Wondering what to do with that Raspberry Pi you bought? Can this little device really act as a desktop PC? As a server? As a radio station? Yes, it can!

To get you started, we've curated this list of things to do with a Raspberry Pi, each with its own detailed tutorial on MakeUseOf.

We'll assume you're using a Raspberry Pi 4, but most of these projects will work on older models and even on Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero 2W boards.

1. Replace Your Desktop PC With a Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi as a desktop computer

The simplest way to use a Raspberry Pi is as a desktop computer. This is particularly suited to later models of the Raspberry Pi, with increased CPU speeds and RAM. The Raspberry Pi 400 is built into a keyboard, ideal for productivity.

Wireless networking and Bluetooth are ideal for input devices and connectivity. Meanwhile, operating systems like Raspberry Pi OS and Ubuntu are ideal, and come with office tools built in.

Use a Raspberry Pi as a network printer host

Older printers with no Wi-Fi (or insecure Wi-Fi standards) can be brought online thanks to a Raspberry Pi.

Team up the Samba file sharing software, and CUPS print software, and you can make that printer wireless. The Common Unix Printing System provides drivers for your printer and an administration console.

Any computer on your network can then access the printer, and you can even add AirPrint support to Raspberry Pi, for iPhone and Android devices.

3. Cut the Cord With Kodi: A Raspberry Pi Media Center

Kodi running on Raspberry Pi 3B+

One of the most popular uses for the Raspberry Pi is as a Kodi media center. Several Kodi builds have been released, with OSMC and LibreELEC still going strong.

If you prefer to keep your computer available for other projects, Kodi can be installed on Raspberry Pi OS and added to retro gaming systems. Installing Kodi comes with some caveats. We recommend you only install safe and legal add-ons from the official Kodi repositories.

4. Build a Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming Machine

Another popular use for a Raspberry Pi is as a retro gaming machine. Compact and versatile, the device is as suitable for a full size arcade cabinet, as it is as part of a Game Boy-esque handheld.

Various retro gaming operating systems are available, all with controller support. Many classic gaming platforms can be emulated, from 1970s arcade machines and Atari consoles to the Nintendo Wii.

5. Build a Minecraft Game Server

Your Pi can be used as a Minecraft game server, letting you host online games. These can be played with people on your home network, in the same building, or on the internet.

Beyond Minecraft, other multiplayer network games can be set up on the Raspberry Pi. Open source ports of Quake, Civilization, Doom, and Open TTD can be installed as game servers on your Raspberry Pi.

6. Build a Stop-Motion Camera

Use Raspberry Pi as a stop-motion camera

Although stop-motion can be made with a smartphone, a Raspberry Pi and dedicated camera module can also be employed.

Using the Python programming language, a suitable mount, and a well-lit area, you’ll also need to rig a button to the Pi’s GPIO.

You’ll need an overhead mount for Terry Gilliam-esque paper craft animation, or a standard tripod for clay- or toy-based projects.

Stop-motion photography is a time-consuming process, with practice required for good results.

7. Make a Time-Lapse Video

Combining the Raspberry Pi camera module with a different Python script captures time-lapse movies. This is done by taking single frames with a timed delay.

But what should you film? Flowers in the garden, fruit in a bowl, people passing by... perhaps the clouds in the sky, or the changing weather? You're only limited by your own imagination, and how far you're willing to travel to get a good video.

8. Broadcast a Pirate FM Radio Station

Raspberry Pi FM antenna

Incredibly, the Pi can broadcast over a short distance on the FM band, ideal if you need to communicate with a community that has no internet access.

Broadcasting over FM is illegal without a license.

While largely unsuitable for urban use, it might prove useful in remote locations.

A portable battery and soldering skills are required. Broadcast audio should be preloaded to the microSD card, and played in a loop.

9. Build a Raspberry Pi Web Server

raspberry pi 4

Any Raspberry Pi can host a homepage or blog, with either static web pages or database-driven content.

You’ll need Apache, and for more advanced websites, a full LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) stack. It's useful if you also set up FTP.

Once these steps are completed, save HTML files into the /www/ directory, and your web server is ready. Or you might install some specific web software like WordPress.

Get the website online with a static IP address from your internet provider. A cheaper option is No-IP.com.

10. Host a Library of Audiobooks

A browser window showing hundreds of book covers arranged into series

Self-hosted audiobook server Audiobookshelf can be set up on your Raspberry Pi for access anywhere. It also supports podcasts.

Once installed (as a Docker container), the software can be configured to pull audiobooks from wherever you own them. Apple, Audible, Google, and other providers are supported.

With the library compiled, it can be accessed via your Raspberry Pi or from any browser-equipped device.

11. Inspiring Digital Photo Frame

While off-the-shelf digital photo frames are attractive, they can be limited in storage space. What if they could do more than just display your favorite family photos?

With this Raspberry Pi project, you can create a digital photo frame that delivers inspiring messages alongside photos of beautiful scenes. While we used a Raspberry Pi touchscreen display for this project, any compatible LCD should be suitable.

12. Photograph the Night Sky

Alongside the standard Raspberry Pi Camera Module, a No-IR module is also available. This is particularly suitable for nighttime photography.

For instance, you might use time-lapse photography to track the path of the stars and the moon overnight. Or employ a slow shutter speed to get a trace effect. Better still, you can leave it running while you sleep!

13. Build a Network Monitoring Tool

NEMS Linux network monitor for Raspberry Pi

Need to monitor the devices on your network? Concerned about a lack of connectivity, or need notification when your website is offline?

Several network monitoring tools are available, but none is as easy to install and configure as NEMS (Nagios Enterprise Monitoring Server). Once installed on your Raspberry Pi 2 or later, you can monitor uptime, view a visualization of the devices on your network, and more.

14. A Raspberry Pi Plex Server

Add media directory to plex

Another way to enjoy media streaming on the Raspberry Pi is to configure it as a Plex server. Any PC, TV, or any other device running the standard Plex client app can then view media stored on the Raspberry Pi.

It might even be another Raspberry Pi.

Browsing the server's media should be straightforward, enabling you to enjoy all movies, TV shows and music stored on it.

15. Get Closer to Nature and Recognize Birdsong

Raspberry Pi 4 with USB sound card adapter and lavalier microphone

The Raspberry Pi has various garden and nature-adjacent uses. One particularly intriguing project is to record and log birdsong, using BirdNET-Pi.

Simply hook up a microphone to your Pi, install the software, and place the kit within range of chirping birds. The songs are recorded, the birds identified, and various charts and graphs provided in the UI to gauge which species are in range.

Information can be uploaded to the worldwide citizen science project BirdWorld.

16. Learn How to Code on a Raspberry Pi

One of the key uses of a Raspberry Pi is to encourage coding skills with the platform's pre-installed programming tools. Among these is Scratch.

A programming tool that is simple enough to manipulate LEDs and program basic games, Scratch eschews the complexities of inputting lines of code. Instead, you simply drag code blocks into place using a mouse. These are translated into code which can be exported as a program to run.

17. Stream Steam Games to Raspberry Pi

Launch Steam Link on the Raspberry Pi

With a Raspberry Pi 3 or later you can stream Steam games from your PC or Steam Deck to a TV. This is possible thanks to the Steam Link software and Steam’s In-Home Streaming feature.

For the best results, the Raspberry Pi or the PC (preferably both) should be connected to your router via Ethernet. This is because Wi-Fi isn’t fast enough for streaming games without latency.

18. Build a Smart Mirror

Ever wanted to catch up with the latest news, movie trailers, pop videos, and traffic and weather information while shaving or doing makeup? The answer is a smart mirror, a device powered by a Raspberry Pi.

Basically, this is a two-way mirror with a special display mounted behind the glass. Any type of mirror can be used for a smart mirror project; you should use one that suits your purposes.

19. Install Games on the Raspberry Pi

If you're not comfortable setting up streaming or emulators, plenty of games can be installed on the Raspberry Pi.

Some great games can be run on your Raspberry Pi without emulators. A great example is Doom, which incredibly will run on the Raspberry Pi without emulation.

Other examples include FreeCiv, Quake III, and even the open source SimCity clone, Micropolis.

20. Build a Raspberry Pi NAS for Your Data

start uploading the files to owncloud

Network-attached storage is a type of data storage that is optimized for serving data to computers on your network.

A Raspberry Pi 4 is best suited to this; you’ll also need some additional storage to take full advantage.

With ownCloud installed on your Raspberry Pi, you have complete control over your own data. It’s essentially a cloud storage that you set up yourself.