Emulator settings and setup

Screenshot of editing settings in PCSX2

The other FAQs and guides if information you are looking for isn't listed here.

See these pre-setup pages: Ripping games, ROM & ISO sites, and Downloading BIOS files.

This page lists basic emulation settings and directions to find / change them.

When using emulators some (5th generation onward) require BIOS files.

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To not list the same button in every instruction the Browse... or ... button is the button to find the folder in file explorer. For Multi-system emulators "(SYSTEM)" or "(COMPANY)" indicates that you have to select in the menu.

Load ROM

NES/Famicom

• FCEUX: File -> Open
• Nestopia: File -> Open...
• PuNES: File -> Open

SNES/Super Famicom

• bsnes: System -> Load Game...
• Snes9x: File -> Load Game...
• zsnes: GAME -> LOAD

Nintendo 64

• Project64: File -> Open ROM

PlayStation

• DuckStation: System -> Start File

PlayStation 2

• PCSX2: System -> Boot ISO (full) / Boot ISO (fast) / Boot ELF

Xbox (original)

• Cxbx-Reloaded: File -> Load Xbe...

GameCube / Wii

• Dolphin: File -> Open

PlayStation 3

• RPCS3: File -> Boot Game / Boot (S)Elf

Wii U

• Cemu: File -> Load

Nintendo Switch

• Ryujinx: File -> Load Application From File / Load Unpacked Game

Multi-system

• Ares: (COMPANY) -> (SYSTEM)
• Mesen: File -> Open

ROM paths

NES/Famicom

• FCEUX: Config -> Directories... -> Roms

SNES/Super Famicom

• Snes9x: Emulation -> Settings -> Directory -> Roms
• bsnes: Settings -> Paths -> Games -> Assign

Nintendo 64

• Project64: File -> Choose ROM Directory

PlayStation

• DuckStation: Settings -> Add Game Directory

Nintendo Switch

• Ryujinx: Settings -> Preferences -> User Interface -> Game Directories -> Add

Multi-system

• Mesen: Settings -> Preferences -> Folder/Files -> Games

BIOS paths

NES/Famicom

• FCEUX: Config -> Directories... -> FDS Bios rom
• PuNES: Settings -> General -> FDS Bios file

SNES/Super Famicom

• Snes9x: Emulation -> Settings -> Directory -> BIOS -> ..

PlayStation

• DuckStation: Settings -> Add Game Directory

PlayStation 2

• PCSX2: Config -> Plugin/BIOS Selector -> BIOS

Multi-system

• Ares: Settings -> Paths -> Firmware

Controller input

NES/Famicom

• FCEUX: Config -> Input...
• Nestopia: Options -> Input...
• PuNES: Settings -> Input

SNES/Super Famicom

• bsnes: Settings -> Input Settings
• Snex9x: Input -> Input Configuration

Nintendo 64

• Project64: Options -> Input

PlayStation

• DuckStation: Settings -> Input

PlayStation 2

• PCSX2: Config -> Controllers (PAD) -> Plugin Settings

Xbox (original)

• Cxbx-Reloaded: Settings -> Config Input...

GameCube / Wii

• Dolphin: Options -> Controller Settings

PlayStation 3

• RPCS3: Configuration -> Pads

Wii U

• Cemu: File -> Input settings

Multi-system

• Mesen: Settings -> Controllers
• Ares: Settings -> Input

Custom settings files

Link custom settings files here

PCSX2

• Native DS3 controls with Lilypad-SCP - Import this with the 'Load Bindings' button in Lilypad's config.

PCSX2 BIOS

• PCSX2 BIOS Files - Now add the BIOS files in emulator setting.

Dolphin

• XInput config for WiiMote+Nunchuck - How to