Android Tv 9 Raspberry Pi 3

How to install Android Tv set on Raspberry Pi (Android 9)

Introduction

Here'due south how you lot can install Android TV on Raspberry Pi three and 4. Information technology is a adequately straightforward job and can be done past pretty much anyone.

By the end of this article, y'all'll come across that y'all've inverse your Raspberry Pi into a media centre if not a streaming box. Atleast, I use it only for streaming though.

The streaming is certainly isn't the best, although is very usable. Yous can not only practice streaming simply as well diverse stuffs like playing games, writing articles (No, I haven't done that nonetheless), go along an eye on your inbox and more than.

Summing it upwards, yous can practise everything that you'll exercise on an android Boob tube, if that makes sense.

However, I wouldn't recommend y'all to use this every bit your mainstream Smart TV since the limitations are too high if y'all are using on the Raspberry Pi 3, 3B and 3B+.

From the Raspberry Pi4, everything seems to be in the right place.

I volition be discussing it at a later part of this article, and so stay tuned. Make certain yous have a expert internet connection for download and install this.

I am sure you wouldn't wanna control your Android TV with a wireless keyboard and mouse. That would, for certain, spoil the experience for you. And then, I will be discussing few ways to control your Raspberry Pi.

Android TV on Raspberry Pi

Items Required

You lot'll need the following components in order to continue with the installation:

Raspberry Pi 3/3B/3B+

A Keyboard and Mouse (Preferably Wireless)

A Thumb Drive

5V two.5A or more rated Power adaptor with micro USB Type-B Cable

A Micro SD Card

A Computer with agile Internet connection for installation.

Prelims for Android TV (ATV)

Now, past installing Android TV, I mean to install the TV launcher and additional functionalities by ourselves forth with the Lineage OS. Now, some of you might want the official AOSP project but I can tell y'all that this is far better.

At present most of the AOSP builds are outdated and are non supported past the dev. And even if you lot endeavor installing it the old schoolhouse way, it won't work due to firmware being also new for the Bone to get loaded by Raspberry Pi. For more about the firmware issues listed here, check out the linkhither

And our version of ATV is the virtually optimized for Raspberry Pi than those AOSP builds. And there's this huge draw-back: Most of the AOSP Builds exercise not accept DRM certification. How'due south that gonna hurt you?

Well you can't watch Netflix or Amazon Prime Video! Most of u.s. would probably install the Android Boob tube for streaming apps. Then downloading this is the only option we have, at least for now.

And, apparently ours has the DRM Certification and you can watch Boob tube Shows and movies on information technology.

These functionalities tin can be installed as a packet past installing the Goggle box-Stock Package for Android 9 suitable for ARM Compages. Which is one of the methods to install Android TV on the Raspberry Pi.

At present, if you're planning to connect the Pi to a bigger screen, say a TV of 55 inch, then yous'd certainly lose some operation. The performance was far better in a 32 inch than TV in a 55 inch LED Television receiver Screen.

Speaking of resolutions and screens, the default resolution is 1280x720. Now this isn't hardcoded resolution different the previous builds. You tin can alter it bychanging thevalue in /boot/resolution.txt ( I would highly recommend you not to mess upwards with the values)

Now you need to have heatsinks and fans for this build every bit the OS is highly resources hungry.

I've found both the products in an affordable price. Check information technology out on Amazon:

Why exercise yous need a high wattage rated charger?

Running Android Television is a very ability consuming one. To meet its ability requirements, you'd have to provide Raspberry Pi more than power. Increasing its ability input can increase the Pi's performance and streaming. Doing so will also save your Raspberry Pi in the long run.

This effect is beingness considered low-cal, just this is a very vital one. You'd also need a lot of ventilation for running this OS, since streaming volition eat more power, so more heat generated.

How to install Android Television set

So finally allow'southward go our hands muddied.

Instructions

Get to Konsta's folio for downloading Lineage OS xvi.0 (Android 9) past clickinghither
Now download the zip file by clicking on the link. It volition route you lot toandroidfilehost.com(Don't worry, it's a safe website)
Afterward downloading the aught, Unzip information technology using your favourite software.
Now to wink the .iso file to your SD card, we need Balena Etcher, the near amazing and fast software to flash images onto disks and SD carte. I would highly recommend to apply it.
If you have Balena Etcher, go alee, select the iso past clicking the Wink from file, then select the target device, which is the SD card, and flash it. It took me just a minute to consummate the flashing.
If y'all don't have Etcher, go to the Etcher download page by clickinghere.
So download it and follow the instructions higher up.
Then insert the SD card into the Pi and expect for a few minutes. The Lineage boot blitheness volition be seen for a few moments.
You'll have the setup wizard next. Fill it with appropriate details and complete the installation.

The job isn't over yet. This doesn't really expect like an Android TV.

There are 2 ways to go far wait like an Android Goggle box:

Download a Launcher

This is how Leanback launcher looks. Via XDA

To get in look like that, nosotros need to install something called a TV Launcher. What a launcher does is that it controls the wait and experience of you lot device's domicile screen And so, by installing a TV launcher, we tin can attain the look and feel of an Android Idiot box in our device.

Here's the take hold of: You exercise not have access to Google Apps (short named GApps) if you follow this method. Skip to the next method, if you'd like to get all the features of the stock Android Television set.

To do that:

Download the Leanback Launcher (erstwhile Official launcher for Android TVs) from hither.
Copy information technology in a Thumb Drive and plug it in, in whatsoever of the USB ports of the Pi.
Become to Files > Click on yourUSBdevicename in the side menu located on the left.
Double click the apk file.
Allow all permissions from all dialog boxes that pop upwards.
Click on install and wait for a few moments.
After the installation is consummate, click on the dwelling button and the Home dialog box appears.
Click on just in one case for setting Home as Home.
You'll see the amazing TV Launcher experience with no apps installed.

You can install ATV Launcher otherwise, if you want a fast UI. Yous tin follow the same steps above.

Using the Tv-stock or Goggle box-mini Open Gapps Package

So here's it, the otherwise method. The biggest plus indicate of this method is that it tin can give y'all the exact Android Television functionalities available.

So this is ane stride closer to the Android Goggle box experience. Select your Android version which is ix, Select the architecture, in our case ARM and select either TV-STOCK or Telly-MINI and Click on install.

If you lot want to accept a custom launcher and Google Apps, then select the pico packet as it provides the bare minimum functionality of gapps. Which is but Google Play shop and play services.

Click here to know how to install Gapps in your Raspberry Pi device.

Long story short, Install the Gapps bundle for your architecture and your Android version. Then, re-create it to a thumb bulldoze. Enable root options and local final and then get to TWRP menu with the help of couple of commands.

Later inbound the TWRP menu, insert the pollex drive and mountain the USB partitions. Flash the zip file with the help of the Install push button and Wipe Dalvik after flashing. Wipe the data using wipe button and mount the system and boot partition later on basic wipe.

Get access to the terminal with the help of Advanced button. Type in a couple of commands and yous're good to go with the Android Television set. Your data will be wiped off if you install Gapps.

If TV-Stock or TV-mini doesn't piece of work install pico, the bare minimum functionality to go Google Play Store and follow the to a higher place steps.

Repeating, the catch here is that you'll run into your device tedious down a chip.

But, in my example I got few errors while flashing. So I decided to stick with the 1st method.

The article isn't over yet. If you want the consummate android TV feel, I am sure you wouldn't control your TV with large Keyboard and mouse!

For Raspberry Pi 4

The procedure is different for the Raspberry pI 4 though. It is much simpler and piece of cake to do if you have a Raspberry Pi 4. The experience is also much stable in the Pi four.

Because with the Raspberry Pi iv, y'all go higher RAM, improved thermals and other good stuff. So, if you want to have a full fledged android tv experience, yous should consider buying the Raspberry Pi 4.

Flash it on a thumb-drive, just like we did for the Raspberry Pi 3:

Download Balena Etcher from https://etcher.io
Wink the epitome to the thumb drive using Balena Etcher.
To exercise that, Click on Flash from image and choose the Android Idiot box 10 image.
Click on the Flash device and cull the flash device which is the SD Card.
Click on Flash and you'll be good to go.

Now that you accept a SD Card with Android TV 10, insert it on the SD Carte du jour slot of the bottom of Raspberry Pi. Now, plough the Pi and the external display on.

After a while or so, yous can run across the Android Telly setup screen. Yous can install Google Apps thorough the way I mentioned to a higher place. Apply the Boob tube Gapps bundle for this build.

Every bit far sideloading is concerned, information technology might piece of work the old-schoolhouse manner. The hassle-free style is to use a file explorer with File transfer by FTP enabled. A quick google search can aid you in this.

Controlling the Raspberry Pi

To complete the Android Tv experience, you'll need to have a remote to get the gist of it.

Now, in that location are various ways to do this. I'll mention a few ways here.

Get a pocket-sized keyboard with touchpad embedded.

Getting a controller like this can exist actually useful. Infact, this is the i I would adopt. This device comes with a small keyboard and touchpad with all required basic controls. Some of the generic ones comes with a D Pad also. Overall, it tin can be really practiced bargain if you can buy it real cheap.

Use a bluetooth remote*

This is by far the virtually realistic way to get the complete Television set feel. Merely the old school manner. Go to settings > Bluetooth > Pair your Raspberry Pi with the remote. Now, for most of you, this will work if y'all just pair information technology. For others, just check out the remote menu and follow the on-screen instructions.

EXPERIMENTAL: Utilise the Android TV remote app *

This may or may not piece of work, just I am certain information technology won't hurt to attempt this. Launch the Google Play Store > Type in Android Television Remote > Install the app.

Connect the Pi and your phone in the same WiFi network or connect both through Bluetooth, Later on connecting you'll have to do some setup. Bask the experience later.

*- Works only when used the 2nd method to install Android Idiot box

And that's how you recreate the Android Idiot box experience.

If yous want to sideload apps, here's an commodity that shows y'all how to practise it.

Is it really worth it?

Why should you install Android Idiot box?

If you lot have a Raspberry Pi lying unused, and you probably desire to change your dumb Television receiver into a Smart Goggle box, then installing Android TV is the perfect pick.

You can either apply it equally a media eye or equally a streaming device or both at the same time is besides possible. I personally use it equally a streaming device rather than a media center.

If yous are using Raspberry Pi 3B+ or lower, so the performance isn't very remarkable. Only it is completely usable though.

What should you expect?

If y'all are using information technology for lightweight Binge-watching, I can easily recommend it to you. This build is not suited for huge displays( 32 inches works well whereas 55 inches isn't suited well).

The streaming isn't the best but certainly works ameliorate than what I expected. I oasis't used it equally a media center however, simply I am certain it could perform well.

How is the user experience?

Streaming is very decent, certainly practice not look much. I've tested with a few popular streaming apps. As of now, I've found these limitations. The limitations are as follows:

In pretty much all streaming apps, streaming is smoothen untilMedium video quality preset. When selected Hd, the video starts to stutter.
InSUN NXT, Live Boob tube with the high-quality setting works fine whereas, for streaming movies, HD starts to stutter.
Similarly, for Hotstar medium preset is the maximum quality you can get without whatever stutters.
Equally for Prime Video, information technology doesn't work. We are not aware of the reason only I volition come up up with the fix real soon. The app works but the videos don't play. Not even trailers.

If there are any bugs and problems in other streaming apps, leave a comment below.

Decision

The Android TV on Raspberry Pi is the cheap, and perfect device for lightweight binge watching. There were so many errors while flashing this and this was a very astonishing experience for me. It's not got the best of stability merely information technology is very usable.

This opens upwards the potential of Raspberry Pi, How a small computer can give really proficient functioning considering the fact that the Raspberry Pi'due south got only a gig of ram.

This is non a kickoff impressions review, In fact, I've tested it for about a couple of weeks and it's got no other flaws.

Overall, it was a decent user feel and is really fun to apply. Yet, with Raspberry Pi 4 and above, the performance is expected to exist improved.

Stay tuned for more updates.