Config.txt

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Config.txt
The config.txt file is used to configure boot and hardware configuration on Raspberry Pi hardware, similar to how the "BIOS" is used on an Intel PC.
Edit via SSH
The /flash boot partition is read-only by default, so we need to remount it in read-write mode:
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mount -o remount,rw /flash
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Use the nano text editor to modify the file. Save changes with ctrl+o and exit using ctrl+x:
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nano /flash/config.txt
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After editing set the /flash partition back to read-only mode:
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mount -o remount,ro /flash
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And reboot for the changes in config.txt to be applied:
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reboot
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Edit via Card Reader
Turn off the Raspberry Pi, remove the SD card, and use a card reader connected to your Windows, Linux, or macOS computer. If using Windows, use a text editor capable of saving text files in Unix format, e.g. Notepad++ or Wordpad.exe (not Notepad.exe).
MPEG2 and VC-1 Licenses
Raspberry Pi 0/1/2 cannot hardware-decode MPEG2/VC-1 media files without a license key that can be purchased from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The hardware is too slow to software decode these formats without the keys.
Raspberry Pi 3 hardware has higher spec CPUs and is capable of software-decoding without the licenses, although purchasing them allows hardware-decoding and your device will run cooler.
Raspberry Pi 4 is capable of software decoding these formats and license keys are not available.
To purchase license keys you need the serial number of your Raspberry Pi. This can be read with the following command:
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cat /proc/cpuinfo
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Edit config.txt as described above, uncommenting the license key lines by removing the # marks, and replacing 00000000 with the keys you received after purchasing:
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decode_MPG2=0x00000000
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decode_WVC1=0x00000000
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Reboot and confirm the license keys are installed correctly by running these commands:
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vcgencmd codec_enabled MPG2
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vcgencmd codec_enabled WVC1
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If the licenses are enabled you should see this:
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MPG2=enabled
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WVC1=enabled
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If any key that you purchased shows disabled check that:
You entered the correct serial number
You added the licence key to config.txt correctly
You uncommented the lines in config.txt by removing the \# mark (and space)
You rebooted before testing
Overlays
Raspberry Pi kernels use a board-specicic device-tree file to describe the board's hardware and how things are connected. As the Raspberry Pi is designed to be extended with extra hardware via HATs and peripheral connectors the kernel also supports device-tree "overlay" files. When configured, these overlay "fragments" of device-tree content that describe the extra hardware on the board device-tree, and the the kernel reads them as a single combined file.
Overlays can be found in /flash/overlays and they are configured in config.txt in the root folder of the SD card that you boot the Raspberry Pi from. The following are examples of common overlay changes.
Audio Interfaces:
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dtoverlay=hifiberry-dac
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dtoverlay=hifiberry-dacplus
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dtoverlay=hifiberry-digi
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dtoverlay=hifiberry-amp
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dtoverlay=iqaudio-dac
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dtoverlay=iqaudio-dacplus
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Infra-Red Receivers:
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dtoverlay=gpio-ir
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Override defaults for the gpio-ir module:
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dtoverlay=gpio-ir,gpio_pin=25,gpio_pull=up,rc-map-name=rc-technisat-usb2
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Optional hardware interfaces:
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dtparam=i2c1=on  # for later RPi's
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dtparam=i2c0=on  # for early RPi's
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dtparam=spi=on
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Overclocking
Please see the Raspberry Pi Foundation Wiki for more details on overclocking.
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Last modified 1yr ago
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Contents
Edit via SSH
Edit via Card Reader
MPEG2 and VC-1 Licenses
Overlays
Overclocking