Updating the bootloader on a RPI Raspberry Pi with an SD card / Raspberry Pi Imager / (no need for raspi-config)

You don’t need to install a full-fledged OS with raspi-config to update the bootloader!
A simple SD card and the Raspberry Pi imager can do it within a minute.

Steps to take

• Grab an SD card
• Download the Raspberry Pi Imager
• Flash the bootloader to the SD card
• Power off the RPI
• Inserting the SD card into the RPI
• Booting the PI
• Waiting 10 seconds
• Remove the SD card
• Done!

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Updating the bootloader from an SD card (no OS required) with the Raspberry Pi Imager

You don’t need to run a full OS to update the bootloader, it can be done by putting an SD card in with the latest bootloader

Download the imager from the official website

Install it and run it

Updating the bootloader on the PI using the SD card

1. Power off the RPI
2. Disconnect all USB devices / cables
3. Insert our newly created SD card
4. Power on the PI
5. Wait for 10 seconds
6. The power LED will be flashing constantly in a consistent pattern / If you have HDMI output, it should display a green square
7. You can now power off the PI
8. Remove the SD card
9. Done!