Home | Miscellaneous | Pi | EEPROM
Charles Varvayanis
Computer and Communication Systems

Since 1990
(209) 586-3782
charles@varvayanis.com
Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 EEPROM Update
Step-by-step Raspberry Pi EEPROM Update instructions
These procedures apply to Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 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 4 or Pi 5 EEPROMs 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:
Via Raspberry Pi Connect Remote shell or Raspberry Pi Connect Screen sharing, then open a Terminal window
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/connect
sudo hostname -I
Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi via a Display, Keyboard and Mouse, then open a Terminal window
sudo hostname -I
Use an IP Scanner tool such as Advanced IP Scanner on a PC or alike to locate the IP Address assigned to the Raspberry Pi
https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com
Login to your router and examine the IP address assignments, sometimes labeled "Connected Devices" or similar
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
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
Charles Varvayanis
Sonora, CA 95370
e-mail: charles@varvayanis.com
Phone: (209) 586-3782
Business Card (PDF 153 KB) 
www.varvayanis.com

© 2026 Charles Varvayanis
All rights reserved