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rpi-config: increase USB current limit for Raspberry Pi 5 #1577

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rpi-config: increase USB current limit for Raspberry Pi 5 #1577

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5 changes: 5 additions & 0 deletions recipes-bsp/bootfiles/rpi-config_git.bb
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -343,6 +343,11 @@ do_deploy:append:raspberrypi3-64() {
echo "dtparam=audio=on" >> $CONFIG
}

do_deploy:append:raspberrypi5() {
echo "# Setting usb_max_current_enable=1 allows up to 1.6A (1600mA), enabling extra USB devices. " >> $CONFIG
echo "usb_max_current_enable=1" >> $CONFIG
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@agherzan agherzan Feb 10, 2026

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How is Raspberry OS dealing with this? Do they do the same for RPi5? Only RPi5?

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@embetrix embetrix Feb 11, 2026 •
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@flowergom in your link is stated :

Okay, you have a 3A power supply which limits USB current to 600mA. Best solution is to get a RPi PSU for Pi5, which is capable of 5A and will negotiate a higher USB current limit.n Alternatively you could try
RPi documentation wrote:
Set usb_max_current_enable=1 in /boot/firmware/config.txt to enable USB boot.
which will increase the USB current limit, but may crash the whole system if you run out of current overall.

this is a workaround that not everyone using this layer is concerned about, you may enable it in your local.conf by adding:

RPI_EXTRA_CONFIG += ' \n \
# Enable max current \n \
usb_max_current_enable=1 \n \
'

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@agherzan agherzan Feb 19, 2026

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That's exactly what I was suspecting. Would the mentioned solution work for you?

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@embetrix embetrix Mar 18, 2026 •
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note that usb_max_current_enable=1 is required to boot rpi5 from an USB device

}

do_deploy:append() {
if grep -q -E '^.{80}.$' ${DEPLOYDIR}/${BOOTFILES_DIR_NAME}/config.txt; then
bbwarn "config.txt contains lines longer than 80 characters, this is not supported"
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