How to Monitor Raspberry Pi Temperature (CLI & GUI Methods) - Raspberry Pi BD

🌡 Why Monitor Temperature?

• Prevent overheating and thermal throttling
• Extend hardware lifespan
• Optimize performance for heavy loads
• Monitor in real-time for peace of mind

🧰 What You’ll Need

• A Raspberry Pi (any model)
• Raspberry Pi OS (Lite or Desktop)
• Terminal access (SSH or local)

🔎 Check CPU Temperature via Terminal

Use this simple command to read the Pi’s temperature:

vcgencmd measure_temp

Sample output:

temp=47.8'C

For more details, including GPU and clock speed:

vcgencmd get_config int
vcgencmd measure_clock arm
vcgencmd measure_volts

📈 Monitor Continuously (Watch Command)

To monitor temperature in real-time:

watch -n 2 vcgencmd measure_temp

This refreshes the reading every 2 seconds.

📊 Using Desktop Tools

If you’re running the Raspberry Pi desktop, install the system monitor app:

sudo apt install psensor

Then launch it to visualize temperature trends, CPU load, and fan speeds (if supported).

⚠️ Set a Warning Temperature Threshold

To see if your Pi is throttling due to heat, use:

vcgencmd get_throttled

A value of 0x0 means all is good. Anything else means your Pi has experienced throttling.

🧊 How to Cool Down Your Pi

• Use a heatsink or cooling fan
• Place the Pi in a well-ventilated case
• Avoid overclocking unless well-cooled
• Lower the CPU load where possible

🔁 Bonus: Python Script for Monitoring

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import time
import os

while True:
    temp = os.popen("vcgencmd measure_temp").readline()
    print("Raspberry Pi CPU Temperature: " + temp.strip())
    time.sleep(5)

Save as monitor_temp.py and run it with:

python3 monitor_temp.py