Raspbian lite vs desktop. The Raspberry PI Foundation released 3 different OS versions (you can also compare them in Raspberry PI OS Desktop vs Lite article). This has been traced to […] A new version of Raspbian is available. The best lightweight Linux distros I recommend for Raspberry Pi are Raspberry Pi OS Lite and DietPi, both extremely fast and stable. As Raspberry Pi OS Lite does not, if you need to use the desktop environment, you’ll need to install it. Raspberry Pi OS isn’t the only option! From gaming to media centers, check out the best OS choices for every project. Learn more Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) is available in two main editions: Raspberry Pi OS Lite and Desktop. . com5 Best Lightweight Operating Systems For Raspberry Pi . It can run Android, Windows and Linux applications and is an easy-to-use, easy-to-extend desktop operating system that is fast, secure and stable, with a beautiful interface and simple operation. Raspberry Pi Connect shares your Raspberry Pi’s screen securely with no need to determine your local IP address. The default user account in Raspbian has always been called ‘pi’, and a lot of the desktop applications assume that this is the current user. The MAC address changes on every reboot on Raspbian Lite after installing Home Assistant How to update HomeAssistant PiCAN 2 hat on Raspberry pi 4 with Debian bookworm not recognized due to missing device tree overlays Local realtime person detection for RTSP cameras HassIO stops responding every so often Run Hass OS on VM on Raspberry Pi Here's a really basic question. Is the Lite version of Raspbian faster than the full version? In other words, if I'm running a process, a script, or a package like OpenVPN, is it going to run faster on the same model Pi with the Lite version vs. Voir aussi : Raspberry Pi OS Lite vs. It's based on the new stable version of Debian, which is called Jessie. Raspberry Pi OS Lite is a minimal Linux version with only a terminal. I will check some different measures by starting in both cases from a fresh OS installation. Desktop : Quelle est la différence ? Dans Raspberry Pi Imager, les choix par défaut sont toutes des versions Desktop : Alternativement, si vous souhaitez installer les versions Lite ou Full, vous devrez cliquer sur Raspberry Pi OS (autres) : Voir aussi : Transformez votre Raspberry Pi en une machine à sous It's an odd-numbered year, so there is a new major Debian release, and we are now releasing the corresponding version of Raspberry Pi OS. All you need is another computer, a local network, and the local IP address of your Raspberry Pi. The Lite version is text console only. Almost every time I set up a Raspberry Pi these days, I use the 'Lite' version of Raspberry Pi OS. If you are only running homebridge, consider something thinner like a diy arch setup or dietpi. On both tests lite and full version of OS, after first login I’ve changed the login password, set locale setting (timezone, correct keyboard layout, channel for the Wi-fi), connected to the Wi-fi. This has been traced to a bug in the icon handling code for the menu which has now been fixed. Pi OS (formerly Raspbian) lite for me, never had any problems at all on Pi Zero W or Pi 3 A+. Keep in mind, to install the official Raspbian OS you’ll need at least an 8GB microSD card whereas Raspbian Lite you’ll need a minimum 4GB. Complete tutorial with explanations and screenshot for each step. Especially if you're used to running Ubuntu on your VNC (Virtual Network Computing) provides secure access to a desktop screen share on your Raspberry Pi. In simple terms, Raspberry Pi OS Lite is a minimalistic version of the official Raspberry Pi Desktop OS. Hi, Can anyone tell me the difference between RASPBIAN STRETCH WITH DESKTOP and RASPBIAN STRETCH LITE. Raspberry Pi OS (previously known as Raspbian) is the official OS, but there are several alternatives, including DietPi. If you want mainstream go with raspbian lite unless you want to use it for desktop things AND homebridge. Updated 2026 benchmarks: Raspberry Pi OS Lite vs Desktop performance (boot time, RAM, CPU, thermals) + which to choose. And if you know your way around the command line, it's not daunting to plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and explore via the shell if Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32-bit and 64-bit): This is the smallest version that does not include a desktop environment. I would like to download a 64 bit Bullseye version of raspbian without deskttop,,,,, former called lite version but I cant find any downloads of the image. To those who found Pi-hole unstable on Raspbian, why do you think this was ? Raspbian is extremely well supported, easy to install, and runs well on a 3b+ and has pretty much all the software you need at your fingertips. The big win from using Lite instead of Desktop would be more free memory available, as there's just less software running. There is an advanced section in this guide that talks about how to create your own desktop environment if you are interested. Raspbian is available in two main versions: Raspbian Lite and Raspbian with Desktop The first one is a minimal Linux version, with only a terminal. Prepare the Raspberry PI Operating System The next step is to install the Raspberry PI OS Lite (I suggest the 64-bit version) to get a fast and lightweight operating system (headless). In der Lite-Version, die sich eher an Fortgeschrittene richtet, setzt Raspberry Pi OS auf schnellere Bootzeiten und liefert mit dem Minimalsystem nur die notwendigsten Features. I suggest this only if you need a desktop environment. expect what is shipped with Raspbian Lite at least). (No Desktop) The full desktop version includes extra software such as LibreOffice etc. If you need a desktop environment, you can also use the Raspberry PI OS Desktop, in which case you will work from its terminal app. The other point I would add is that if you want to use a different Desktop manager than LXDE (which is what is included with the GUI bundles), which is likely not a beginner issue, I would strongly suggest starting with Lite and adding the Desktop Manager you want. What’s the difference between Raspbian and Raspberry Pi OS? Raspbian was renamed to Raspberry Pi OS in 2020 because they are now two different projects. For instance, no display manager, window manager, etc. Installing Raspberry Pi OS Lite (No Desktop Environment)Useful commands:APT: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeIP: ip aconfig: sudo raspi-configRaspberry Pi Raspberry Pi OS is now available in 32-bit and 64-bit editions. All of them are based on the same Linux distribution (Debian). Access your Raspberry Pi from anywhere Raspberry Pi Connect gives you free, simple, out-of-the-box access to your Raspberry Pi from anywhere in the world. This is where things often go wrong for people choosing OS: they look only at “Lite” vs “Full”, but miss how even the Lite version loads services that DietPi does not. Ubuntu is an open-source operating system for cross-platform development, there's no better place to get started than with Ubuntu on a Raspberry Pi Introduced in 2017, it’s certainly an improvement on the basic desktop included with the original Raspbian operating system. However, if you're looking for more configuration options (akin to a more mature Linux OS) then DietPi is the stronger OS. I'm in the process on repurposing a few Raspberry Pis and noticed Debian 13 has officially been released (at time of writing), but Raspberry Pi OS is still on Debian 12. Normally you log in to shell and type command, either via the console (montor/teminal) or ssh, but it's basically the same Linux system as "Desktop". I prefer to install the reduced Desktop version then install some of the extra software manually. Personally, I would only use Ubuntu Server (or any other non-desktop OS ex “Lite”) in a 64-bit configuration, otherwise I would stick to 32-bit. One option would be to install the full desktop version. It is just the bare OS and runs a command-line interface. Ubuntu Server, Alpine, Arch ARM, and piCore are also solid picks depending on your goals. the Full version? Or does all that extra stuff in the Full version just sit doing nothing until called? "Lite" does not have GUI (desktop) packages and basically it boots up to text-mode (headless) Linux. Raspbian Lite is lighter than full desktop, but still heavier than DietPi. What are the differences between Raspbian Jessie and Raspbian Jessie Lite? What's better for a Owncloud server: Raspbian Jessie or Raspbian Jessie Lite? To summarize, this guide talks about how to run Raspbian Lite with a GUI, in this case you choose your desktop environment, RPD, LXDE, XFCE, or MATE. Raspberry PI OS Desktop: This is a less-performing OS (compared to the lite version), but it runs well on many Raspberry PI computer boards. g. Thank you. Why make life harder than it needs to be? Raspbian is available in two main versions: Raspbian Lite and Raspbian with Desktop The first one is a minimal Linux version, with only a terminal. If you're looking to create a custom Raspberry Pi OS image tailored for headless deployment, this guide walks you through using the official pi-gen […] However, while Raspbian Lite is basically Raspbian without the desktop and additional software, DietPi is so much more. Desktop includes the PIXEL desktop environment. Nov 5, 2025 · If you want to work on Raspberry with Lite version then you should have a basic understanding of . Jan 23, 2026 · In this chapter, I will compare the performance between Raspberry PI OS Lite vs Desktop. That version doesn't come with a GUI, it just boots to the console. This means it is ideal for users who are looking to build custom applications or projects that require a bare-bones operatin "Lite" does not have GUI (desktop) packages and basically it boots up to text-mode (headless) Linux. Download Buster, Stretch, Jessie, or Wheezy and more. Raspbian is the recommended OS by the Raspberry Pi Foundation although you can run many different operating systems including various Linux distributions. There is an app in the menu that will let you easily install recommended software. 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 has been changed for Stretch, so now applications like Raspberry Pi Configuration no longer assume this to be the case. The difference between Raspbian and Debian or between Raspbian and Raspbian Light can be easily found by googling and Raspberry Pi's website, but my concern is about the difference between Raspbian Light and Debian. APT/DEB packages (should) have solved this via dependencies (in rare cases those can be missing, then this needs to be reported to package maintainers), but especially 3rd party guides may expect certain packages to be installed already (e. As you know, the Raspberry Pi OS Full and Extended versions feature the PIXEL desktop. It is designed to be lightweight, resource-efficient, and easy to run on older Pi devices with slower processing speeds. I do would like to have the coding programs on there, as well as a browser and a notepad. Hello I am choosing between Raspbian (GUI) or Raspbian Lite (only terminal) and I'm wondering if there is any difference in power consumption between these two OS's? It's gonna be turned on 24/7 and 99% of the time idling. To play video and audio on Raspberry Pi OS Lite with VLC, install the required packages for playback without a desktop: Download the latest version of the Raspbian operating system with this guide. it has no desktop) and ideal for server use. Nov 13, 2025 · In this post, I will start by explaining why you may want to upgrade from Raspberry Pi OS Lite to Desktop, which ones you can use, and how to do the upgrade with each of the main desktop environments available. Play audio and video on Raspberry Pi OS Lite Unlike the full version of Raspberry Pi OS, VLC doesn’t come pre-installed on Raspberry Pi OS Lite. Some users reported issues with syncing their Google accounts in Chromium. Install Raspberry Pi OS Desktop on a Virtual Machine, with VirtualBox. Oct 23, 2025 · In short, the Desktop is best for mainstream users who want a graphical interface so they can use the Pi like a home computer. the Full version? Or does all that extra stuff in the Full version just sit doing nothing until called? Run raspi-config and disable desktop environment, and after a reboot you will get a system which will be pretty close to Raspbian Lite performance-wise. Raspbian is an independent distribution for the Raspberry Pi, while Raspberry Pi OS is developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and no longer uses the Raspbian project. Hi Probably a obvious answer to a stupid question but I am have been googling without finding a answer. In contrast, Lite is better for power users with servers or projects in mind. Even if you get it to load with the trick it’s just going to create more problems down the road when you start installing packages and the RAM quickly evaporates. Personally, I’m surprised homebridge isn’t done with alpine Linux. This article will show the main differences between Raspberry PI OS Lite vs Desktop, the two default choices for the famous single-board computer. If that provides the performance boost you expect, you could permanently switch to Raspbian Line. However, we have continued to build our Raspberry Pi OS releases on the 32-bit Raspbian platform, aiming to maximise compatibility between devices and to avoid customer confusion. For many reasons, you may need to upgrade the Lite version and add a desktop environment (PIXEL or any other one). Not all Raspberry Pi boards are compatible with it, but for recent models, a 64-bit operating system improves system performance. It provides the Orange Pi OS desktop for Orange Pi series development boards, keyboard PCs and other PCs. Aug 30, 2011 · So I decided to install and update the 'lite' version of Raspbian instead. Thanks I doubt there is any significant difference. Although Raspberry Pi OS is the default operating system for beginners on Raspberry Pi, other options are available, and Ubuntu is the most popular among them. If you're happy using Raspbian, then Raspbian Lite is probably going to work great for you. So verzichtet Raspbian Lite etwa auf Desktop-Fenster und Java-Pakete. Here's a really basic question. Orange Pi OS Orange Pi OS is the officially supported open source operating system for Orange Pi. Ob Mail-Client, Schreibprogramm oder Spiele – die Software-Bibliothek ist hier reich bestückt. In this article, we’ll compare DietPi and Raspberry Pi OS and help you choose the better option for your Raspberry Pi. In this case, you will work from its internal terminal. The official documentation for Raspberry Pi computers and microcontrollers Raspbian buster lite is the same as raspbian buster full version when desktop is disable (choosing to go to CLI)? Is it correct on all RPI operation systems (for example in Raspberry Pi OS)? Update – bug fixes Some users have reported problems with the main menu crashing since installing the PIXEL update. It's much smaller in size and contains most things you'd need for a 'headless' Pi setup. z7nf, m0fq, fbktgj, aj35, 3nxbpy, adldf4, 2wzlb, wnhpw, ydxumq, zjhrew,