# Inky Impression GPIO pinout? **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [July 18, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978 "2026-07-18T14:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![windows\_wimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@windows\_wimp](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/windows_wimp)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/1 "2026-07-18T14:22:53Z")
Haven’t played with Raspberry Pi for years, but recently bought Pi5 with Inky Impression (4 inch) colour e-ink display as I though it would be cool to have it display album covers etc as a desk ornament. However, as I want to put the Inky in a frame, I want to put the Pi behind the frame so it is hidden and would use a ribbon cable to connect Pi and Inky.. When I do connect them (with the Pi powered off) whenever I power on the pi goes dead and won’t come back on until I leave if a few minutes with the Inky disconnected. I suspect it is the wrong way round and I am shorting the circuit However I cannot find the pinouts for the Inky anywhere (apprently on the larger ones there is a drawing of the Pi which would help) so I have no idea which is Pin 1 on the Inky. Surely there is some documentation somehwhere? Nothing on the Inky itself, and most online docs suggest the Pi is plugged directly into the Inky (theoretically that should tell me the orientation, but can’t find diagramm for Inky 4, and loth to experiment and potentially blow the Pi. Anybody now. Or is there indeeed a priblem with the Inky? Either way I think it is poor for this device to be shipped with zero documentation about the pin layout, TIA ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/2 "2026-07-19T01:21:26Z")
Looking at it from the back it goes 40,38,36,34,… 39,37,35,33,… It’s the reverse of the Pi’s (Looking at it from the top) 2,4,6,8,… 1,3,5,7,… > **[Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinout](https://pinout.xyz/)** > > The comprehensive add-on boards & GPIO Pinout guide for the Raspberry Pi > **[Inky Impression at Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinout](https://pinout.xyz/pinout/inky_impression)** > > A 7-colour e-paper display for your Raspberry Pi ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/3 "2026-07-19T02:36:09Z")
There is a link on the product page to the following, > **[Getting Started with Inky Impression](https://learn.pimoroni.com/article/getting-started-with-inky-impression)** > > Learn how to install and get started with Inky Impression. – Pimoroni Learning Portal Which shows how to connect your Pi to it. And a whole lot more. What ribbon cable are you using? ---
**Author:** ![windows\_wimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@windows\_wimp](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/windows_wimp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/4 "2026-07-19T09:54:19Z")
I was using these Agatige GPIO Cable, Pack of 5 20 cm / 7.9 Inch 40 Pin Male to Female GPIO Wire Cable Extension Computer Accessories for Raspberry Pi 3.5/5 Inch TFT LCD Touch Screen Male to Female I did then try to connect the pi to tthe Inky but somehow beetween yesta=erday and today I have lost the header to raise the Inky GPIO in block for Pi 5, so have oredered replacement block from Pi Moroni and will try direct connection when it arrive. I also ordered GPIO Ribbon Extension Cable for HATs and Mini HATs to see if this cable is better. It is strange that plugging the Inky via the ribbon cabble above stopped the Pi powering on at all, though I am sure I have another post somewhere where the Inky Impression stopped the Pi booting. Could it be a fault in the Inky? ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/5 "2026-07-19T11:28:04Z")
You want to be careful if you short out the +5v or +3.3V you will blow the PMIC. Do that and the Pi won’t boot up ever again. Get the booster header and do the direct connection, right way around and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![windows\_wimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@windows\_wimp](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/windows_wimp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/6 "2026-07-19T15:28:02Z")
I still can’t see a definitive answer in thelinks as to where pin 1 is on the Inky - sorry if I am beingg dense.. Here I have images of the Pi 5 showing which pin I thinki is Pin 1 - please correct if wrong. I can only paste one image per post as a new member, so inky image follows. After this is the Inky Impression - is the corresponding Pin 1 A, B, C or D? My assumption was it is B but happy to be advised if not. Regards ![pi5_gpio_1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/0/0663d955714035123dfc16809b1134b61d74b557.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![windows\_wimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@windows\_wimp](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/windows_wimp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/7 "2026-07-19T15:28:38Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/9/9915ca1925bc24d6d384fcaa0293a476ff84ebf2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/8 "2026-07-19T17:43:19Z")
That’s not the Pi’s Pin 1. ![Raspberry-Pi-Pinout-Random-Nerd-Tutorials](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pimoroni/original/2X/d/d0577adcb5b079bd1fcedac573692a7c7671eb11.jpeg) On the Inky A is Pin 40…C is Pin 2 B is Pin 39…D is Pin 1 The pin layout on the inky header is a mirror of the Pin layout of the Pi. Your looking at the back (Bottom) of one and the front (Top) of the other. When you plug them in correctly it’s Pin 1 to pin 1 pin 2 to pin 2 etc. ---
**Author:** ![windows\_wimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@windows\_wimp](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/windows_wimp)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/9 "2026-07-19T20:06:55Z")
Thank you - will try this when i receive the new booster. ---
**Author:** ![alphanumeric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forums.pimoroni.com/alphanumeric/32/2729_2.png) [@alphanumeric](https://forums.pimoroni.com/u/alphanumeric)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://forums.pimoroni.com/t/inky-impression-gpio-pinout/28978/10 "2026-07-20T06:44:17Z")
Happy to help. :) I have one of these that I hope to start tinkering with today. > **[Inky Frame 7.3" (Pico 2 W Aboard)](https://shop.pimoroni.com/en-us/products/inky-frame-7-3?variant=40541882089555)** > > An extra-large Pico 2 W powered E Ink® photo frame / home dashboard / life organiser with glorious colour display and wireless connectivity. Pico RP2350 based.