When it comes to advancements in technology, no one has taken the task of enabling various age groups the ability to learn computing and programming more than the Raspberry Foundation. The charitable organization created Raspberry Pi to allow people all over the world to use these small computing devices to do just about anything, including installing Android TV.
To learn more about how to install Android TV on Raspberry Pi safely, you will need to ensure that you have your materials gathered and can follow the instructions carefully. Keep reading to discover the process of using a small computing device to make this happen.
Gather Your Supplies
Understanding how to install Android TV on Raspberry Pi is not an easy task to accomplish, especially if you are not prepared or familiar with the task. Because of this, most people recommend that you ensure that you have reviewed the instructions carefully and have everything you need.
Like with most projects, gathering your supplies is the most important step that you need to follow. To Install Android TV on Raspberry Pi is no different than this and may require some supplies that you do not have on hand. Because of this, you must review the equipment list before you start.
Having your supplies at the ready will prevent any frustrations down the road as you are creating your build. Since you are dealing with sensitive materials, you will not want to stop in the middle.
Here is a list of supplies you should have at the ready:
- Raspberry Pi 4
- USB Flash Drive
- MicroSD card (16 GB)
- HDMI Cable
- WiFi or an Ethernet cable
- USB Keyboard and Mouse
- Computer or Monitor
Once you have these supplies ready, then you are set to begin your build.
Download Lineage OS
As with any computer build, it is important to ensure that you are downloading the correct data and packages that will allow you to accomplish your goal. Installing Android TV on Raspberry Pi requires certain downloads and builds, but many wonders where they should go to get it.
Downloading the correct build to install Android TV on your Raspberry Pi requires using the right resources. KonstaKang developers created the perfect build that works fantastically for this purpose. The Lineage OS for Android can be found on their website for you to use in the project.
KonstaKANG is a computer developer that has created many of the Android ROMS that are used for various builds. The Lineage OS is specifically designed to install Android TV onto your Raspberry Pi.
For this step, all you need to do is is head over to KonstaKANG’s website and download the Lineage OS build to your computer. Once this is done, you are ready to move on to the next step.
Download the GApps Package
When you are attempting to build your Android TV box, it is important to ensure that you can use all of the functionality. This means having access to various apps that you can access through the Google Play Store. But how do you get this through your Raspberry Pi build?
Since Google does not currently allow the option for other operating systems to run or have access to their apps, you have to go at it from another direction. This is where the OpenGApps project comes in to allow you to download the access to build into your Android TV.
To download the GApps package, you will need to go to the OpenGApps website and follow a few simple steps and answer questions about the type of build you are using. Once you have completed these steps, you should be able to have access to the download.
At this point, you will need your USB flash drive to copy the downloaded files onto. Later you will use this to export it to your Raspberry Pi.
Write to Your Raspberry Pi
Each step in the process gets you closer and closer to having your Android TV build completed so you can enjoy the result. The next step includes getting the information over to your Raspberry Pi so you can begin to get it put together.
To write to your Raspberry Pi, you will need to download and install Balena Etcher, which is an image writer program, to your computer. This will allow you to select the Android TV image and write it over to your Raspberry Pi.
Writing to your Raspberry Pi includes using the SD card to capture the Android TV image, which is the Lineage OS file that is saved on the flash drive. After you have copied the image over, you are ready to move on to the next step in the setup process.
Install GApps and Reboot
While going through the initial setup process is important, you can do that at a later time once you have everything installed and configured. In this step, you will be firing up your Raspberry Pi by inserting the SD card and booting up the system.
For this step, you will need to switch over to recovery mode to install the GApps from the flash drive onto your Pi. After this, you can then reboot your Pi 4 and begin the initial setup process for your Android TV.
This step includes all of the initial steps that you typically encounter when booting up television for the first time. This includes the standard menu items such as selecting your language and time zone.
You will then be prompted to find your WiFi network so you can connect to the internet since the Android TV is run by this. The screen will then ask you to enter your Google credentials, so you can finish the process.
Final Thoughts
You should now be able to access all of your Google Apps through your Raspberry Pi. Since you signed in with your Google account, you should have access to everything you typically do. Now you are ready to start using your Android TV on your Raspberry Pi.