How to Install MagicMirror² Software

Today I am going to show you how to install MagicMirror² Software on your Raspberry Pi 3 B+.

(Step-by-step)

In fact, after reading this article, you will be able to install the software on your own with all of the kinks worked out.

Let’s dive right in…

• Step #1: Update Your OS
• Step #2: Install MagicMirror²
• Step #3: Configure Settings
• Bonus Step: Add 3rd Party Modules

Step #1: Update the OS

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

Step #2: Install MagicMirror²

curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh | bash

Copy config.js.sample to config.js

cp MagicMirror/config/config.js.sample MagicMirror/config/config.js

Edit config.js (see magicmirror.builders for configuration options)

nano MagicMirror/config/config.js

Turn off the screensaver
edit ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart:

sudo nano ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

Add the following lines:

@xset s noblank
@xset s off
@xset -dpms

Edit /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf:

sudo nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf

Add the following line below [SeatDefaults]

xserver-command=X -s 0 -dpms

Step #3: Configure Settings

Weather Widget

• Get Weather API Key: http://openweathermap.org/
• Add API Code to your config file:

sudo nano ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js

How to Start Software Automatically When Booting

Install PM2 using NPM:

sudo npm install -g pm2

To make sure PM2 can do it’s job when (re)booting your operating system, it needs to be started on boot. Luckily, PM2 has a handy helper for this.

pm2 startup

PM2 will now show you a command you have to execute.

To use PM2 in combination with MagicMirror, we need to make a simple shell script. Preferable, we put this script outside the MagicMirror folder to make sure it won’t give us any issues if we want to upgrade the mirror.

cd ~
nano mm.sh

Add the following lines:

cd ~/MagicMirror
DISPLAY=:0 npm start

Save and close, using the commands CTRL-O and CTRL-X. Now make sure the shell script is executable bij performing the following command:

chmod +x mm.sh

Start MagicMirror with the following command:

pm2 start mm.sh

Save your configuration:

pm2 save

Your MagicMirror will now start automatically on boot. If you make any changes, you can reload MagicMirror with the following command:

pm2 restart mm

Additional configuration instructions can be found at: www.magicmirror.builders.

3rd Party Modules

MagicMirror² Software is completely open source and people are crafting modules to add additional functionality to the smart mirror widgets.

You can check them out here:

https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/wiki/3rd-Party-Modules

Now I Want to Hear From You.

There you have it:

My complete instructions on how to install MagicMirror² software.

Now I’d like to hear from you…

Did you struggle with any of steps I outlined?

Are you going to install any of the 3rd party modules?

Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.