How do I set up a Raspberry Pi touchscreen?

If you've ever had the chance to use a Raspberry Pi, you probably know it’s one of the most essential pieces of equipment for your coding. In 2020, the Raspberry Pi Foundation took it a step further with its latest release, the Raspberry Pi 400 Kit. The Raspberry Pi 400 Kit included a Pi keyboard, a Pi mouse, a power supply, a memory card, and a reader.

Even though most Raspberry Pi users welcome these additions, you might think it’s missing one thing; a Raspberry Pi touch screen. But don't worry about it. You can add the official Raspberry Pi Touch Screen with simple steps.

What Is the Official Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen?

If you haven't heard about the Raspberry Pi's touchscreen, don’t worry. This section will teach you everything you need to know about the Pi touchscreen, and we will dive into the setup guide after explaining the Pi 7-inch touchscreen.

This 7-inch touchscreen by Raspberry Pi gives you the opportunity to use your Raspberry Pi without a keyboard or a mouse. You can connect the touchscreen to the Pi board using a dedicated ribbon cable. You should have the latest Pi system for this upgrade. 

Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen Kit Contents

This touchscreen kit comes with all the accessories you need. Here are those things.

• 7-inch touchscreen display
• Adapter board
• DSI ribbon cable
• Four jumper wires
• Four standoffs and screws

Features and Benefits of Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen

Before starting the setup guide, here are some of the features and benefits of Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen. 

• You can turn your Raspberry Pi device into a touchscreen tablet, a standalone device, or an infotainment system.
• With the latest software, you can install the virtual keyboard in a jiffy. So, you don’t need to connect a physical keyboard, and we will get into it later.
• Also, you don’t need to connect a mouse, and the touchscreen will do everything you need.
• You can create an automation device with touchscreen capabilities. In other words, it is an IoT device with a visual display. You just need to develop a Python script and link it with your Raspberry Pi.
• As you already know, Raspberry Pi comes with numerous educational software and programs. By adding the touchscreen to your Raspberry Pi, all of these programs and software become touch-enabled. So, coding and learning are much more accessible.

Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen Setup Guide

We hope that you now have a better knowledge about the Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen and its usage. In this section, you will learn how to set up the Raspberry PI touchscreen.

So, without wasting much time, let’s get started.

Step 01 – Gather All Supplies

You will need the following items for this process. So, make sure to gather these items before starting the process.

• Raspberry Pi 7" Touchscreen
• Adapter board
• DSI ribbon cable
• Four jumper wires
• Four standoffs and screws
• One power supply

Step 02 – Connect the DSI Ribbon Cable to the Display

Connect the ribbon cable to the Raspberry Pi touch display as early as you can, as connecting the pins will be difficult after mounting the Pi board. You can use the same method when connecting the ribbon cable to the Pi board’s adapter board.

First, pull away the black tabs from the adapter board. Then, connect the ribbon cable. The blue strips should be facing downwards during this connection. After connecting the ribbon cable, make sure to push the black tabs; this will lock the ribbon cable.

Step 03 – Mount the Pi Board

After successfully connecting the ribbon cable, you can mount the Pi board. You will need standoffs and screws to do this. First, place the Pi board on top of the provided standoffs, and the display connector should be on the same side as the ribbon cable. Then, use a small screwdriver to tighten the Pi board to the standoffs.

Step 04 - Connect the Ribbon Cable to the Pi Board

Now your Raspberry Pi board is correctly placed. So, you can connect the ribbon cable to the Pi board. As mentioned before, for this connection, use the same technique (just like in step 02).

First, pull out the black tabs. Then, attach the cable to the Pi board (the blue strips should be facing downwards). Now, press the black tab to secure the ribbon cable.

Step 05 – Connect Jumper Wires

We use the jumper wire to provide power to both the Pi board and the touchscreen in this process. If you want, you can power these two separately using power supplies. But here, we will directly power the Pi board. Then, use the jumper wire to power the display.

Even though we have four jumper wires, you only need two for models like Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 400. Because these boards only have two pins; GND and 5V. So, connect one jumper wire to both GND pins (Pi board and display board), and do the same for 5V pins.

These are the basic steps to set up a Raspberry Pi touchscreen to the Raspberry Pi board. Now, you need to learn how to install the on-screen keyboard.

How to Install the On-Screen Keyboard?

An on-screen keyboard will make your coding experience even more exciting. So, first, connect your Raspberry Pi using SSH. Then, run the following command.

If you want to use your on-screen keyboard, first click on the Pi icon on the screen. It should be on the top-left corner. Then, go to accessories and keyboard.

Conclusion

We hope that you learn many things today about setting up a Raspberry Pi touchscreen; this is not a complicated process at all. And using a touchscreen with a Pi board can be very useful. You don’t need to connect a keyboard or mouse anymore if you do it correctly. So, this is one upgrade you don’t want to miss.