rpi-update(8)
Update the Raspberry Pi firmware to the latest version from the official repository.
Synopsis
rpi-update [OPTION]... [COMMIT_HASH]Description
rpi-update downloads and installs the latest Raspberry Pi firmware, bootloader, and kernel directly from the official GitHub repository. It replaces files in /boot and /lib/modules, requiring a reboot to take effect.
By default, it updates to the latest commit on the master branch. You can specify a particular commit hash to pin to a specific firmware version. This tool should be used cautiously in production environments as it may introduce instability or breaking changes.
Common options
| Flag | What it does |
|---|---|
-h, --help | Show help message and exit |
-d, --dry-run | Simulate the update without making changes; shows what would be updated |
--skip-backup | Do not create a backup of the current firmware before updating |
--skip-reprepare | Skip the reprepare step after firmware installation |
--root | Specify an alternate root filesystem path (useful for updating SD cards on another machine) |
--branch | Update from a different branch (default: master); e.g., --branch stable |
Examples
Update to the latest firmware from the master branch
sudo rpi-updatePreview what would be updated without making any changes
sudo rpi-update -dUpdate to a specific firmware commit hash (for downgrading or pinning versions)
sudo rpi-update a01041a9Update without creating a backup of the current firmware
sudo rpi-update --skip-backupUpdate firmware on an SD card mounted at /mnt/sdcard (from another machine)
sudo rpi-update --root /mnt/sdcardUpdate to the latest stable branch firmware instead of master
sudo rpi-update --branch stable