Installing Recalbox takes three steps: pick your device, flash the image onto its storage media, and let it run its first boot. Allow about thirty minutes, download included.
¶ 1. Pick your device
Recalbox 10.1 is available for the following devices:
| Device | Image |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 (and Pi 500) — the team's choice! | recalbox-rpi5_64.img.xz |
| Raspberry Pi 4 / 400 / CM4 (also GPi Case 2 and PiBoy DMG) | recalbox-rpi4_64.img.xz |
| Raspberry Pi 3 | recalbox-rpi3.img.xz |
| Raspberry Pi Zero 2 (standalone or in a GPi Case 2W) | recalbox-rpizero2.img.xz |
| 64-bit PC, including Steam Deck — see Compatible PCs | recalbox-x86_64.img.xz |
| Odroid Go Advance / Go Super — see Odroid | recalbox-odroidgo2.img.xz |
| Anbernic RG353 (M/P/V) and compatible handhelds — see Anbernic | recalbox-rg353x.img.xz |
Older hardware: the Raspberry Pi 0/0W/1 and 2, the Odroid XU4, the GPi Case v1 and 32-bit PCs are no longer supported by Recalbox 10. Their last images remain downloadable from the download page, but they are no longer maintained.
¶ 2. Gather the hardware
- Storage media:
- Raspberry Pi and handhelds: a 16 GB minimum microSD card, class 10, from a reputable brand (we recommend the SanDisk Ultra series).
- PC: a USB 3.0 stick (to try it out) or the internal disk (see step 5).
- Official power supply (or equivalent quality) for your device — the number one cause of trouble on Raspberry Pi is a weak power supply.
- The right HDMI cable: micro-HDMI for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, standard HDMI for the others.
- A controller, USB or Bluetooth (a keyboard also does the job to get started).
Missing something? The Recalbox shop sells complete, ready-to-play kits: a RecalTower case with a Raspberry Pi 5, SD card, power supply, fan and HDMI cable. It also carries the RGB DUAL 2 and JAMMA boards, controllers, arcade sticks and video cables.
¶ 3. Download and flash the image
Everything starts from the official download page: recalbox.com/download/stable. Pick your category, then your device, and follow the on-screen instructions.
¶ On Raspberry Pi
Recalbox is built right into Raspberry Pi Imager (Windows, macOS, Linux) — no need to download the image by hand:
- Install Raspberry Pi Imager.
CHOOSE OS→Emulation and game OS→Recalbox→ your Pi model.CHOOSE STORAGE→ select your microSD card.WRITE— the image is downloaded and written automatically.
¶ On other devices (PC, handhelds)
- Download your device's image (a
recalbox-xxx.img.xzfile) from the download page. - Open Raspberry Pi Imager,
CHOOSE OS→Use customand select the downloaded.img.xzfile. CHOOSE STORAGE→ select your microSD card or USB stick.WRITE.
Never uncompress the
.img.xzfile: the flashing tool takes care of it itself.
- Flashing erases everything on the card or stick. - Only the latest version of Recalbox is available: older versions are neither downloadable nor supported.
¶ 4. First boot: Recalbox installs itself
- Insert the microSD card (or plug the USB stick) into your device.
- Connect the screen and the controller, then the power supply: the installation starts automatically.
- Recalbox creates its data partitions on the media's free space — including the
SHAREpartition (exFAT) that will hold your games, saves and settings — while a presentation slideshow plays.
The installation takes a few minutes depending on your hardware. Do not cut the power during this step.
When the system selection screen appears, you are done! Head to First use to set your language, configure your controller and play.
¶ 5. PC specifics
¶ Booting from the USB stick
- Plug in the freshly flashed stick and power on the PC.
- Open the boot menu:
F8,F11orF12at startup depending on the manufacturer (sometimesEscorDel). - Select the USB stick: Recalbox boots.
¶ Installing on the internal disk — new in 10.1
Once you have tried Recalbox from the USB stick, install it permanently on the PC's internal disk without any external tool: START → SYSTEM SETTINGS → INSTALL TO....
➡️ The step-by-step guide: Install Recalbox on an internal disk
¶ PC troubleshooting
- The PC only boots into Windows: disable Secure Boot in the BIOS/UEFI (the option's location varies by manufacturer).
- Recalbox still does not boot: the image boots in both UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes — if one mode fails, try the other in your BIOS/UEFI settings.
- Multiboot PC: use the boot menu (
F8/F11/F12) to pick the Recalbox disk, or put it first in the boot order.
¶ What's next?
| You want to… | Head to |
|---|---|
| Take your first steps (language, controller, first game) | First use |
| Add your games | Add games |
| Install Recalbox on a PC's internal disk | Install on an internal disk |
| Build a GPi Case 2 handheld | GPi Case 2 + Dock |
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