Setting the SSH password with Pi Imager is not working for me

[zapp7]

Using Pi Imager 1.7.2 to install Raspbian Lite 32 bit on an SD card. I click the cog and enable SSH, set my username and password, then write to the card. When I plug the card into my Pi and attempt to SSH in, it just says access denied. I have tried multiple times, reinstalling Pi Imager, and even tried a different SD card, but the problem persists. Spent all afternoon on this and I have no clue how to proceed. (On a side note, I really miss the default pi/raspberry login right now...)

[RonR]

Give this a try:

1. Write 2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img to an SD card using Etcher.

2. Create a file named user userconf (or userconf.txt) containing the following:

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

3. Place userconf (or userconf.txt) plus an empty file named ssh (or ssh.txt) in the BOOT (FAT32) partition of the SD card.

4. Insert the SD card in the Raspberry Pi and it should boot with access to user 'pi' (password : raspberry) via SSH.

[AlessandroHDO]

I had the same issue. When I inserted the password, It gave me "Access denied".
I found out that in the last version of OS lite for raspberry (2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img) the default password is not defined. As the fastest and dummy way, I flashed a version from 2021-05-07 (2021-05-07-raspios-buster-armhf-lite). In this version, the password is defined as "raspberry". This solved my access problem

[RonR]

I had the same issue. When I inserted the password, It gave me "Access denied".
I found out that in the last version of OS lite for raspberry (2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img) the default password is not defined. As the fastest and dummy way, I flashed a version from 2021-05-07 (2021-05-07-raspios-buster-armhf-lite). In this version, the password is defined as "raspberry". This solved my access problem

If your goal is run an obsolete version of Raspberry Pi OS, congratulations, you accomplished it.

[HawaiianPi]

Using Pi Imager 1.7.2 to install Raspbian Lite 32 bit on an SD card. I click the cog and enable SSH, set my username and password, then write to the card.

I have done the same and it works fine for me (and by the way, it's Raspberry Pi OS, not Raspbian).

Do you also need to change location settings (perhaps an input error due to keyboard layout)?

On a side note, I really miss the default pi/raspberry login right now...

Did you try setting that with Raspberry Pi Imager?

[bozzuul]

Thanks, this is the perfect solution for HEADLESS systems.....

[HawaiianPi]

Thanks, this is the perfect solution for HEADLESS systems.....

The solution for headless systems was covered in a news article when the April images were released.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspberry-pi-bullseye-update-april-2022/

[jahboater]

Thanks, this is the perfect solution for HEADLESS systems.....

Also see the helpful post by RonR earlier in this thread to create the user pi with the old default password:

1. Write 2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img to an SD card using Etcher.

2. Create a file named user userconf (or userconf.txt) containing the following:

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

3. Place userconf (or userconf.txt) plus an empty file named ssh (or ssh.txt) in the BOOT (FAT32) partition of the SD card.

4. Insert the SD card in the Raspberry Pi and it should boot with access to user 'pi' (password : raspberry) via SSH.

[dloranger]

so I have tried this with the imager as well as the config file using the lite image, no luck.

any ideas what is going wrong?

all I get is the following when trying to log in

login as: root
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:

[bls]

I had the same issue. When I inserted the password, It gave me "Access denied".
I found out that in the last version of OS lite for raspberry (2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img) the default password is not defined. As the fastest and dummy way, I flashed a version from 2021-05-07 (2021-05-07-raspios-buster-armhf-lite). In this version, the password is defined as "raspberry". This solved my access problem

If your goal is run an obsolete version of Raspberry Pi OS, congratulations, you accomplished it.

But to be fair, an 'apt update && apt full-upgrade' will bring all the installed packages up to date, so it's not horribly obsolete.

That said, it's best practice to move forward with the latest/greatest images when building new systems.

[RonR]

any ideas what is going wrong?

I don't believe the RPi Imager supports logging in as root instead of a normal user.

Also, root login is disabled by default.

You must enable root login in '/etc/ssh/sshd_config' by changing:

Code: Select all

#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password

to

Code: Select all

PermitRootLogin yes

You must restart ssh following this change:

Code: Select all

systemctl restart ssh

[RonR]

But to be fair, an 'apt update && apt full-upgrade' will bring all the installed packages up to date, so it's not horribly obsolete.

Not true. Buster is only receiving security updates at this time.

[bls]

But to be fair, an 'apt update && apt full-upgrade' will bring all the installed packages up to date, so it's not horribly obsolete.

Not true. Buster is only receiving security updates at this time.

I agree with you in spirit, but it IS receiving security updates, therefore not totally obsolete. It is deprecated, and eventually WILL become obsolete, but right now it's teetering on the brink.

[dloranger]

any ideas what is going wrong?

I don't believe the RPi Imager supports logging in as root instead of a normal user.

Also, root login is disabled by default.

You must enable root login in '/etc/ssh/sshd_config' by changing:

Code: Select all

#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password

to

Code: Select all

PermitRootLogin yes

You must restart ssh following this change:

Code: Select all

systemctl restart ssh

Thanks for getting back to me, I figured that might be the case, was hoping with the new mechanisms they would have removed that extra work. Rebuilding from scratch again with the pi user and will see how that goes

[bls]

Thanks for getting back to me, I figured that might be the case, was hoping with the new mechanisms they would have removed that extra work. Rebuilding from scratch again with the pi user and will see how that goes

When you get tired of spending too much time rebuilding your system, have a look at sdm. You can rebuild your system EXACTLY the way you want it with practically zero effort in 15-20 minutes on a Pi4 (slower Pis obviously take longer).

[kini]

Give this a try:

1. Write 2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img to an SD card using Etcher.

2. Create a file named user userconf (or userconf.txt) containing the following:

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

3. Place userconf (or userconf.txt) plus an empty file named ssh (or ssh.txt) in the BOOT (FAT32) partition of the SD card.

4. Insert the SD card in the Raspberry Pi and it should boot with access to user 'pi' (password : raspberry) via SSH.

Hi, I've tried to use your example to log in to my raspberry pi but it doesn't work. When I try to log in after I've copied

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

into userconf.txt (I've tried userconf too) file it just returns access denied same as without the usercomf file. Is this still supported?

[butchkemper]

so I have tried this with the imager as well as the config file using the lite image, no luck.

any ideas what is going wrong?

all I get is the following when trying to log in

login as: root
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:
Access denied
root@OpenRepeater's password:

The config file method establishes the userid "pi" with the password "raspberry" and you are trying to login with the userid "root".

Butch

[butchkemper]

Give this a try:

1. Write 2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img to an SD card using Etcher.

2. Create a file named user userconf (or userconf.txt) containing the following:

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

3. Place userconf (or userconf.txt) plus an empty file named ssh (or ssh.txt) in the BOOT (FAT32) partition of the SD card.

4. Insert the SD card in the Raspberry Pi and it should boot with access to user 'pi' (password : raspberry) via SSH.

Hi, I've tried to use your example to log in to my raspberry pi but it doesn't work. When I try to log in after I've copied

Code: Select all

pi:$6$c70VpvPsVNCG0YR5$l5vWWLsLko9Kj65gcQ8qvMkuOoRkEagI90qi3F/Y7rm8eNYZHW8CY6BOIKwMH7a3YYzZYL90zf304cAHLFaZE0

into userconf.txt (I've tried userconf too) file it just returns access denied same as without the usercomf file. Is this still supported?

You need to login with the userid "pi" and the password "raspberry" because that is what the userconf file sets.

Butch

[kini]

You need to login with the userid "pi" and the password "raspberry" because that is what the userconf file sets.

Yes, I know that. I've tried to log in with username pi and password raspberry. I don't know why you think I've tried it with username root.

[HawaiianPi]

Yes, I know that. I've tried to log in with username pi and password raspberry.

Using Raspberry Pi Imager's Advanced options, or manually configuring the old way, with the addition of a userconf file, works for myself and most others.

If it isn't working for you, then either you have done something wrong, or have omitted a step.

Tell us EXACTLY what you did, step by step, from card creation to login failure (leave nothing out).

[kini]

Ok, I've installed the Raspberry PI OS via the Raspberry Pi Imager by selecting the OS , the SD card and then I clicked on write. When it finished I've put ssh.txt and userconf.txt (with the username and password) file into the boot directory. Then I've inserted the SD card into the Raspberry Pi and turned it on. When I've tried to log in via Putty it responded with Access denied message.

[HawaiianPi]

I just tested this procedure again buy writing 2022-04-04-raspios-bullseye-armhf-lite.img.xz to an SD card with Etcher, then adding the 'ssh' and 'userconf' files (with the username and hashed password from RonR's post above), along with wpa_supplicant.conf (for my wireless network).

All of those files were put on the small FAT32 "boot" partition of the card. Then I safely ejected the card and used it to boot one of my Raspberry Pi computers, and after waiting for it to boot, I was able to SSH login as the pi user with the password raspberry.

So what aren't you telling us (I asked you not to leave anything out)?

For example, what model of Pi is it, and how is it connected to your network?
What kind of network is it?
What else is connected to your Pi?
What are you using for a power supply?

[kini]

I'm using Raspberry Pi 2B+ with an original power adapter (it was included in the box). It is connected to 1000 Gb/s LAN network and there is nothing else connected to the Pi.

[drgeoff]

I'm using Raspberry Pi 2B+

There is not and never has been such model of RPi. If you cannot get that right, what else are you not doing correctly?

Use RPi Imager to preload the username and password as in someone's screen grab above. (But don't use root as the username name.)

[B.Goode]

Ok, I've installed the Raspberry PI OS via the Raspberry Pi Imager by selecting the OS , the SD card and then I clicked on write. When it finished I've put ssh.txt and userconf.txt (with the username and password) file into the boot directory. Then I've inserted the SD card into the Raspberry Pi and turned it on. When I've tried to log in via Putty it responded with Access denied message.

Requests for clarity seem to be continually needed...

When I've tried to log in via Putty

How did you know what host or target to specify for PuTTY to connect to? Did the username you configured for PuTTY match the one in userconf.txt?