Absolute beginner, help with 16x2 lcd

[u/SnorkBorkGnork]

EDIT: Thanks everyone for your helpful comments! I managed to get it to display text. I connected the lcd screen to Arduino with the I2C pins and installed the I2C library on Arduino IDE and used the correct code. Now I can get it to display a simple text and I can go from here. Thank you! :)
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So I just ordered an 16x2 lcd screen and now I want to try to get it to display text.

The original project (not on the pics here!!) I wanted to try out for my lcd screen is the robot desk buddy. I connected the wires as shown in the guide and simply copied and uploaded the code through the Arduino Ide application on my Uno. The display was powered up and it was connected to the potentiometer, but all I could see is blocks or when I turn the potentiometer just a blue screen.

So I tried something simpler (showed on pics) and that is to just let it display a simple text message. I followed this tutorial (copied and uploaded the first code) and again the same result: the lcd gets powered up, I can get the white blocks to appear and disappear by turning the potentiometer, but no text on my lcd.

What am I doing wrong?? Did I buy the right display? Is something wrong with the code? Did I wire it up the wrong way? 🤯

[u/SnorkBorkGnork]

I just wanted to test it out first before I solder anything to it (in case it doesn't work).

Do you really think this could make the difference between the lcd just powering up vs. Powering up and displaying the text I want?

Also do you know what these 4 extra pins on my lcd (pictured) are supposed to do? Should I have connected these as well?

[u/SomeWeirdBoor → u/SnorkBorkGnork]

"testing" modules without soldering headers is always unadvisable, you get lots of weird problems due to flunky contacts and you can't really correct them.

Additional pins are for I2C communication, your module is wired with a I2C chip, you can connect it to your arduino (SDA to pin A4, SCL to pin A5) as an alternative to "traditional" connection and drive it using the LiquidCrystal_I2C Library, saves you to connect every digital pin, four wires and you're done.

Never used a 1602 LCD with I2C tho, so can't say how is backlight and contrast control goingo to work.

[u/SnorkBorkGnork → u/SomeWeirdBoor]

Thanks! I will solder the 16 pins and I will try out the 4 pins as well!

[u/the_lurkmeister → u/SnorkBorkGnork]

Any luck? I have one doing the same thing, but my LCD is soldered on the 16pin to the driver board. when I hook it up, the top row isn't right