Reviving Your Amlogic S805: Top Free Custom ROMs and Installation Guide
If you have an old Android TV box gathering dust, chances are it’s powered by the Amlogic S805 chipset. While the stock firmware on these devices—like the popular MXQ S805—is often stuck on Android 4.4 KitKat, installing a free custom ROM can breathe new life into your hardware.
This guide explores the best custom firmware options available in 2024 and 2025 to help you upgrade to modern versions of Android or specialized media center operating systems. Why Install a Custom ROM?
Performance Boost: Custom ROMs often remove "bloatware," making the interface faster and more responsive.
Modern Features: Upgrade from outdated Android versions to Lollipop (5.1.1) or even Armbian Linux for server use.
Extended Software Support: Access newer versions of apps like Kodi (via LibreELEC) that are no longer supported on older Android systems. Top Free Custom ROMs for Amlogic S805 1. Android 5.1.1 Lollipop (Abdul_pt Build)
One of the most stable Android-based upgrades for S805 devices. Originally built for the K1 box, it has been widely ported to various MXQ models.
Best For: Users who want a familiar Android experience but with better app compatibility.
Where to find it: Guides and files are often hosted on community forums like Freaktab or XDA Developers. 2. LibreELEC (Media Center Specialist)
If you only use your TV box for movies and shows, LibreELEC is the best choice. It replaces Android entirely with a lightweight "Just enough OS for Kodi" system.
Key Advantage: Extremely fast and supports newer Kodi versions (up to 18.x on legacy builds).
Installation: Can be run from an SD card, preserving your original Android system. 3. Armbian Linux
For power users, Armbian turns your S805 box into a low-power Linux server. [7.0.3.3d] LibreELEC 7.0 for S805 - Page 49 - Amlogic amlogic s805 custom rom free
The Amlogic S805 is a legacy chipset primarily found in older Android TV boxes like the
. While official Android updates for these devices have largely ceased, the developer community provides several free custom ROMs and alternative operating systems to revitalize them. Top Custom ROMs for Amlogic S805
: This is often considered the best "ROM" for these devices. It is a lightweight OS designed specifically to run
with minimal overhead, bypassing the heavy Android interface entirely. : A popular fork that supports Amlogic S805
and S812 boxes, enabling them to run newer versions of Kodi (like 18.2) smoothly
: If you want to turn your TV box into a retro gaming console, Lakka is a dedicated OS for that runs efficiently on
: For users wanting a full Linux experience, specific builds of Armbian (like those from the Armbian Forums
) allow you to use your TV box as a low-power server or basic desktop. Legacy Android Firmwares
: Some developers have released custom Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) builds for the to replace the stock Android 4.4 Installation Methods
The installation process typically depends on whether you are replacing the Android OS or booting from an SD card.
For older Amlogic S805 devices (like the popular MXQ S85 or S805 boxes), custom ROM options typically focus on reviving the hardware for specific uses like media centers (Kodi) or lightweight Linux servers. Available Custom ROM Options LibreELEC / AlexELEC (Best for Kodi)
: These are dedicated OS builds that boot directly into Kodi. AlexELEC is a popular fork optimized for S805 hardware. Armbian (Best for Linux Servers) Reviving Your Amlogic S805: Top Free Custom ROMs
: If you want to use the box as a mini-server, Armbian provides a Debian-based Linux environment. Note that HDMI or Wi-Fi support can be limited in newer kernel versions. Android Lollipop 5.1.1
: Some unofficial builds exist to upgrade older KitKat (Android 4.4) boxes to Lollipop, though compatibility varies wildly between different board revisions. Installation Guide: The "Toothpick" Method
The most common way to flash a new ROM or boot a custom OS from an SD card on an S805 box is the "toothpick" method. Firmware Upgrade Guide for Amlogic devices - Ugoos
Finding a high-quality custom ROM for the Amlogic S805 chipset is a common goal for users looking to breathe new life into older Android TV boxes. While the S805 is an aging quad-core processor, its hardware remains capable of handling lightweight streaming tasks and retro gaming if paired with optimized software. Moving away from bloated stock firmware can significantly improve performance, security, and the overall user interface. The Benefits of Custom Firmware
Stock firmware on S805 devices is often plagued by "bloatware"—unnecessary apps that consume limited RAM and CPU cycles. Custom ROMs solve this by:
Improving Speed: Stripping away background processes allows the 1GB of RAM typically found in these devices to breathe.
Updating Android Versions: Many S805 boxes are stuck on Android 4.4 KitKat. Custom builds can sometimes push this to Android 5.1 or even 7.1 (though stability varies).
Clean Interface: Most community ROMs favor a "Leanback" Launcher or a pure Android TV experience rather than cluttered mobile-style skins. Top Free ROM Recommendations 1. LibreELEC / CoreELEC
If your primary goal is media playback (Kodi), these are the gold standard. They are not Android; they are "Just enough OS for Kodi."
Pros: Extremely fast, supports hardware decoding, very stable. Cons: No Android apps (YouTube, Netflix Android app, etc.). 2. Aidan’s ROM
Aidan’s ROM is perhaps the most famous universal Android TV ROM for Amlogic devices.
Pros: Modern Android TV UI, rooted, includes Google Play Store. Fake Firmware Sites: Hundreds of sites (often ending in
Cons: Requires careful selection of the specific "v7" or "v8" variant to match your S805 board. 3. Poison ROM
Poison ROM is built for speed and focuses on a debloated, "tablet-style" or TV experience with high customization. Pros: Performance tweaks for smoother navigation.
Cons: Development has slowed down as newer chips (S905/S922) take priority. Important Installation Tips
⚠️ Flash at your own risk. Modifying firmware can "brick" your device if the wrong file is used.
Identify Your Board: Open your box and look at the PCB. The ROM must match the Wi-Fi chip (e.g., RTL8189, AP6210) to ensure wireless connectivity works.
Use the Amlogic USB Burning Tool: This is the standard software used on a Windows PC to flash .img files via a Male-to-Male USB cable.
Backup: Always try to find a copy of your original factory firmware before flashing a new one.
💡 Pro Tip: Because the S805 is a 32-bit architecture, it struggles with modern versions of the YouTube app. If you install a custom Android ROM, use SmartTube instead of the official app for a much smoother, ad-free experience.
If you tell me the exact model of your TV box or the Wi-Fi chip inside, I can help you find: The specific Aidan's ROM version for your device. A download link for the Amlogic USB Burning Tool. A guide for the "Toothpick Method" to enter recovery mode.
Review verdict: This is a high-risk search with very low reward.
If you are looking for a "free custom ROM" for a device running the Amlogic S805 chipset, you are likely looking for software for a device that is roughly 8 to 10 years old (circa 2014-2015).
Here is a solid breakdown of the reality, the risks, and what you can actually expect.
The ultimate expression of a "free ROM" is booting a stock, unmodified Linux kernel from kernel.org on the S805. Thanks to work by the Linux-sunxi (Allwinner) and Amlogic communities, mainline Linux supports many S805 features: SMP (multi-core), USB, Ethernet, SDIO, and even the Lima driver. However, the boot process remains a challenge. Most S805 devices require a proprietary first-stage bootloader (the vendor’s u-boot binary) because the SoC’s boot ROM expects a specific signature. While U-Boot itself is open-source, the specific configuration for each S805 clone board must be extracted from the vendor’s binary.
This is the most critical part of this review. The search term "free custom rom" combined with old hardware is a primary vector for malware.