How to Install Android TV on Raspberry Pi

Ben
Ben
@benjislab

Turning your Raspberry Pi into an Android TV media center is a great way to enjoy streaming content, run apps, and have a full-featured smart TV experience on a budget. This guide will walk you through the steps to install Android TV on your Raspberry Pi, providing you with a powerful and flexible media center.

Equipment Needed

  • Raspberry Pi (preferably Raspberry Pi 4 for better performance)
  • MicroSD card (at least 16GB)
  • MicroSD card reader
  • HDMI cable
  • USB keyboard and mouse
  • Power supply for Raspberry Pi
  • Internet connection

Download the Android TV Image

To get started, you'll need an Android TV image compatible with the Raspberry Pi. The LineageOS project provides such images, which are based on Android and optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware.

  1. Download the LineageOS image:

    Visit the KonstaKANG website and download the latest version of LineageOS for Raspberry Pi.

  2. Download the OpenGApps package:

Download the ARM version of OpenGApps for Android 9.0 (Pico variant) from the OpenGApps website. This package provides Google Play Services and the Play Store.

Prepare the MicroSD Card

Use a tool like Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher to write the Android TV image to your MicroSD card.

  1. Install Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher:

Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher.

  1. Write the image to the MicroSD card:

    • Open Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher.
    • Select the downloaded LineageOS image.
    • Select the MicroSD card as the target.
    • Click "Write" to begin the process.

Boot Raspberry Pi with Android TV

  1. Insert the MicroSD card into your Raspberry Pi.
  2. Connect the Raspberry Pi to your TV using the HDMI cable.
  3. Connect a USB keyboard and mouse to the Raspberry Pi.
  4. Power on the Raspberry Pi.

The Raspberry Pi will boot into LineageOS (Android TV). The first boot may take a few minutes.

Install Google Apps

  1. Enable Developer Options:

    • Go to Settings > About tablet.
    • Scroll down and tap Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.
    • Go back to Settings and select Developer options.
    • Enable Root access.

  2. Transfer OpenGApps to Raspberry Pi:

Copy the downloaded OpenGApps package to a USB drive and insert it into the Raspberry Pi.

  1. Install a File Manager:

Use the built-in browser to download and install a file manager app like File Manager+ from APKMirror or a similar site.

  1. Install OpenGApps:

    • Open the file manager and navigate to the USB drive.
    • Copy the OpenGApps package to the Downloads folder.
    • Use a terminal emulator app to install OpenGApps:
adb install -r /sdcard/Download/filename.apk

Replace filename.apk with the actual file name of the OpenGApps package.

  1. Reboot the Raspberry Pi:

After installation, reboot your Raspberry Pi. You should now have access to Google Play Services and the Play Store.

Configure Android TV

  1. Set Up Google Account:

    Open the Play Store and sign in with your Google account.

  2. Install Apps:

    Use the Play Store to install your favorite streaming apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

  3. Customize Settings:

    Customize the Android TV settings according to your preferences, including display resolution, sound settings, and network configuration.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can transform your Raspberry Pi into a powerful Android TV media center. This setup allows you to enjoy streaming content, run a variety of apps, and have a smart TV experience at a fraction of the cost of commercial Android TV boxes. Whether for watching movies, playing games, or browsing the web, your Raspberry Pi with Android TV offers a versatile and enjoyable media solution.