I want to update HAOS from version 17.3 to 18.0. However, I'm using a Pi5 and want clarification of the following warning:
Raspberry Pi
Warning
Raspberry Pi 5 users need a bootloader from at least 2025-02-12, otherwise the display output may freeze early during the boot. Update the bootloader before installing this update, using one of the following methods:
Run rpi-eeprom-update -a while connected directly to the device (using a display and keyboard), prior to installing the OS update.
Use Raspberry Pi Imager with a spare SD card to flash a bootloader update image to it.
Alternatively, if you have an SSH terminal app installed, you can run ha os boards raspberrypi firmware update over SSH right after updating the OS.
Firstly, how do I confirm which bootloader version I have?
Is the date quoted 12th Feb 2025 or 2nd Dec 2025?
Is the last option saying I can run the HAOS update first and then run:
So, to confirm, if I update HAOS first, it will be fine (ie not b*ggered), and will then allow me to use Advanced SSH & Web Terminal to issue the update command...?
Since I use the "Advanced SSH & Web Terminal" addon/app I went with the third option, so:
Updated HA normally to 18.0
then I SSH into the pi using the user/password defined on the addon/app configuration
Issued command "ha os boards raspberrypi firmware update"
waited for it to update the bootloader to "2026-05-11"
Issued command "ha host reboot"
waited for reboot, and its done.
I fully agree instructions are not very clear and leave the user to guess if pressing update will prevent from starting HA again and that the bootloader upgrade needs to be done prior and outside of HA builtin upgrade functionality.
No, the warning is telling you to do the exact opposite:
Update the bootloader before installing this update
Just hook up a keyboard & monitor, then you should be able to check eeprom version & update from there. Step by step instructions are here.
The above link is for an unrelated issue, but the steps are the same. Note the comment here about which SSH app you use, which is why I suggest you hook up a keyboard & monitor.
I still suggest you do it the "old" way via keyboard & monitor though. If you don't have the correct SSH app (there are 2 different ones with practically identical names), you'll be screwed if you don't manage to install & configure the right one.
Much easier to hook it up to a display & enter the commands before the update.
Hook up keyboard & monitor before the OS update & type: rpi-eeprom-update to see your version info rpi-eeprom-update -a to update
Update HA to OS 18.0 first, then type: ha os boards raspberrypi firmware to see your version info ha os boards raspberrypi firmware update to update
I still say first option is safer, but I've been wrong twice in a row tonight, so I'd take my advice with a pinch of salt. From what I can tell, if you never needed to hook up a monitor to your Pi, it won't make much of a difference to you.
Just updated, no keyboard or display needed. My pi5 was on very old firmware. Upgrade the OS to 18.0 which loads the firmware files and updater so they are available. Then in terminal from a HA session just enter the "ha os boards respberrypi firmware update" command. It will tell you to reboot after and alll set!
I just ran this update by the second method. OS updated first, then connected in via terminal in HA to update the firmware. Seems a bit backwards but worked fine.
This is very confusing. The 18.0 release notes say:
" Note that Rasbperry Pi 5 now requires firmware 2025-02-12 or newer . See the Raspberry Pi section below for details."
This "requirement" leads me to believe that you can't install the OS update without verifying you have a firmware of 2025-2-12 or newer. Later in the RPI notes it says:
" Raspberry Pi
Warning
Raspberry Pi 5 users need a bootloader from at least 2025-02-12, otherwise the display output may freeze early during the boot. Update the bootloader before installing this update, using one of the following methods:
Run rpi-eeprom-update -a while connected directly to the device (using a display and keyboard), prior to installing the OS update.
Use Raspberry Pi Imager with a spare SD card to flash a bootloader update image to it.
Alternatively, if you have an SSH terminal app installed, you can run ha os boards raspberrypi firmware update over SSH right after updating the OS
This clearly states installing the new OS without the updated firmware may cause the system to freeze, I assume making it unusable.Then in the last part it tells you to load the OS first, then use the new HA feature to check and update the firmware. Both of these things can not be true.
Since the command " ha os boards raspberrypi firmware" only works in HAOS 18, I have two questions at this time.
While still on OS 17.3, with a SSH connection established to the HA server and logged in, how can I check which PRI firmware version I am on?
Also, I am running HA on a NVME, are there any gotchas I need to consider?
