Conduit Hi-Fi Audio OS User Installation & Setup Guide
Everything you need to write ConduitServerOS-v3.0.0-arm64.img.xz to an SD card or SSD with Raspberry Pi Imager, connect via network cable or the automatic Conduit-Setup Wi-Fi Hotspot (192.168.4.1), complete the 5-Step Guided Setup Wizard, and customize your sound.
What You Need & Getting Started
Conduit Hi-Fi Audio OS turns a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5 into a silent, bit-perfect Hi-Res music streamer and whole-home audio server.
Raspberry Pi 5 or Pi 4 (4GB / 8GB+)
Works on Raspberry Pi 5 (with optional internal M.2 NVMe SSD for 100% SD-free operation) or Raspberry Pi 4 (with optional external USB 3.0 SSD).
USB DACs, Audio HATs & Room Nodes
Supports USB DACs up to 192kHz / 32-Bit, plug-in Hi-Fi Audio HATs (HiFiBerry, IQaudio, Allo), Bluetooth speakers, and RPi Zero 2W / Pi 4 / Pi 5 room nodes.
Writing Conduit OS to Your SD Card or SSD
You do not need to unzip the .img.xz file—Raspberry Pi Imager reads it directly and writes it to your card automatically.
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Step 1 — Open Raspberry Pi Imager: Download and install the free Raspberry Pi Imager app on Windows, Mac, or Linux from
raspberrypi.com/software. - Step 2 — Choose Device: Click CHOOSE DEVICE and select Raspberry Pi 5 or Raspberry Pi 4.
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Step 3 — Choose OS → Use Custom: Click CHOOSE OS, scroll all the way to the bottom, select Use custom, and pick
ConduitServerOS-v3.0.0-arm64.img.xz. - Step 4 — Choose Storage: Select your MicroSD card (16GB or larger) or USB SSD and click NEXT.
- Step 5 — Click "NO" on OS Customisation: When asked "Would you like to apply OS customisation settings?", click NO. Conduit includes its own built-in 5-Step Guided Setup Wizard that sets up your Wi-Fi, device name, and audio output right in your web browser.
Turning On Your Pi & Opening Conduit
Insert the MicroSD card into your Raspberry Pi and plug in the power cord. You can connect either with a network cable or wirelessly via the automatic Conduit-Setup Wi-Fi hotspot.
Open http://conduit-hifi.local
When plugged into your home router with an Ethernet cable, your Conduit Server appears on your home network within 60 seconds. In v3.0.96+, you can open http://conduit-hifi.local directly without typing :3000 (though :3000 also continues to work). If you have more than one Conduit Server on the same home network, give each server a unique hostname in Step 1 (for example, conduit-hifi-rp5 → http://conduit-hifi-rp5.local).
Join Conduit-Setup Wi-Fi
If no network cable is plugged in, your Raspberry Pi automatically creates a temporary Wi-Fi hotspot after 20 seconds:
When you click Connect Wi-Fi, your Raspberry Pi briefly turns off the Conduit-Setup hotspot to test your home Wi-Fi password and verify that http://conduit-hifi.local (or your custom .local name) is responding on your home network before redirecting your browser.
Typed the wrong Wi-Fi password? If the password is rejected, the Setup Wizard displays a red error alert and your Raspberry Pi automatically turns the Conduit-Setup hotspot (192.168.4.1) back on. Because your phone or computer may have automatically switched back to your home Wi-Fi while Conduit-Setup briefly turned off, simply reconnect your phone or computer's Wi-Fi to Conduit-Setup, type the correct password in the open http://192.168.4.1 (or http://192.168.4.1:3000) browser tab, and tap Connect Wi-Fi again.
The 5-Step Guided Setup Wizard
On first boot, the 5-Step Guided Setup Wizard opens automatically in your browser. You can also re-open it anytime later from Settings → System Setup → Guided Setup Wizard.
Server Name, PIN Protection & Wi-Fi
Choose your server's network name (default: conduit-hifi → http://conduit-hifi.local or http://conduit-hifi.local:3000; if you run multiple Conduit servers on the same home network, give each server a unique hostname), optionally set a 4–8 digit Admin PIN, and pick your home Wi-Fi network from the list. Conduit automatically verifies that your new <hostname>.local address is responding on your home network before redirecting from 192.168.4.1.
1-Click SSD Upgrade (with Live 0%–100% Progress Bar)
Move your system off the MicroSD card onto a fast, silent SSD in one click while watching the real-time 0%–100% clone progress bar:
- Raspberry Pi 5 (Internal NVMe SSD): Clones the entire system onto your internal PCIe Gen 3 M.2 NVMe SSD and configures RPi 5 EEPROM boot priority (
BOOT_ORDER=0xf461) so your Pi boots 100% from NVMe once the MicroSD card is removed (while still allowing future MicroSD re-flashing without opening the case). After completing Step 5, use Power Off Server before removing the MicroSD card. - Raspberry Pi 4 (External USB 3.0 SSD): Moves your system and music library onto your USB 3.0 SSD for instant album browsing and long-term reliability.
Audio Output & DAC Selection
Select your audio output device (USB DAC, HDMI, Headphone jack, or Bluetooth) or choose a plug-in Hi-Fi Audio HAT (HiFiBerry, IQaudio, Allo) from the list. Selecting Bluetooth or a local DAC automatically activates the local Server Speaker Zone for Multi-Room grouping.
Music Storage Folders & Qobuz Hi-Res Streaming
Connect USB/SSD drives or shared network folders (NAS), pick which drive receives drag-and-drop music uploads from your browser, and sign in to Qobuz for Hi-Res streaming.
Review Summary & Launch Conduit
Review your setup summary, optionally paste your CNDT-PRO-... license key, and click Finish & Launch Conduit to start scanning your music library automatically.
Settings Modal, Guided Setup Wizard & Studio Sound Rack
Open Settings anytime from the sidebar to adjust audio, visual themes, storage, or re-open the Guided Setup Wizard:
Crossfade, Studio Sound Rack & Room Nodes
Adjust Smart Crossfade (0–12s), open the Studio Sound Rack (Bass/Presence/Brilliance knobs, 5-Band EQ, Tube Warmth, and Room Acoustic Correction filters), and add Multi-Room Speakers.
4 Studio Finishes, Vibe Glow & Visualizer
Switch between 4 Studio Finish colors (Signal Green, Tube Amber, Deep Ocean, Monochrome), Dynamic Album Glow, and 7 live Equalizer Visualizer styles.
Spinning Vinyl Screensaver & Phone Audio
Set the automatic spinning Vinyl Kiosk Screensaver timer (1 to 30 min) and turn on Listen on This Device to play music directly through your phone or laptop.
Qobuz, Music Folders & Artwork Auto-Fix
Manage your Qobuz account, add USB/SSD/NAS music folders, click Scan Library Now, or run Auto-Fix Library Metadata to fetch missing album covers.
Guided Setup Wizard & Mobile App HTTPS
Re-open the Guided Setup Wizard anytime, check your Wi-Fi connection, or enter a free DuckDNS name to enable secure HTTPS for iPhone and Android home-screen apps.
Smart AI Auto-DJ, Sleep Timer & Bluetooth
Generate mood playlists with AI Auto-DJ, set a bedtime Sleep Timer or Morning Alarm, and pair wireless Bluetooth speakers.
Family Profiles, Admin PIN & 1-Click Updates
Click the profile button in the top bar or sidebar to open Profile & System Control:
- Personal Family Profiles: Create a profile for each family member so everyone gets their own Jump Back In, Favorites, Listening Stats, and color theme.
- Admin PIN Lock: Keeps system settings and storage folders protected with your optional 4–8 digit PIN.
- Power Off Conduit Server: Open Profile → System Control → Maintenance → Power Off Server to safely flush databases and halt the Raspberry Pi before removing the MicroSD card or unplugging power.
- 1-Click Send Debug Logs: Send diagnostic logs directly from Profile → System Control → Maintenance whenever you need support or troubleshooting assistance.
- 1-Click Software Updates (OTA): Check for new Conduit updates and install them in one click without ever removing your SD card or SSD.
Unlocking Studio Pro & Recovering Your Key
Conduit Studio Pro uses a 100% offline license key linked to your Raspberry Pi's Device ID (CNDT-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX)—no monthly subscription, no cloud account, and no internet connection required after activation.
Copy your CNDT-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX Device ID from Step 5 of the Guided Setup Wizard or Settings → License.
Paste your CNDT-PRO-... key into the app. It unlocks immediately and works 100% offline forever.
Changed your SD card or SSD? Look up your key anytime with your email at conduit-audio.com/#verify.