Use a Raspberry Pi as a Wireless Bridge Adapter

James Garijo-Garde
Sep 1, 2018 · 5 min read
The Raspberry Pi is inexpensive, compact, and uses fairly minimal energy. Take advantage of these strengths to bring wireless internet to wired-only devices.

Although less of a problem with each passing year, every so often an internet-enabled device comes along without Wi-Fi connectivity, or an older device must be set up away from wired Ethernet access points. This can be a compromising dilemma begrudgingly solved by setting up the device in a less-desirable location within a wire’s reach or by foregoing internet access for the machine, but it can also be an opportunity for creative solution. Enter the Raspberry Pi Wireless Bridge Adapter (or “Pi-Fi Bridge,” as I like to call it).


I use my Pi-Fi Bridge to connect my original model Xbox 360, a gaming console without built-in Wi-Fi or broad support for USB Wi-Fi adapters, to the internet over Wi-Fi.

Before I begin, it is important to outline the alternatives to building a Pi-Fi Bridge. Plenty of dedicated technology can solve this problem better than a multipurpose microcomputer like the Raspberry Pi (heck, you could even use a multipurpose normal computer to do the same thing!). But, in some cases, a Raspberry Pi wireless bridge is the best move. Maybe (like me) you couldn’t figure out what to do with your Raspberry Pi and wanted an excuse for a project. Maybe you already use your Pi for something else and it could manage this additional task without trouble. Maybe your life goal is to make everything as difficult for yourself as possible. I don’t know. Whatever your reason, if a Pi-Fi Bridge is how you’re expanding your network, this guide is for you.


You will need:

  • A Raspberry Pi: Model 2 or newer. I used a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B and, although it works fine, it is a bit slow with the operating system we’re going to install, so I would recommend going for what’s (at the time of writing) the most powerful Pi model: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ if you can. The initial setup and subsequent boots will be faster with the more advanced model. If you use the Model 3, you also won’t have to worry about the next item on this list.

For the initial setup of the Raspberry Pi, you will also need a computer with internet access and a mouse, keyboard, and display compatible with the microcomputer.


Let’s begin! Start by setting up Ubuntu MATE for Raspberry Pi on the microSD card. You should follow this guide for more specific instructions, but basically you need to format the card, download and flash the operating system’s image, and pop the memory card into the Pi when you’re done.

A close-up of the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B board. This is the Pi I used for my Pi-Fi Bridge. In the background is an Xbox 360 controller.

Once you’ve done that, connect the keyboard, mouse, display, and USB Wi-Fi adapter (if applicable) and boot up the Raspberry Pi. This will start the initial operating system setup process. This should be straight forward, but there is one important detail to be aware of: if, like me, you intend to regularly use your Pi-Fi Bridge without any input or display devices, you will want to ensure that you have the Pi set up to log in automatically. That way, if the Pi ever gets turned off, when it turns on again it will automatically log in and reconnect to the wireless network.

Note: If the Raspberry Pi cannot connect to Wi-Fi after the first boot, you will need to reboot the device before proceeding.

The next step is to connect the Raspberry Pi to your wireless network. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the upper right and set up your preferred network. When the Pi is connected to the internet, refer to this guide for sharing an internet connection over Ethernet from a computer running Ubuntu. I only found steps 1 through 4 for the server computer necessary, so start with those and move to step 5 and the steps for the client device only if you feel it is necessary.

As a final step, connect the Ethernet cable from the Raspberry Pi to the wired-only device. Once you’ve done that, you’re done!

Please feel free to leave a comment describing any devices you’ve managed to connect to the internet with this method and any additional steps necessary for that device if there are any. Oh, and if you see Jd0ubleG on Xbox Live, be polite and say hello!


Additional Notes:

When I first attempted to use my Raspberry Pi as a wireless bridge adapter, Ubuntu MATE was the only version of Ubuntu available for the Raspberry Pi. Since then, the mainstream Ubuntu distribution has released a version for the Raspberry Pi also. This guide should work for that Ubuntu installation also.

One may be able to achieve the same end result using Windows 10 IoT Core for Raspberry Pi and this guide.

It may be possible to use an additional USB Wi-Fi adapter with a Raspberry Pi to share a network connection over Wi-Fi with methods similar to those outlined in this guide. In other words, it may be possible to use a Raspberry Pi as a wireless range-extender or repeater.

There are other ways of turning a Raspberry Pi into a wireless bridge adapter! I feel that the guide I have written provides the easiest, most accessible way to make a Pi-Fi Bridge, but you are welcome to check out the other methods if you prefer.

James Garijo-Garde

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