Unable to connect via SSH to Raspberry Pi – Investigated all possibilities for two weeks.

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144

09-26-2018, 05:48 AM

#1

Hello everyone, I'm working on a project that needs SSH access to a Raspberry Pi, but after two weeks I'm still having trouble. Here are the settings I've used in Raspberry Pi Imager: Hostname: raspberrypi.local Username: raspberrypi Password: [redacted] Wi-Fi SSID: [redacted] Wi-Fi Password: [redacted] Country: BE (Belgium) SSH: Enabled I've tried everything: flashed the SD card multiple times, changed power cables and sources, used different versions of the Raspberry Pi Imager, added an empty ssh file plus a valid wpa_supplicant.conf to the boot partition, and even pinged raspberrypi.local but got no response. The router doesn't list the Pi in its connected devices. A note: I had a working Pi before but accidentally damaged it. Recently I got a replacement board (raspberry pi 2 zero w), yet nothing seems to work despite following the same steps. I'm really stuck and would appreciate any advice or help from anyone who's faced a similar problem. I'm eager to finish this project but need fresh ideas. Thanks in advance! Edited July 23, 2025 by Kilrah Removed credentials

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rosaliE65
Member

211

09-27-2018, 04:29 PM

#2

The issue lies several levels above the basic "can't SSH" problem. Here are some steps to troubleshoot your setup. You're using a custom Raspi 2 Zero W version, not just the standard one.

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ImSquirrel
Junior Member

10

10-14-2018, 08:00 PM

#3

Use the IP Address instead of the host name. This domain works only if DNS is set up for that address.

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111carys111
Posting Freak

832

10-15-2018, 12:02 AM

#4

OP isn't able to locate the IP address because it isn't shown in the router's device inventory.

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XxRohaanxX
Junior Member

26

10-17-2018, 04:25 AM

#5

Using a Raspi 2 Zero W version for flashing is possible.

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Triggerchop86
Junior Member

12

10-17-2018, 04:59 AM

#6

I don’t possess the IP address since I can’t send a ping.

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Markoxx1
Junior Member

41

10-17-2018, 05:28 AM

#7

Hi there! Your issue isn't on the network. You can try connecting a monitor and some peripherals to see if that helps.

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xSapir
Member

138

10-18-2018, 01:08 AM

#8

In advance, clarify whether the Wi-Fi comes from the Pi or your personal network. Sharing both SSID and password openly in a public area isn't advisable.

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OmqDace
Posting Freak

798

10-19-2018, 08:48 AM

#9

You can't use the host name to send a ping since no DNS server is mapping it to an IP address. If the device isn't showing up in the DHCP lease list, it means the Pi isn't requesting an IP address. It might not even connect to the Wi-Fi network. Attaching a screen would help you observe what's happening inside.

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dive0s
Junior Member

14

10-19-2018, 04:10 PM

#10

Absolutely, we all concur. However, we’d first need to locate the OP in Belgium and be within a few hundred feet of the AP to act on this data. This likely stems from the absence of a DHCP lease, meaning the connection isn’t establishing properly. It’s possible you could flood your network and try SSH on every IP, but the issue remains unresolved. It seems you might have used the same Wi-Fi password as your rPi user account—something worth questioning. Edited July 23, 2025 by Kilrah Removed credentials