How to Install LibreELEC on a Raspberry Pi 4

To install LibreELEC on a Raspberry Pi 4, download the Raspberry Pi 4 image, write it to a microSD card, and boot the Pi from that card. The process replaces the card’s contents, so copy any files you need before you start. After the first boot, LibreELEC opens a setup wizard for basic choices such as language, network, and remote access.

What you need

• A Raspberry Pi 4 and a compatible USB-C power supply.
• A microSD card and a card reader connected to a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.
• A TV or monitor and a micro-HDMI-to-HDMI cable.
• An Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi details, plus a USB keyboard or compatible remote for setup.

Use a card with enough space for the image and any later files you plan to keep on it. Writing the image erases the entire card; media can also live on a USB drive or a network share.

1. Download the Raspberry Pi 4 image

Open the official LibreELEC Raspberry Pi download page and choose the Raspberry Pi 4 image. At the time of writing, the page lists LibreELEC 12.2.1 as the latest stable release. Its Pi 4 file is named LibreELEC-RPi4.aarch64-12.2.1.img.gz. The aarch64 build is the 64-bit image for Pi 4; don’t select the Pi 5 image or a generic PC image. Check the page for the current stable version because release numbers can change.

Download the compressed .img.gz file to your computer. You do not need to install LibreELEC on the computer itself; the image is written directly to the Pi’s boot card.

2. Write the image to the microSD card

Install and open Raspberry Pi Imager, which is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Select Use Custom in the operating-system chooser, then open the LibreELEC image you downloaded. If your Imager version does not accept the compressed file, extract the archive first and select the resulting .img file.

Insert the microSD card, choose it as the storage device, and verify its name and capacity before continuing. If other removable drives are connected, disconnect them so it is easier to identify the card. Keep Imager’s protection against selecting system drives enabled. Select Write and confirm the erase prompt only after you have checked the target. Wait for the write and verification to finish before ejecting the card.

On Windows and macOS, LibreELEC also provides its own USB-SD Creator, which can download and write an image file. The project currently offers that app for 64-bit Windows 10/11 and macOS 14 or newer, but not Linux. See the LibreELEC media-creation instructions for its current steps.

3. Boot the Raspberry Pi 4

Safely eject the card from your computer and insert it into the Raspberry Pi 4. Connect the Pi to the display with a micro-HDMI cable, attach Ethernet if you plan to use a wired connection, and connect a keyboard or compatible remote. Plug in power last to start the Pi. The first boot can take longer than later starts while LibreELEC prepares its storage, so allow it a few minutes before interrupting the power.

4. Complete the first-run setup

When the welcome wizard appears, choose a language and set a hostname that will help you recognize the media player on your home network. Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password if you are not using Ethernet. Continue through the remaining prompts to reach Kodi.

Leave SSH disabled unless you plan to administer LibreELEC from another computer. It is off by default. If you enable it, follow the project’s security guidance and change the default credentials when prompted. SSH is useful for command-line maintenance, but most Kodi setup does not require it.

Add your media in Kodi

Once the wizard finishes, Kodi’s home screen is ready. Add video, music, or picture sources from a USB drive or a network share using Kodi’s media menus. For a home server, connect LibreELEC to the same network and use the share address and credentials supplied by that server. Keeping large media files on USB or network storage leaves the microSD card available for the operating system and its settings.

If LibreELEC does not start

• No boot or an error screen: Confirm that you selected the Raspberry Pi 4 image, then write it again and let verification finish. If the problem remains, try another card or card reader.
• No picture on the TV: Check the TV input and both ends of the micro-HDMI cable. Try the Pi’s other micro-HDMI port and make sure the display is on before powering the Pi.
• Wi-Fi setup fails: Use Ethernet to complete setup if available, then check the connection from LibreELEC’s network settings.
• Imager lists several drives: Compare each drive’s capacity with the card, or disconnect other removable storage before writing.

For the current file, platform-specific flashing notes, and troubleshooting updates, use the LibreELEC downloads page and its linked documentation.