How to install Android on Raspberry Pi 5

Android OS built by Emteria is our free community build of Android for the Raspberry Pi 5. It is pure Android (AOSP), extended and maintained by Emteria to provide long-term security and support. This guide shows two ways to put it on an SD card and start using it.

What you need

A Raspberry Pi 5 with 2 GB of RAM or more
A microSD card with 16 GB or more
A computer with Windows, macOS or Linux, and an SD card reader
A power supply, a display, and a mouse and keyboard or a touchscreen for your Raspberry Pi

Coming soon: support for Raspberry Pi 5 models with 1 GB of RAM, and booting from NVMe SSDs and USB drives. Until then, use a model with at least 2 GB of RAM and start from an SD card.

Choose an installation method

Option 1: Raspberry Pi Imager (recommended). The easiest way. You don't need an Emteria account to install.
Option 2: Download the image from the Emteria Hub. All new releases appear here first, with early previews and latest bugfixes. You need a free Emteria account.

Option 1: Install with Raspberry Pi Imager

Emteria is an official Raspberry Pi partner, so Android OS built by Emteria is available directly in Raspberry Pi Imager.

Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager from the Raspberry Pi website.
Insert the SD card into your computer and start Raspberry Pi Imager.
Choose Raspberry Pi 5 as your device.
Choose the operating system: open Freemium and paid-for OS.
Select Android by Emteria.
Choose your SD card and start writing. Warning: This erases everything on the card.
Wait until writing and verification are finished. Don't remove the card before that.
Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi 5 and switch it on.
Wait for the SetupWizard to appear - it can take several minutes during the very first boot.

Option 2: Download the image from the Emteria Hub

Log in to the Emteria Hub. No account yet? Sign up for free.
Open Downloads. The list shows Live releases: they are tested and ready for production use.
Find Raspberry Pi 5 with the Android version you want (we recommend Android 17 or 16), click the download button, then click Download. You get a ZIP file.
Extract the ZIP file. It contains a ready-to-use image file.
Write the image to your SD card with a tool of your choice, for example:
- Raspberry Pi Imager: choose Use custom as the operating system and select the image file.
- Win32 Disk Imager (Windows).
Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi 5 and switch it on.
Wait for the SetupWizard to appear - it can take several minutes during the very first boot.

First start

On the first start, Android automatically extends its storage to use the full SD card. You don't need to resize anything yourself.

Register your device

Until you register your device, it shows a watermark in the bottom-right corner of the screen and restarts every 8 hours. Registration is free and removes both.

To register, open the Emteria License app on your device and choose Continue with Emteria account. The app guides you through the steps. For details, see how to register your device with your Emteria account.

Troubleshooting

Something doesn't work as expected? Check the known issues on Raspberry Pi 5.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an Emteria account?

Not for installing with Raspberry Pi Imager. You need a free Emteria account to download images from the Emteria Hub and to register your device.

Is Android OS built by Emteria free?

Yes. Everyone can use it with the free plan. Register your device to remove the watermark and the restart every 8 hours.

Does it work with 1 GB of RAM?

Not yet. A build for Raspberry Pi 5 models with 1 GB of RAM is in preparation. Today you need at least 2 GB.

Which Android versions are available?

The Emteria Hub offers Android 14, 15, 16 and 17 for Raspberry Pi 5. We recommend Android 17 or 16, the two latest versions: our development and support focus on them. Raspberry Pi Imager offers Android 14 to 17 and gets new releases less often than the Emteria Hub.

Why are there Beta and Nightly releases?

They are for testing new features early. Beta releases may still contain untested changes. Nightly releases are automatic builds that nobody has tested yet. For regular use, choose a Live release.

Can I start Android from an NVMe SSD or a USB drive?

Not yet. Support is coming soon. Today, Android OS built by Emteria starts from an SD card.