able to manage files, run commands, and monitor processes on your Pi without being physically present. This means you can troubleshoot issues, deploy updates, or start new projects from your laptop at a coffee shop, your phone during your commute, or a desktop at a friend's house.
Cost and Space Savings: If you're maintaining a "fleet" of remote microcomputers, or even just one Pi used as a server or IoT hub, eliminating the need for a dedicated keyboard, mouse, and monitor can save you money and space. Your Pi can run headless in a corner, consuming minimal power, while still being fully accessible.
Enhanced Project Capabilities: Using remote access for Raspberry Pi from the internet can significantly enhance your project capabilities. Whether you're managing home automation systems, running a server, or controlling IoT devices, remote access empowers you to interact with your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world.
Remote Monitoring and Automation: Set up your Pi to monitor environmental sensors, security cameras, or network traffic, and then access that data or control automated tasks from afar. This is particularly useful for smart home applications or remote data logging.

If you're reading this, chances are you're either a tech enthusiast or someone looking to save money on expensive remote access solutions. Luckily, several robust and free options are available.

Understanding Remote Access Methods

Before diving into specific free solutions, it's helpful to understand the general concept. Remote access essentially creates a secure tunnel or connection between your client device (laptop, phone, etc.) and your Raspberry Pi, allowing you to interact with it as if you were sitting right in front of it. While solutions like TeamViewer, VNC, or XRDP can provide remote access to a Raspberry Pi over the internet, many of these either come with limitations for free tiers or require more complex network configurations. Our focus here is on truly free and accessible methods.

For those interested in finding their Pi's local IP address, a common first step for many network configurations, you can often check the block where the `general.type` field reads `wifi` to find the IP address. In this case, you can access this device using the `ipv4.address[1]` field.

Free & Easy Ways to Access Your Raspberry Pi Remotely Over the Internet

Here are 3 easy ways to access your Pi over the internet remotely, ensuring you have full control over your device from anywhere in the world.

1. Raspberry Pi Connect (The Official, Browser-Based Solution)

One of the most exciting recent developments in Raspberry Pi remote access is Raspberry Pi Connect. Today we’re pleased to announce the beta release of Raspberry Pi Connect. It is a secure remote access solution for Raspberry Pi OS, allowing you to connect to your Raspberry Pi desktop and command line directly from any browser. This means you can now access your Raspberry Pi‘s desktop environment securely from anywhere with internet access, without needing to install client software on your remote device.

Raspberry Pi Connect simplifies the process significantly, abstracting away much of the complex networking setup like port forwarding. It's designed to be user-friendly and integrates seamlessly with the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. If you’re interested in Raspberry Pi Connect, you’ll also want to read our more recent update, about remote shell access and support for older Raspberry Pi devices, indicating its continuous development and broad compatibility.

2. SSH Tunneling / Port Forwarding (For Advanced Users Seeking Direct Control)

SSH (Secure Shell) is a fundamental tool for remote access to Linux-based systems, including your Raspberry Pi. SSH is the safest way to remote access a Raspberry Pi on a local network, if properly configured. To extend this capability over the internet for free, you typically combine it with either port forwarding on your router or a tunneling service.

Port Forwarding with DDNS: This method involves configuring your home router to forward incoming SSH requests (usually on port 22) from the internet to your Raspberry Pi's local IP address. Since your home's public IP address might change, you'll also use a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service (many are free) to provide a constant hostname that always points to your current public IP. This is a powerful and direct method, giving you full control, but it requires access to your router's settings and a good understanding of network security. Here is a great tutorial that will walk you through this process step-by-step.
Tunneling Services: If port forwarding isn't an option (e.g., you're behind a strict firewall or don't have router access), tunneling services like ngrok or localtunnel can create a secure tunnel from your Pi to their public servers, providing you with a public URL to access your Pi. While many offer free tiers with limitations, they are excellent for temporary access or testing.

With SSH, you can access your Pi's command line, transfer files, and even set up graphical interfaces like VNC or XRDP to run over the SSH tunnel for a more secure graphical experience, though the focus here is on the free command line access SSH provides.

3. Chrome Remote Desktop (Google's User-Friendly Solution)

Chrome Remote Desktop by Google is a free and officially supported remote access solution for the Raspberry Pi. It offers native apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, making it incredibly versatile for accessing your Pi from almost any device. This solution is particularly good if you prefer a graphical desktop environment rather than just the command line.

Setting it up involves installing the Chrome Remote Desktop host on your Raspberry Pi and then accessing it via the Chrome browser or the dedicated app on your client device. It leverages Google's infrastructure to establish a secure connection, often bypassing the complexities of port forwarding. It's a straightforward and user-friendly option for those who want a visual interface to their Pi without much hassle.

Enhancing Security for Remote Access

While remote accessing your Pi is very convenient, it also comes with security risks. Opening your Raspberry Pi to the internet means it's potentially exposed to malicious actors. Here are some tips to help keep your Pi secure when accessed over the internet:

Strong, Unique Passwords: This is fundamental. Use complex passwords for your Pi's user accounts and any services you expose.
SSH Key Authentication: For SSH access, disable password authentication and use SSH keys instead. This is significantly more secure.
Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your Raspberry Pi OS and all installed software to patch security vulnerabilities.
Firewall Configuration: Use a firewall (like `ufw`) on your Pi to restrict incoming connections only to the ports you absolutely need open (e.g., SSH port 22, or the specific port for your chosen remote access solution).
Disable Unnecessary Services: Turn off any services or daemons on your Pi that you don't actively use, reducing the attack surface.
Monitor Logs: Periodically check system logs for unusual activity.

Can I Use Mobile Data to Access My Raspberry Pi?

Yes, you can use your mobile data connection to access your Raspberry Pi! This is a common scenario for managing your Pi on the go. Ensure that your client device (laptop, phone, etc.) is connected to the internet through mobile data and that you have configured one of the remote access methods discussed above (port forwarding/DDNS, tunneling service, or Raspberry Pi Connect).

As long as your Raspberry Pi has an active internet connection (either via Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and the remote access method is properly set up to handle connections from outside its local network, your mobile data connection will work just like any other internet connection for accessing your Pi.

Conclusion

Remote access to your Raspberry Pi from the internet is a powerful feature that truly liberates your projects and allows you to manage your device from anywhere. This guide has focused on how to set up Raspberry Pi remote access via the internet for free, ensuring that you can enjoy the benefits of remote computing without incurring additional costs. Whether you choose the official and user-friendly Raspberry Pi Connect, the powerful SSH method with port forwarding, or the convenient Chrome Remote Desktop, there is a remote access method that will work well for your project. By following these steps and keeping security best practices in mind, you can confidently control, automate, and monitor your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world, transforming it into an even more versatile tool in your tech arsenal.

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