How to install GarlicOS on Anbernic RG35XX H (2025 guide)

GarlicOS is one of the most popular custom firmware options for Anbernic devices. It’s lightweight, fast, and gets out of your way — perfect if you just want to play games without a lot of setup. This guide walks you through the full installation on the RG35XX H.

What is GarlicOS?

GarlicOS is a minimal Linux-based custom firmware developed by Black-Seraph. Unlike heavier distributions like KNULLI or Batocera, GarlicOS strips things down to the essentials: a clean interface, RetroArch integration, and excellent battery life. It’s the go-to choice for users who want speed and simplicity over features.

For a full comparison of firmware options, see our custom firmware comparison guide or the GarlicOS firmware tracker for the latest version.

Compatible devices

GarlicOS officially supports:

• Anbernic RG35XX H (primary target)
• Anbernic RG28XX (limited support)

This guide focuses on the RG35XX H. The process is nearly identical for the RG28XX.

What you’ll need

• Anbernic RG35XX H — check current price →
• MicroSD card — 32GB minimum, 64–128GB recommended (Samsung or SanDisk)
• SD card reader for your computer
• Computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
• Game ROMs — legally obtained from cartridges you own

Time required: ~20 minutes

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Step 1: Download GarlicOS

1. Go to the official GarlicOS GitHub releases page
2. Download the latest release — look for a file named RG35XX-H.img.gz or similar
3. Only download from the official GitHub. Never use third-party sources

⚠️ GarlicOS releases are device-specific. Make sure you download the correct image for the RG35XX H, not the original RG35XX.

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Step 2: Flash the image to your SD card

GarlicOS uses a full disk image, which means you need to flash it directly to the SD card rather than just copying files.

Using Balena Etcher (recommended — all platforms):

1. Download Balena Etcher (free, Windows/Mac/Linux)
2. Insert your MicroSD card
3. Open Etcher → Flash from file → select the .img.gz file you downloaded
4. Select your SD card as the target
5. Click Flash and wait for it to complete (~5–10 minutes)
6. Etcher will verify the flash automatically

Using dd (Linux/Mac advanced users):

# Replace /dev/sdX with your SD card device (check with lsblk or diskutil list)
gunzip -c RG35XX-H.img.gz | sudo dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
sync

⚠️ Double-check your target device. Writing to the wrong drive will erase it permanently.

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Step 3: First boot

1. Insert the flashed SD card into your RG35XX H
2. Power on the device
3. GarlicOS will boot directly — no installation wizard, no setup screens
4. The first boot may take 30–60 seconds as it initializes

You’ll land on the main menu immediately. GarlicOS is ready to use.

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Step 4: Add your ROMs

GarlicOS organizes ROMs by system folder. After the first boot:

1. Power off the device
2. Remove the SD card and insert it into your computer
3. You’ll see a Roms folder on the card. Copy your ROM files into the appropriate subfolders:

Platform	Folder	Accepted Formats
Game Boy	Roms/GB/	.gb, .zip
Game Boy Color	Roms/GBC/	.gbc, .zip
Game Boy Advance	Roms/GBA/	.gba, .zip
NES	Roms/FC/	.nes, .zip
SNES	Roms/SFC/	.sfc, .smc, .zip
Sega Genesis	Roms/MD/	.md, .gen, .zip
PlayStation 1	Roms/PS/	.bin/.cue, .pbp, .chd
PSP	Roms/PSP/	.iso, .cso

4. Safely eject the SD card and reinsert it into the device
5. Power on — GarlicOS will scan for games automatically

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Step 5: Add BIOS files (required for some systems)

Some emulators require BIOS files to function correctly:

System	BIOS File	Required?
PS1	scph1001.bin	✅ Yes
GBA	gba_bios.bin	Recommended

Copy BIOS files to the Bios/ folder on your SD card.

We can’t provide BIOS files — you’ll need to dump them from your own consoles.

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Step 6: Pixel scaling settings

The RG35XX H has a 640×480 IPS screen — one of the best screens for classic gaming at this price. To get pixel-perfect output:

1. Launch a game
2. Press Menu to open RetroArch
3. Go to Settings → Video → Scaling
4. Set Integer Scale to On
5. Set Aspect Ratio to Core Provided

This gives you sharp, artifact-free pixels for Game Boy, GBA, NES, SNES, and PS1.

Use our Screen Visualizer to preview exactly how each platform looks on the RG35XX H screen before you start playing.

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GarlicOS vs other firmware options

	GarlicOS	KNULLI	MinUI
Interface	Simple, clean	Feature-rich	Minimal
RetroAchievements	✅	✅	❌
Wi-Fi support	❌ (RG35XX H has no Wi-Fi)	✅ (where supported)	❌
Battery life	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Update frequency	Occasional	Regular	Occasional
Best for	Speed & simplicity	Features	Minimalists

For a deeper comparison, read GarlicOS vs OnionOS vs KNULLI.

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Troubleshooting

Device won’t boot after flashing

• Re-flash the SD card using Etcher — verify the flash completed without errors
• Try a different SD card (cheap/counterfeit cards are a common cause)
• Make sure you downloaded the correct image for the RG35XX H

Games aren’t showing up

• Confirm ROMs are in the correct subfolders (see Step 4)
• Check that your ROM format is supported
• Power cycle the device after adding ROMs

Screen is black after boot

• Hold the power button for 10 seconds to force restart
• If it persists, reflash the SD card

PS1 games won’t launch

• Make sure scph1001.bin is in the Bios/ folder
• Verify the BIOS file is not corrupted (check MD5 hash)

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What to do next

• Check the GarlicOS firmware tracker for the latest version and changelog
• Use the Screen Visualizer to find the best scaling settings for each platform
• See how the RG35XX H compares to other devices in our device database
• Read our best retro handhelds under $100 guide for alternatives

Related guides:

• How to install KNULLI — if you want more features
• How to install OnionOS — for Miyoo Mini Plus users
• What is custom firmware? — firmware explained