How to Build Your Own Android TV Box with Raspberry Pi 1

How to Build Your Own Android TV Box with Raspberry Pi

So you have a new Raspberry pi and want to build something useful? First of all, if you don’t have a separate monitor, you don’t have to worry. You can use your Windows laptop as a monitor for the Raspberry Pi and set up VNC Connect on the RPi for remote connection. However, if you want to build an Android TV box with a raspberry pi, you will need a separate monitor or TV. In this guide, we have explained the details on how to install Android TV on Raspberry Pi and win Google Play Store and Services. So let’s start on that note.

Build your own Android TV box with Raspberry Pi (2021)

I wrote this guide with beginners in mind, so if you’re completely new to the raspberry pi, don’t worry. Just skip to the instructions and you will have your custom Android TV running on the Raspberry PI. For your convenience, you can jump between the sections in the table below.

Requirements

1. You will need a monitor or TV to set up and install Android TV on Raspberry Pi. This cannot be done remotely.

2. HDMI cable according to your setup. Raspberry Pi 4 needs a micro HDMI to HDMI cable while Raspberry Pi 3 requires HDMI to HDMI cable.

3. Raspberry Pi 3 and 4 are only supported for Android TV and they must have at least 2GB of RAM.

4. A microSD card with 16GB or more free space.

5. Keyboard and mouse. If you have a cordless combi then even better.

6. A power adapter according to your setup.

Downloads

  • First of all, to create an Android TV box with Raspberry PI, you need to download Android TV operating system for Raspberry Pi. Konstakang is a popular developer known for building all kinds of android roms for Raspberry Pi. TV operating system Based on Lineage operating system It is available in multiple versions including Android 9, 10 and the latest 11. Based on your board, you can download any version of Android TV, but for stability I recommend Android TV 10. That’s it for this guide, I’m trying Android 11 just to check how well it works. You can do click here To go to the download page for RPI 4. If you want to download the Android TV operating system for RPI3, click the devices menu in the upper right corner.
  • Then you need Download the Gapps package Android TV build does not come with google apps and services. If you are installing Android TV 10 then open this link and simply click the download button (make sure “TVStock” is selected). If you’re like me try to build a newly released Android TV 11 click here and download the “tvstock” test.
RPI Gapps Pack
  • Next, you need to download balenaEtcher (free) to connect Android TV OS to SD card.
download balenetcher

Install Android TV on Raspberry Pi (2021)

1. After downloading Android TV, extract it and you will get it. img file.

Install Android TV on Raspberry Pi

2. Next, fire up Balenaetcher and select the Android TV IMG file. In my case, Android TV 11 build, but you can have a different version. After that, select the SD card and click “Flash!“.

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Android TV Flash to RPI SD Card

3. After the flashing is done, remove the SD card and insert it into the Raspberry PI. In addition, Connect a mouse and keyboard. Finally, connect the power supply and HDMI cable to the monitor/TV.

raspberry pi 4

In a few seconds you will find the 4th Loading Loyage OS on the screen.

LineageOS start screen

5. After a while, you will be on the Barebone Android TV home screen. Now we have to add Google Play Store and Services on Android TV. Meanwhile, press the F2 key on the keyboard to go back. And some Keyboard Shortcuts for Android TV on Raspberry Pi: Press and hold F1 = HOME, F2 = BACK, F3 = Multitasking, F4 = menu, F5 = Power menu, F11 = Volume Down and F12 = Volume Up.

Build Your Own Android TV Box with Raspberry Pi

Google Download Your Custom Raspberry Pi Android TV Box Store and Play Services

1. Now that you have installed Android TV on Raspberry PI, it’s time to add support for Google Play Store and other services. Use a thumb drive and move the Gapps package (zip file). raspberry pi from your computer.

Flash on Gapps Pack TV

2. After moving the Gapps package, go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> About -> Scroll Down Create menu. Now, click on the “Make” menu 7-8 times continuously. It will enable developer options on Android TV.

Build Number on Raspberry Pi Android TV

3. Next, go back to device preferences and scroll down. You will find “Developer Options“Open it.

Go to Developer Options

4. Here, open “Advanced Restart“.

enable advanced reboot

5. Now, to restart Android TV on Raspberry Pi, go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> Restart -> Recovery. This will take you to TWRP recovery.

reboot to recovery

6. Now boot into TWRP recovery. If prompted, clickSwipe to allow changes”. After that, open “To organise“.

Install zip using TWRP recovery

7. Here, Select the Gapps package We have been transferred to Raspberry PI.

Flash Open Gapps Pack on Raspberry Pi Android TV

8. Finally, click “Swipe to confirm flash“.

confirm flashing

9. Now, click on the TWRP icon in the upper right corner and it will take you to the main menu. This time, stone Wipe -> Scroll to factory reset.

Factory reset your Android TV

10. When the reset is complete, click on “restart” on the same page.

Restart Android TV

11. Voila, you will boot directly to Android TV on your Raspberry PI. And this time, it is prompted with Google Setup. Now, go ahead and follow the on-screen instructions. I will suggest you Don’t add your primary Google Account Google has recently been terminating accounts for unknown policy violations. If you get a popup to set up a remote press “Esc” on the keyboard. Moreover, if you are facing an error during Google login, please use remote option for login on device.

Android TV Google Experience

12. So here it is. Google Play Store, Chromecast and all Google services are available on your Raspberry Pi based Android TV and work absolutely fine. in case, Chromecast not working Or apps like Netflix are not available then follow the fix below.

Android TV with Google Apps

Fix Chromecast on Raspberry Pi based Android TV box

1. If the Chromecast is not working on your Raspberry PI, there is nothing to worry about. You can manually register your private Android TV in Google’s list of certified devices. To start, Install the device ID app by evozi (game store / APKMirror) on the Raspberry Pi. Since the play store on Android TV does not have this app, it will need to be flashed.

Fix Chromecast on Raspberry Pi based Android TV box

2. Next, open the Device ID app and it will display its code. Google Service Framework (GSF). Click on it and copy the code.

Copy GSF ID

3. now open google.com/android/urcertified Sign in with the Raspberry Pi or the same Google Account you use on your computer and Raspberry Pi. After that, paste the GSF code and click “RegisterYou finally did it. Now, wait 5-10 minutes and the Chromecast should start working.

Uncertain Device Register on Google Certified Devices Website

4. If you still meet the problems, restart your RPI-based Android TV. Hold F5 and click on Restart. This time the Chromecast should work fine.

Restart Android TV to fix Chromecast

5. To further customize your Raspberry Pi based Android TV, go to Settings -> Device Preferences -> Raspberry Pi Settings.

Raspberry Pi Settings

6. You may even be Add an IR remote To your Raspberry Android TV setup. Just activate the infrared remote pass-through and use the IR remote to control the Android TV. For more information, at the beginning of the developer documents.

Use IR remote control with Raspberry Pi Android TV

Install Android TV on Raspberry Pi to make your TV smart

So how to use the Android TV and make use of Raspberry Pi as the Android TV Stick or Box. I know that the installation process is a bit long but once it works, everything works well. Even the latest Android 11 structure tested and worked like a charm. So continue and try.

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Additionally, we recommend installing PI-Hole on your Raspberry PI to clean your home network from ads and trackers. And if you’re wondering, yes, you can remotely tune the RASPBerry PI without a monitor or Ethernet/HDMI cable. Anyway, all of us. If you’re having any issues, let us know in the comment section below.