Handhelds are pretty much like mini-PCs these days. I mean you can install Windows on the Steam Deck or turn ROG Ally into a Steam Deck clone. Sky is the limit, right? Same is the case with Anbernic RG -ARC-D.
If you don’t like the default OS of the Anbernic RG ARC-D, you can install a range of different operating systems. However, one of the best ones is GammaOS.
It is an Android based OS that pairs really well with Anbernic RG ARC-D handheld. It is a stripped-down version of you don’t get any bloat like you do with some of the other Android or Linux based options.
GammaOS will scrap the main frontend and replace it with Daijisho ROM launcher.
Getting the GammaOS is perfect for those who want to get rid of the generic Anbernic RG ARC-D Android based system with Daijisho ROM launcher.
Anbernic RG ARC-D Gamma OS Installation Guide
For the installation process you will need the following items:
- Anbernic RG ARC-D
- A microSD card (minimum of 4GB recommended)
- A microSD card reader for your computer
- GammaOS firmware (download from the official GitHub repository)
- SDDiskTool (included in the GammaOS download)
Head over to the Github page and down the latest version of the GammaOS. At the time of this writing, the latest version is v151.7z that came out earlier this year.
Click on images to enlarge.
After downloading, locate the zipped file and extract it to a new folder on your computer. This will create a folder containing the necessary files, including the firmware image.
Use your card reader to insert a MicroSD card into your PC. Open the extracted folder SDDiskTool_v1.69 and run the SD_Firmware_Tool.exe inside.
If prompted by Windows for security, choose “More info” and then “Run anyway.” Make sure to check on “Upgrade Firmware” and then “Firmware.”
Select the GammaOS ‘ .img ‘ file we extracted earlier for this installation. Click on create and then hit “yes” to push the files onto the MicroSD card.
Now we are going to wait for the process to complete and then eject the SD card. Once we eject, we need to put the SD card into the TFT Slot 1 on the ARC-D which is the left one.
Turn on the handheld and the firmware should start the installation process.
After installation, you will receive a confirmation message. You may need to remove the microSD card after installation is complete, as it is no longer required for booting into GammaOS.
Reverting to Stock Firmware
If you decide you want to revert to the stock operating system, you can download it from Anbernic’s official website or their GitHub page and follow similar steps using their stock firmware image.
