Main Takeaways
- Get that old Raspberry Pi out of the drawer – there are still plenty of ways to put it to good use.
- Build a home security camera or a retro gaming system using your old Raspberry Pi – new projects await.
- Host a website, block ads, or turn a wired printer into a wireless one – explore the limits of your veteran Pi.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released over a dozen different models, with each successive model offering improved features over the one before it. With all the shiny new Raspberry Pis on the market, it’s easy to dismiss older models as outdated. However, just like with an old computer, you can still get great results from an old Pi.
So, if you have an old Raspberry Pi 3B or even an original Model B stashed away in a drawer, just dig it out, as there are heaps of ways you can put your old Raspberry Pi to good use.
Preparing an old Raspberry Pi for new use
While an old Raspberry Pi is unlikely to match the Raspberry Pi 5 in terms of performance, there’s still plenty you can do with an old, forgotten Raspberry Pi. Depending on its age and processing power, you may not be able to run all of the projects listed below on your Raspberry Pi, but there’s something for every Pi.
First, you need to make sure you have a power supply compatible with your Raspberry Pi model to avoid unnecessary freezes and reboots. You will also need a high-quality microSD card for the operating system as well as your files and data.
The operating system must be updated to the latest version of the Raspberry Pi operating system (formerly known as Raspbian), which is supported by your Raspberry Pi model. The Raspberry Pi Model 3B, a 2016 release, can run the 64-bit version of the Raspberry Pi operating system, but older models are only compatible with the 32-bit version.
If you already have an older version of Raspberry Pi OS installed, it is recommended that you back up any stored files and upload a new image. Alternatively, you can try a lightweight operating system for Raspberry Pi, such as DietPi, Puppy Linux, or RISC OS. This can help manage the limited resources of your older Raspberry Pi more effectively.
Some accessories can help you get the most out of your Raspberry Pi, but they are mostly optional and project specific.
1. Build a Home Security Camera
You don’t need a powerful Raspberry Pi to build an affordable motion detection security camera. Using a low-spec Raspberry Pi model and a Raspberry Pi Camera Module or even a Raspberry Pi Camera Module, you can create a security camera for fun and a learning experience. If your Raspberry Pi model doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi, you’ll also need a Wi-Fi adapter or opt for a wired Ethernet connection instead.
The motionEye app is another essential for this project. It provides an online interface to the open source video monitoring software Motion. To make setup easier, you can install the motionEye operating system (motionEyeOS) on your Raspberry Pi.
By combining all of these elements, you can have a video surveillance system that can detect motion and record the results, so you can review them later. You can also set up MotionEye to send emails and push notifications to another device if an intruder is detected.
Keep in mind that motionEyeOS is outdated and will not work on newer devices. However, it works fine on older Raspberry Pi models.
2. Build an old gaming system
RetroPie is a retro gaming distribution for Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers. It's a collection of open source software that lets you rediscover the joy of 8- and 16-bit gaming on your Pi.
RetroPie lets you emulate old game consoles, home computers, and arcade machines. There are other options for retro gaming on the Raspberry Pi, such as Batocera (a full operating system), DOSBOX, and Raspberry Pi game ports that work without emulators.
You can take things even further with a themed case, either purchased or custom-made, and other accessories, such as a battery pack for a portable setup, as well as a display and controllers. With these items, you can build a portable retro gaming console that runs on the Raspberry Pi.
3. Turn on Pi-hole to block all ads
Pi-hole is a Linux network-wide ad and tracker blocker that works across all devices connected to your network. It's a free, lightweight application that requires only 512MB of RAM, so it works on every Raspberry Pi model, from the oldest to the newest.
Pi-hole is easy to install, and you can have it up and running in less than ten minutes. With Pi-hole installed, you can block ads and trackers on all your networked devices: smartphones, printers, smart TVs, smart speakers, PCs, etc. Unlike browser extensions, Pi-hole blocks domains at the network level, so it is not limited to ads on web pages.
The Pi-hole GitHub repository has all the instructions you need to install the app quickly and easily.
4. Host a Website on Your Raspberry Pi
Why pay for web hosting when you can run a website from your Raspberry Pi? It could be a personal blog, a portfolio page, or an IoT dashboard that remotely controls your smart devices. Hosting a website or web page on your Raspberry Pi is a fun way to use it, and it can save you money.
You can host a static website with simple text and images on a Raspberry Pi Model A with at least 256MB of RAM. If you have a more powerful Raspberry Pi like the 3B or 3B+, you can host a dynamic website using Apache or nginx. You can even take things a step further by using a Cloudflare Tunnel to make your website even more secure.
You will need to always have a backup power supply on hand for your Raspberry Pi. You will also need a reliable internet connection with upload speeds that can handle the website traffic.
5. Convert old printer to wireless printer
Do you have a wired printer that you wish was wireless? No, you don’t need to buy a new one. It’s easy to host a print server on your Raspberry Pi and turn your old wired printer into a wireless one. You can get rid of cables and save yourself the hassle of drilling new holes in your walls every time you move or rearrange your home office.
To host a wireless print server and send print jobs wirelessly, you will need a Raspberry Pi with Wi-Fi or a wireless USB adapter and the CUPS print server application installed. Once you have the Raspberry Pi connected to the printer and your home network, you can use the little computer as a print server. Even if you don’t need to make the printer wireless, this project will teach you about networked print management systems.
6. Stream music to an old speaker
An old Raspberry Pi can breathe new life into your old speakers. Once again, the Raspberry Pi offers the opportunity to ditch the wires and stream music to your speakers without the need for a wireless connection.
You’ll need an old speaker with an AUX input (an old keyboard or guitar amplifier will do for this project), a Raspberry Pi with an audio output (except Zero models), and the balenaSound app. balenaSound lets you add multi-room audio streaming to your old speakers and audio devices. It supports Bluetooth, Airplay, and Spotify Connect and can replace the more expensive Sonos port.
You can improve the sound quality by purchasing a dedicated DAC HAT that plugs into the 40-pin GPIO connector on the Raspberry Pi. To build your own Raspberry Pi music player, follow the instructions on balena's blog.
These projects are just a starting point, and with time and inspiration, you can even come up with other project ideas to use up your old Raspberry Pi. However, the projects above are sure to keep you busy. And when you’re ready to buy a new Pi, be sure to consider the new Raspberry Pi 5 model.