Introduction: How to Give an Internet Access to Raspberry Pi Zero
Today, I am going to show you that we want to give an internet access to our unique Raspberry Pi family's new guest as called Pi Zero!
As you can see that there are no ethernet socket, USB ports, and embedded Wi-Fi antenna on our board Pi Zero, we need to give it a chance to surf on the internet. So, you've got a problem and I have got some solutions for this issue.
First of all, the solution is not the only one. I would like to show you some diagrams to solve your problem.
Step 1: Solution 1
The need list:
- OTG Cable (supports micro USB)
- RJ45 to USB converter
- Ethernet cable (long enough)
- Your modem in your place
The connections can be done according to the picture. You can give internet connections directly to your Pi Zero board.
Step 2: Solution 2
The need list:
- Micro USB to RJ45 converter (supports micro USB)
- Ethernet cable (long enough)
- Your modem in your place
The connections can be done according to the picture. You can give internet connections directly to your Pi Zero board.
Step 3: Solution 3
The need list:
- Smart Phone (Android, iOS e.t.c.) (Needed to support USB type internet sharing via wire)
- OTG cable (one side is micro USB type)
- Your smart phone's charging/data cable
You can give internet connections directly to your Pi Zero board. You need to follow some near path seems like Settings >> İnternet Connections >> Sharing internet connections via USB method on your smart phone. After your selections, your Pi Zero can open any internet page from your mobile phone's internet access.
Note: Your mobile phone has to be connected with 2G/3G/4G technologies using your SIM Card that this may be consume your internet packages, and you may faces some more over data usage bills. Please be careful and be aware of your operator's internet services for providing you to an internet access while you are connecting over your SIM Card.
Step 4: Solution 4
The Need List:
- OTG Cable
- USB Wi-Fi Stick
If you used to use Wi-Fi stick to give internet to your previous Raspberry Pi's boards, this means, you can provide an internet access to your new friend as called Raspberry Pi Zero via Wi-Fi stick, too!
Important Note for the first time internet access providers to Raspberry Pi Zero users:
According to the solution 4's picture, it may be not so easy to get connected via Wi-Fi USB Stick. Because you have to do one of the three beforer solutions to prodive an internet access first to Pi Zero in order to update your operating system's configurations over internet on your new board. If you downloaded NOOBS and you have just newly installed new Raspbian distribution on Pi Zero, you may have to run your terminal to run these popular well-known codes below first when you are recently connected to internet (following first three solutions maybe), and then try to use Wi-Fi USB Stick to connect internet via your Wi-Fi modem as a secondary internet connection way that will be your the only one way to provide an internet access maybe.
The codes are:
sudo apt-get update<br>
sudo apt-get upgrade<br>
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade<br>
sudo rpi-update
To sum up, if you want to provide an internet access to Pi Zero with using Wi-Fi USB Stick, you have to give an internet connection in advance by other connection methods, in case.
After connecting Wi-Fi USB Stick, you can easily go to your internet settings, then select your modem name and enter your password. (See second picture on this solution 4)
.
That's all !
Step 5: BONUS: Reading This Instructable
NOTE: This instructable's step is aimed for visually impaired people to hear the sentences to learn what's going on here. Watch the video, it explains all steps.

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14 Comments
Question 1 year ago on Step 3
Please help my phone is not detecting raspberry pi and the option of usb thetering not turning on please anyone help
7 years ago
I think this is the first Raspberry Pi Zero instructable.
Reply 6 years ago
There is a sixth way. Copy the image on the SD-card, put the card into another raspberry and modify /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf with the necessary details. Then Wifi is fully configured.
6 years ago
I wish I got here 4 hours earlier. Awesome Instructable. Thanks!
Reply 6 years ago
You're welcome :) I hope you can earn some more time with me :) See, how useful person I am :) Just kidding, but this is more about Instructables's success :) Makes us together to learn something new from each other :) Enjoy!
6 years ago
Anybody out there willing offering a system of wirelessly connected RPIs using RESTful services over HTTPS? Say one RPiB+ Master with touch screen and 4 RPi Zero slaves (ADC, 1 wire and PWM control required)? Instead of WLAN Power over Ethernet PoE would be possible.
Reply 6 years ago
There is Pi WiFi, it is out now.
7 years ago
Hey I need raspberry pi zero I am from india I aint able to get that any one can help please ??
Reply 7 years ago
Hi you can buy one from elementzonline.com
Reply 7 years ago
I just ordered it on crazypi.com for just Rs. 1475.
7 years ago
Gret tutorial! There is also a dedicated board being developed to add ethernet to Zero right now:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/755102253/pijack-add-ethernet-to-raspberry-pi-zero
7 years ago
For those of us who have another pi with a network jack, I will just put the SD card in there and prep it for wifi and what not then put it back in the pi zero. One might also just mount the SD card in a USB adapter to another pi, or another linux box, and have their way with wpa_supplicant.conf or what have you.
7 years ago
An additional more elaborate solution to step #4. Add a powered USB hub and USB keyboard / mouse / trackpad / Trackpoint. You also need to connect some kind of video monitor to the Zero. Make sure all power is off. Connect the main USB cable from the unpowered hub to the female end of the OTG cable. Plug keyboard/etc. into the one of the side USB ports of the hub, and connect the USB WiFi adapter to another side port. Power on your monitor and then your USB hub. (You won't need to connect anything to the "PWR" jack on the Zero at this time. The power supplied to the hub will also serve to power and start the Zero through the "USB" connection.) The Zero should boot up, showing that process on the monitor, and at the same time it will allow you to use the keyboard to access and configure your WiFi connection. Once you have configured and saved your WiFi configuration details to the Zero's microSDHC card, you will not need the hub, the monitor or the keyboard to reboot the Zero. * For the next boot, just connect the WiFi adapter to the Zero at its "USB" jack, and connect a powered microUSB plug to the "PWR" jack. Then the Zero should boot up and automatically re-connect to the same wireless router used for the original configuration. At that point you should be able to access / control the Zero through an SSH terminal running on a separate computer on your wireless network.
I haven't checked this, but I believe it would be possible to configure the most recent Raspbian Jessie software installed to a microSDHC using a different Raspberry Pi (not necessarily a Zero). Configure the software to automatically start up and connect to your home network. Then transfer the microSDHC card to the Zero, and start at the * above. The configuration saved on the microSDHC card for your WiFi adapter and home wireless network should work when the card is used on a different Raspberry Pi. Don't use NOOBS for this method, use a full and fully up to date Raspbian Jessie software package installed to a microSDHC card.
7 years ago
really good ible :) and a simple solution :)
have you seen this one http://hackaday.com/2015/11/28/first-raspberry-pi-zero-hack-piggy-back-wifi/ to attach a wifi addaptor :)