Which Raspbian version is best for Pi3 Model B?

[PakLang_Steve_]

Hi,
I have a Pi3 Model B, purchased in 2016. Not used much at all. But now ready to make use of it.

Which version of Raspbian should I be using? Do I upgrade to the latest version? I cannot find advice on the Pi.org pages, or elsewhere, advising recommended Raspbian for each model.

I have upgraded all packages, but I understand this does not upgrade Raspbian.

Thanks, Steve

[DougieLawson]

Just download a fresh copy of Raspbian Buster 2019-09-26 (not NOOBS) write that with BalenaEtcher and start with a fresh and up to date system.

[B.Goode]

Which version of Raspbian should I be using? Do I upgrade to the latest version? I cannot find advice on the Pi.org pages, or elsewhere, advising recommended Raspbian for each model.

At the top of https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/ -

Raspbian is our official operating system for all models of the Raspberry Pi. Download it here

And the download links that follow always refer to the most recent available version of Raspbian.

It is so simple that it seems puzzling in a complicated age. A release of the Raspbian Operating System always (at the time of writing) works on all current and previous Raspberry Pi boards available at the time of the software release.

(The converse is not true: the Operating System must coincide with or post-date the hardware.)


'Best' is subjective and may depend on criteria you have not itemised. But the current release is the one that has benefitted from all prior experience and development, and is the one that is the primary focus of support from Raspberry Pi.

[fruitoftheloom]

Hi,
I have a Pi3 Model B, purchased in 2016. Not used much at all. But now ready to make use of it.

Which version of Raspbian should I be using? Do I upgrade to the latest version? I cannot find advice on the Pi.org pages, or elsewhere, advising recommended Raspbian for each model.

I have upgraded all packages, but I understand this does not upgrade Raspbian.

Thanks, Steve

Going from one Raspbian Release to another has never been a recommendation, states in the Raspbian Buster Blog on the Official Web Site:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/buster ... -raspbian/

As ever with major version changes, our recommendation is that you download a new clean image from the usual place on our site – this will ensure that you are starting from a clean, working Buster system.

We do not recommend upgrading an existing Stretch (or earlier) system to Buster – we can’t know what changes everyone has made to their system, and so have no idea what may break when you move to Buster.

[andrum99]

Hi,
I have a Pi3 Model B, purchased in 2016. Not used much at all. But now ready to make use of it.

Which version of Raspbian should I be using? Do I upgrade to the latest version? I cannot find advice on the Pi.org pages, or elsewhere, advising recommended Raspbian for each model.

I have upgraded all packages, but I understand this does not upgrade Raspbian.

I would have a look at what you have done on the Pi already, then perhaps save anything you want to keep to a USB stick, before imaging the Pi's SD card with the latest version of Raspbian (not NOOBS). Anything on the SD card will be lost.

It is always best to use the latest version, as this will mean you get access to all of the latest features and bug fixes. Upgrading from one generation of Raspbian to another, for example going for Stretch to Buster, can be done but is more likely to cause problems, hence the advice to start again from scratch.

[LTolledo]

Raspbian Buster with Full Desktop worked for my RPi3B.....was installed using the "Etcher method"

try it! its free!....