VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management
Install Applications with the Raspberry Pi Store
Learn how to install Raspberry Pi applications with the Pi Store, including setup, searching, LibreOffice, My Library, and troubleshooting.
The Pi Store is a graphical storefront for discovering, acquiring, installing, and launching Raspberry Pi software and games. It provides a friendlier alternative to choosing packages from a terminal.
The store interface should not be confused with the operating system's package repository. A package repository is a software source containing package metadata and downloadable files. Raspberry Pi OS accesses its repositories through APT, while the Pi Store presents selected software through a graphical catalog. The store may ultimately use package-management components to install software, but the two interfaces are different.
Requirements before using the Pi Store
- A working Raspberry Pi desktop session.
- An active network connection for loading listings and downloading software.
- Enough free storage for the application and its dependencies. A dependency is additional software required for an application to work.
- Permission to install software, usually through an administrator account and password.
Some official Raspberry Pi OS images may include the client, while other installations may not. If the client is absent and the package is available for your release, install it with APT. APT is the command-line package-management system used by Debian-based Raspberry Pi operating systems.
Install the Pi Store client
- Open a terminal from the desktop.
- Refresh the local package index and install the client:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install pistoreThe first command refreshes the local list of available packages. The second installs the package named pistore. The sudo prefix runs an administrative task with elevated privileges, so the system may request your password. Package downloads, dependency setup, and installation can take several minutes.
Start the Pi Store
When the client is installed and available in the desktop environment, open it from:
Menu > Internet > Pi Store
The client may take a little time to load its catalog. If it requests an account, follow the sign-in instructions shown by the application. If the menu entry is missing, see the troubleshooting section below.
Find software in the catalog
Use the Explore area to browse available applications. Depending on the catalog version, you may be able to sort or filter results by popularity, ratings, category, or price. Use the search field when you know part of an application's name or description.
| Store area | Purpose | Typical action |
|---|---|---|
| Explore | Browse categories and featured software. | Sort or filter by popularity, ratings, category, or price where available. |
| Search | Find software by keyword. | Enter a name or partial keyword and review the results. |
| Application details page | Show information about one application. | Check the description, screenshots or logo, cost, ratings, dependencies, and Download control. |
| My Library | Record applications acquired or installed through the store. | Select an item and use Launch when that control is available. |
Evaluate search results by their name, category, description, rating, and cost. Open an application's icon or listing to view its details page. Check whether it is free, whether it supports your Raspberry Pi architecture and operating-system release, and how large the download may be. Large applications and their dependencies can take considerable time to download and unpack.
Download and install an application
- Open the application's details page.
- Review the description, screenshots or logo, rating, price, dependencies, and storage requirements.
- Choose Download to begin acquiring it.
- Wait while the store downloads the required files.
- Allow the client to install the application and any required dependencies.
- Wait for the completion indicator before closing the store.
The process normally consists of downloading files, installing packages, and completing application setup. Keep the Raspberry Pi powered and connected to the network. Do not close the store or interrupt the installation unless the interface reports an error.
Worked example: install LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free office productivity suite. It includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, among other tasks.
- Open Menu > Internet > Pi Store.
- In the Explore area, select the search field and enter
libre. - Open the result named LibreOffice, rather than an unrelated result containing a similar word.
- Inspect its description, rating, cost, requirements, and available download information.
- Choose Download.
- Allow the required components to download and install. Do not shut down the Raspberry Pi or close the store while setup is in progress.
- Open My Library after installation finishes.
- Select LibreOffice and choose Launch.
- Confirm success when the LibreOffice window opens. You can also look for its applications in the Raspberry Pi desktop menu.
Manage installed downloads
My Library records applications that you acquired or installed through the store. Open it to locate a previous item and use its Launch control. Installed software may also appear in the normal Raspberry Pi desktop application menu, even if you do not launch it from the store.
Verify the installation
The most useful basic verification is to launch the program and confirm that its main window opens without an error. For LibreOffice, opening its start center or one of its office tools confirms that the installation completed sufficiently to run.
Basic troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Suggested check or action |
|---|---|---|
| Pi Store is not available in the menu | The client is not installed, the package is unavailable, or the desktop menu has not refreshed. | Try sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install pistore if the package is supported. If the menu does not change, log out and back in or restart the desktop session. On modern releases, verify whether the legacy client is supported at all. |
| Search results do not load | No network connection, DNS failure, or a catalog/service-side problem. | Confirm network connectivity by loading another internet resource. Then close and reopen the store after connectivity is restored. |
| Download does not begin or stops | A disconnected network, insufficient storage, or a stalled catalog connection. | Check the network and available disk space, restart the store, and retry. Keep power connected during the operation. |
| Installation fails | Missing or stale package metadata, an unsupported architecture or release, insufficient storage, or an unavailable dependency. | Refresh package lists with APT, check free space, review the store's error message, and check the system's package-management tools for dependency or repository errors. |
| Installed program cannot be found | The item is listed in My Library or was placed in a desktop menu category. | Open My Library and use Launch. Also search the Raspberry Pi desktop menu for the application's name. |
Key terms
- Pi Store: A graphical storefront application for browsing, acquiring, installing, and launching Raspberry Pi software.
- pistore: The APT package name for the Pi Store client when that package is available.
- APT: The command-line package-management system used by Debian-based Raspberry Pi operating systems.
- Package repository: A source of package metadata and downloadable application files.
- Package index: Local metadata describing packages available from configured repositories.
- Explore tab: The store section for browsing and searching applications.
- My Library: The store section showing applications acquired or installed by the user.