Why Rockbox?

Pros

  • Better UI and UX: 23 years of team support
  • Quality of life settings, and deep Android customization
  • Sound settings: Equalizer, crossfade, max volume limit, channel config, stereo width, dithering...
  • Deep sorting: by Album Artist, Genre, Year, Composer, First Letter, User Rating, Recently Added...
  • More customization: vast themes collection

Cons

  • Slightly worse battery life. Workaround: enable Airplane mode
  • No videos. Possible workaround: find a video plugin

Before we start

Stock UI means the original software/firmware your device had or has now.

After this guide you keep both the Stock Firmware, and Rockbox. You'll be able to boot into both firmwares at any time.

⚠️ Warning: Do at your own risk. Non-zero chance to brick device, but you can restore it at any time by doing this.

Requirements

  • Y1 (your Innioasis Y1 device)
  • USB-C data cable: the cable it came with works perfectly
  • Computer with: Windows [Best] or MacOS or Linux [Ubuntu recommended]

Installing Rockbox

Note: Updating stock firmware version is not necessary - Rockbox installation does it for you.

In the updater:

  • Choose your Device type, which is either type A or B.
  • Always choose Type A first, and only switch to Type B if your scroll wheel doesn't work after installation.
  • Make sure your Device model is set to the Y1.
  • Choose Rockbox ROM in the Software type

Choosing a Rockbox Version

  • "Nightly" versions are BETA. Unless you know what you're doing, don't choose these.
  • "Stable" versions are stable builds you should choose.
  • 240p (also called "iPod Themes Compatible") will have more themes, but slightly worse resolution
  • 360p (also called "Y1 Theme Compatible) will have WAY less themes, but slightly better resolution.
Recommendation: choose a Stable 240p build for more themes, less hassle, and less risk. If not 240p, go for Stable 360p.

Installation Process

  • Select your build, and hit Install / Restore on the bottom
  • Wait until the zip installs and extracts (this can take a while)
  • Then, whenever the Updater tells you to, Power off your Y1. On Windows, Powering off should be enough, however on other OSes, it might prompt you to take a paperclip and hit a secret button on the bottom, in between the headphone jack and the charging port, until you hear a CLICK. Then continue.
  • Connect your Y1 via a compatible USB-C cable
  • Put down your Y1, and don't touch it
  • If all went well, the Updater should congratulate you and prompt you to Disconnect the cable
Errors? Right click the build, and then hit "Delete Local Zip File" and "Delete All Cached Zips", and then restart the process. If that doesn't solve it, make sure to either restart your device, or download the same version zip from here and then just click "Install from .zip" in the Updater.
Windows Driver Errors? During install on Windows, you might have driver usb2ser.sys issues after this step. Here's a temporary fix: go to Settings, hit the "Privacy & security" tab, go to "Windows Security", and hit the "Device security" button. In the newly opened app, under "Core isolation" click "Core isolation details", and turn off "Memory integrity". After that, restart your PC and try again.
Bricked device? Don't panic! Go to the Updater, hit any 'Original software' build, and click "Install / Restore". Follow the steps and see if it fixed it.

Finish installation + Themes

Turn on your Y1 (hold down the middle button), and if all went well, you should see Rockbox.

Where to find themes

  • Download the Rockbox fontpack (required for many themes) here
  • Download 240p themes here
  • Download 360p themes here

Installing Themes

Switching firmware

Rockbox → Stock: System > Reboot to Stock Firmware

Stock → Rockbox: Press the top button; Back (Menu) first and hold it, then hold the play/pause button at the same time as Back. Continue this for 10-15 seconds and the screen should turn black.