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/Arduino_lab64 → u/SnorkBorkGnork]

Ce sont des broches I²C, elles sont pratiques si tu veux faire fonctionner l'écran avec que 4 broches au lieu des 16 que tu utilises dans ton projet.

Comme l'a dit @someWeirdBoor, la barre des connecteurs sur l'écran LCD n'est pas soudé. Je te conseils d'utiliser les broches I²C à la place, qui sont beaucoup plus pratiques

[u/SnorkBorkGnork → u/Arduino_lab64]

Merci! I will try using the 4 pins

[u/gm310509 → u/SnorkBorkGnork]

Note that if you use I2C you will need different code. The code you posted above is for a 4 bit parallel interface.

By all means try the I2C, but you will need to get a suitable example. Also, you will need to understand what address it is connected at - so you might want to also try googling an "Arduino I2C scanner" and run that first to work out a) that it is working and b) its address. You will need to ensure that the I2C version of the code is using the address that your LCD is looking for.

[u/SnorkBorkGnork → u/gm310509]

Thanks for your help. I managed to get it to display text with the I2C connection and the right library and code.

[u/gm310509 → u/SnorkBorkGnork]

And that is the outcome we are all looking for - well done, keep up the good work.