Install FydeOS on Radxa ROCK 5 Family

Last Update: 2025-11-20

Please Note

Due to a previous firmware update by Radxa that changed the SPI-Flash boot script logic, older firmware versions may fail to boot FydeOS v21 and later releases correctly. If you encounter boot issues after a fresh installation, we recommend updating your SPI-Flash firmware in accordance with the official Radxa documentation (ROCK 5B / ROCK 5B+ / ROCK 5T), as this typically resolves compatibility issues.

This guide will walk you through the process of booting FydeOS / openFyde on your Rock 5 Family single-board-computers, including ROCK 5B, ROCK 5B+, and ROCK 5T. Simply follow the instructions tailored to your OS, and you’ll be up and running with FydeOS / openFyde in no time.

As the nature of the ROCK 5 Family, it’s recommended to first familiarise yourself with basic processes and best practices of using / operating / tinkering with single board computers like the ROCK 5 Family, by reading their official documentation and watch video demonstrations available from their official documentation.

1. Download the installation file

If you want FydeOS, start by visiting the FydeOS for SBC page and downloading the installation file specifically for ROCK 5 Family.
For openFyde, please obtain the latest image from the release page.

2. Get the `.img` image file

Prepare to Run the .run File

For FydeOS v21.0-SP1 (openFyde r138) and later versions, once downloaded, you’ll have a .run file. This needs to be executed to create the bootable image. Choose your operating system for the next steps:
- macOS / Linux / BSD
- Windows
For macOS, Linux, and BSD users, using the terminal is the easiest way to run the .run file. Open your terminal and navigate to the download directory.
Windows users will utilise the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to execute the .run file.
1. Install WSL: If you haven’t installed WSL yet, refer to the official Microsoft guide to install WSL.
2. Open WSL Terminal: Launch your WSL terminal once installation is complete.
3. Navigate to Downloads: Use the cd command to go to the directory where you downloaded the .run file. Typically, this would be under /mnt/c/Users/YourUsername/Downloads.
Grant Execute Permission to the .run File

Now, we need to allow the .run file to run as an executable. Use the following command in your terminal:
Terminal window
```
chmod +x FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.run
```
Important: Make sure to replace FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.run with the exact filename of your downloaded .run file.
Execute the .run File

Time to run the .run file! In your terminal, execute:
Terminal window
```
./FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.run
```
After running, an interactive menu will appear:
```
*****************************
* Supported boards *
*****************************
[1] Rock 5B
[2] Rock 5B Plus
[3] Rock 5T
[4] Quit
-----------------------------
Enter your choice:
```
Follow the prompts to select your ROCK 5 model and the desired boot medium (eMMC, NVMe, or SATA, depending on your model).

The script will then generate the bootable image file. You might see messages like this during the process:
```
*****************************
* board: rock5b, supported install storage: nvme *
*****************************
```
Generating the image may take some time. Once finished, you should see output similar to this, indicating the path to your generated .img file:
```
board: rock5b storage: NVME
Generated image: /some/path/FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.img
Installing uboot firmware on ./FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.img
Installed bootloader to ./FydeOS_for_SBC_Rock5B_v21.0-SP1-io.img
```
Excellent! You now have a bootable .img file, ready for flashing. You can re-run the .run if needed.

3. Flash the Image to Your Storage Device

Beginning from FydeOS v17 (openFyde r114), you can flash the downloaded image directly to the storage device that you will be using to boot FydeOS and enjoy the full functionalities including OTA updates (unlike previously, you would have to flash the image onto a micro SD card first and perform an installation process to the final destination storage drive).

To write files onto M.2 NVMe/Sata storage drives or an eMMC chip, additional hardware may be required to interface with these storage devices. We recommend using a USB M.2 NVMe/Sata drive enclosure or a USB - eMMC reader to do this.

We recommend using balenaEtcher to write the image to a USB device. BalenaEtcher is a user-friendly tool compatible with Windows, macOS, and mainstream Linux versions. It allows users to swiftly write image files to USB devices or flash memory cards in just three simple steps:

You can download the installation package for your OS from the balenaEtcher official website.

Alternatively, if you’re comfortable with the dd command, you can directly write the .img file to the target storage device.

4. Power on your ROCK 5

After successfully writing the image to the target storage device, securely insert it onto your ROCK 5, also connect your KVM kits(keyboard, mouse and video) and power it on. This completes the FydeOS / openFyde installation process. Enjoy exploring your new OS!

What to do in case of a black screen or OS doesn’t boot?

Due to the uniqueness of ARM powered SBCs, the system booting process differs significantly from traditional x86 devices. For ROCK 5 Family, you need to ensure that the device’s SPI firmware allows booting from the storage device you’ve installed, which is typically an NVMe or Sata SSD in the M.2 slot. If you experience difficulties booting from an SSD inside the M.2 slot, please also make sure that your SPI firmware has not been modified or damaged. If unsure, you can refer to the official wiki for repair.