Raspberry Pi Store: Finding, Downloading, and Publishing Raspberry Pi Content

Learn how to access the Raspberry Pi Store, register, browse categories, download content, and publish an application from Raspbian or the web.

The Raspberry Pi Store is a content marketplace and discovery service for Raspberry Pi software and learning resources. It was introduced in 2012 to make applications and related materials easier to find and share.

Beginners can use it to locate games, applications, tutorials, books, videos, development tools, magazines, and other Raspberry Pi resources in one place. Developers can use account-based publishing features to share their own work with the Raspberry Pi community. Much of the content is free or available at a low price.

Ways to access the Raspberry Pi Store

You can access the store in two ways:

Web browser: Open the store through a browser when you want to browse or use its web-based features.
Pi Store application: Open the dedicated desktop client from Raspbian.

In the Raspbian desktop, use this menu path:

Menu > Internet > Pi Store

The desktop menu path is operating-system navigation; web access is separate and starts in a browser. Both methods require a working Internet connection before online store functions can load.

If your Raspberry Pi is not connected, follow the steps in Connect to the Internet before opening the store.

Registering and signing in

You may be able to browse available content before signing in. Registration is needed for account-dependent actions such as downloading content when the store requires an account and uploading your own work.

Open the store through the Pi Store application or a web browser.
Select Log In.
Choose Register if you do not already have an account.
Provide your email address and create a password.
After registration, sign in with the registered email address and password.

Keep your account details available when you want to download restricted content or publish an application. Creating an account does not change the basic distinction between browsing through the store and using account-dependent functions.

Browsing content with the Explore tab

Open the Explore tab to discover available content. The store groups material into five main areas:

Category	Typical content	Best suited for
Games	Downloadable Raspberry Pi games	Entertainment and game discovery
Apps	Downloadable applications	Everyday software and useful programs
Tutorials	Instructional books, videos, and introductory learning materials	Learning Raspberry Pi concepts and practical skills
Dev Tools	Software and resources for developers	Programming and application development
Media	Magazines and other Raspberry Pi-related publications	Reading and keeping up with Raspberry Pi topics

Choose a category according to your goal: use Games for entertainment, Apps for general software, Tutorials for instruction, Dev Tools for development resources, and Media for publications.

Downloading and obtaining content

To obtain an item, open Explore, select a category, and choose an item that interests you. Review its details before starting the download. The details help you decide whether the item matches your needs and whether it is software or reference material.

The store can provide several kinds of content, including:

Games and applications that you download for use on the Raspberry Pi.
Tutorials, books, and videos intended for instruction or reference.
Development tools and related developer resources.
Magazines and other Raspberry Pi publications.

A downloadable application is software intended to run on the Raspberry Pi. A book, video, tutorial, or magazine is reference or instructional media; downloading it gives you access to the material rather than installing an application. Free items can generally be obtained without a purchase charge. Paid or low-cost items should be handled using the options and instructions shown by the store, without assuming a particular payment process.

Activity	Internet connection needed	Account/sign-in needed	Where to begin
Browse content	Yes	Browsing may be available before sign-in	Open the store, then choose Explore
Download content	Yes	Register and sign in when required by the store	Explore, select a category, then select an item
Upload an application	Yes	Yes	Select Log In, register if necessary, and sign in

Practical examples

Find a simple Raspberry Pi program

Connect the Raspberry Pi to the Internet.
Open Menu > Internet > Pi Store in Raspbian.
Open Explore.
Browse the Apps category.
Select an appropriate item, review its details, and proceed with its download.

Find introductory learning resources

Open the Pi Store desktop client or access the store through a web browser.
Choose Explore.
Open Tutorials.
Choose a book or video appropriate for a beginner.

Find Raspberry Pi publications

Open Explore.
Select Media.
Browse magazines and related Raspberry Pi resources.

Publishing an application

Signed-in users can use the store's publishing or upload capability to submit their own application or other work. This gives developers a way to share Raspberry Pi software with the community.

Registration is necessary before using upload functions. The basic process is:

Open the store and select Log In.
Choose Register if you do not have an account.
Provide an email address and password.
Sign in after registration.
Use the available publishing or upload capability to submit the application.

The store may present its own instructions when you submit work. Follow those instructions rather than assuming packaging, approval, licensing, or payment requirements.

Troubleshooting access problems

The store cannot load

Confirm that the Raspberry Pi is connected to the Internet.
Verify that the network connection works, then reopen the store.
Remember that online store functions cannot work without Internet access.

You cannot download or upload content

Select Log In.
Choose Register if you have not created an account.
Sign in with the registered email address and password.

You cannot find the desktop client

Check Menu > Internet > Pi Store in Raspbian.
If you are using a web browser, remember that web access does not appear in the Raspbian application menu.

You cannot find the resource you want

Use Games for games and Apps for general software.
Use Tutorials for books, videos, and learning materials.
Use Dev Tools for developer-focused resources.
Use Media for magazines and Raspberry Pi-related publications.

Related Raspberry Pi resources

Exam-relevant notes

The Raspberry Pi Store was introduced in 2012.
The dedicated desktop client is opened through Menu > Internet > Pi Store in Raspbian.
The Explore tab contains Games, Apps, Tutorials, Dev Tools, and Media.
A working Internet connection is required for online store functions.
Browsing may be possible before sign-in, but registration and sign-in are required for account-dependent downloading and publishing actions.