Home | Miscellaneous | Raspberry Pi | Update
Sonora Computer Repair Logo
Sonora Computer Repair
A subsidiary of Charles Varvayanis
Since 1990
(209) 586-3782
charles@varvayanis.com
Sonora Computer Repair Logo

Raspberry Pi Update

Step-by-step Raspberry Pi Update instructions.

These procedures apply to Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit), (Legacy 64-Bit) or (Legacy 32-Bit).


General Notes


1. General:  The procedures below are optimized for updating Raspberry Pi 5, 4 or 3 with Raspberry Pi OS (64-Bit), (32-Bit), (Legacy 64-Bit) or (Legacy 32-Bit).

2. Internet access during setup:  Many of the steps below assume and require the Raspberry Pi is connected to a network with access to the Internet.



Notice about updates, upgrades and installations failing due to repository or network congestion or outages


Occasionally updates, upgrades and installations fail due to repository or network congestion or outages.  Sometimes there is an appropriate message saying as such, sometimes a missing file is reported, and sometimes there is just a failure message without an explanation.  When this occurs, simply run the command again.  If that does not solve the issues immediately, try again later.



Contents:

  Raspberry Pi OS Documentation
  Connect to the Raspberry Pi
  Update the Raspberry Pi OS and Components
  Update the Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Image Version
  Remove packages that automatically installed and are no longer required







Raspberry Pi OS Documentation

https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/os.html






Connect to the Raspberry Pi


Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen share

  https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect

  - or -

Via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse


  - or -

Via SSH

  Connect using the IP address or URL of the Raspberry Pi.

Determine the Raspberry Pi IP Address:

Use the SSH command in your OS to connect to the Raspberry Pi or on Windows systems use a third party tool such as PuTTY

  OS SSH command documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/remote-access.html#connect-to-an-ssh-server
  https://putty.software/
  https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html
  https://www.putty.org
  Note:  The first time a connection is made, a security warning may be displayed | Yes






Update the Raspberry Pi OS and Components


Note:


Update Raspberry Pi software documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/os.html#update-software


Download the latest package lists

sudo apt update -y

Download and install the updated packages listed in the package lists

sudo apt full-upgrade -y






Update the Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Image Version


Notes:


This tool only works with Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5.  Raspberry Pi 3B+ and below have a ROM that can not be updated.

Update Raspberry Pi bootloader documentation:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/raspberry-pi.html#update-the-bootloader-configuration


Check for a newer Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM image version and if found download and apply it

sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a

Select the latest Bootloader Version

sudo raspi-config
Advance Options | Bootloader Version | Latest | Yes | Finish | Would you like to reboot now? | Yes






Remove packages that automatically installed and are no longer required


Occasionally excess update, upgrade and installation packages install automatically, but are no longer required.  These can be removed automatically.

Automatically detect and remove packages no longer required

sudo apt autoremove -y



Sonora Computer Repair
Sonora, CA  95370
e-mail:  charles@varvayanis.com
Phone:  (209) 586-3782
Business Card (PDF 153 KB) PDF
www.sonoracomputer.com
www.sonoracomputer.com

© 2026 Charles Varvayanis.  All rights reserved.