Overview
Reflashing reinstalls the Yodeck software on your player from scratch. Use it when a software problem stops the player from working and nothing else helps. Your content is erased, but the player downloads it again and resumes playback automatically.
Try these first
Reflashing is a last resort. Restart the player and work through the Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide before you reflash.
Choose a method
USB flash drive (recommended) | Etcher | |
Best for | Most cases. You don't need to remove the SD card. | When the USB method fails or the player doesn't detect the drive |
Settings kept | ✅ Yes, including WiFi | ❌ No, the whole card is erased |
You need | A USB flash drive | A computer, an SD card reader and an Ethernet cable |
Time | Up to 30 minutes to write, then 15 to 20 minutes to start up | About 10 minutes to flash, then up to 5 minutes to start up |
Reflash with a USB flash drive (recommended)
The player rewrites its SD card from a USB flash drive. Your settings, stored in the SETTINGS.txt file, are kept, so the player reapplies them, downloads your content again and resumes playback without you doing anything.
Advanced users
Only SETTINGS.txt is kept. Any manual changes made via the command line, such as password changes, config.txt edits, or extra software, are lost.
Watch: reflash with a USB drive
1. Prepare the USB flash drive
Use a USB flash drive formatted as FAT32. Most drives are formatted this way by default. ext2, ext3 and ext4 also work, and NTFS may work.
Download the latest Yodeck image. It's a .zip file of about 1.1GB.
Copy the .zip file as-is to the top level of the drive, not into a folder. Don't unzip or rename it.
Other files on the drive are fine. The player doesn't change anything on it.
Not every flash drive works
Some drives start too slowly for the player to detect them. If the player doesn't show "USB drive detected", try a drive of a different make or model.
2. Reflash the player
Plug the USB flash drive into any USB port on the player.
Power up or restart the player. It shows "Searching for USB drives..." before the Yodeck logo.
Wait for "USB drive detected". The player then verifies the image and starts writing it to the SD card.
When the player asks you to, remove the USB drive. The player restarts and reapplies your settings.
Keep the power and USB drive connected
Writing can take up to 30 minutes. Don't unplug the player or remove the drive until the player asks you to.
3. Let the player finish
After the restart, the player may also update its software online. Leave it powered on and allow 15 to 20 minutes. It then connects, downloads your content and starts playing.
Reflash with Etcher
Use this method if the USB method doesn't work. It erases the whole SD card, including your settings, so connect the player with an Ethernet cable afterward.
Download the latest Yodeck image and unzip it. You'll get a single .img file of about 3.2GB.
Install balenaEtcher on your computer.
Power off the player, remove its SD card and insert the card into your computer. Close any windows that pop up.
In Etcher, select the .img file, select the SD card and click Flash!
When Etcher finishes, put the SD card back in the player.
Connect the player to your screen with HDMI and to your network with an Ethernet cable, then power it up.
Startup can take up to 5 minutes. When it finishes, the screen shows either a registration code or a connectivity error.
Don't unplug the player while it's working
If a blinking message such as Loading, Configuring or Downloading shows in the bottom-right corner, leave the power connected.
Need more detail?
See Flash an SD card with Etcher. If Etcher fails, use Raspberry Pi Imager instead.
Troubleshooting
The player doesn't show "USB drive detected"
The player can't see the drive. Try a different USB flash drive, ideally another make or model.
The player shows an error after detecting the drive
Check the drive was prepared correctly: the .zip must be at the top level of the drive, not unzipped and not renamed. Download the image again if needed.
Nothing appears after 20 minutes
Leave the player on a little longer, as an online update may still be running. If nothing changes, reflash again with the Etcher method.
WiFi doesn't connect after an Etcher reflash
Etcher erases your WiFi settings. Connect with an Ethernet cable, or use the WiFi wizard.
Security
Yodeck image files are digitally signed, and the player only accepts images issued by Yodeck. Plugging in a USB drive with any other image won't change the player, so no one can inject their own code this way.
Need Help?
The Yodeck Support Team can help you out! Log in to your Yodeck account and send us a message from the bottom right corner!