Troubleshooting

ROM won't load

  • Ensure the ROM is in the correct format:
    • NES: iNES format (.nes files)
    • SNES: SMC/SFC format (.smc, .sfc files) - supports 512-byte SMC headers
    • N64: Z64/N64/V64 format (.z64, .n64, .v64 files) - all byte orders supported
    • Atari 2600: Raw binary (.a26 or .bin files) - must be 2K, 4K, 8K, 12K, 16K, or 32K in size
    • Game Boy: GB/GBC format (.gb, .gbc files)
    • PC/DOS: COM/EXE format (.com, .exe files)
  • Check that the file isn't corrupted
  • Try a different ROM to verify the emulator works
  • Check the console output (if running from terminal) for specific error messages
  • For Atari 2600: Some ROM dumps may have headers that need to be removed - use headerless ROMs

Audio issues

  • The emulator requires a working audio output device
  • On Linux, ensure ALSA is properly configured
  • Check your system's audio settings
  • Game Boy audio is not yet connected to the frontend

Settings not saving

  • Verify you have write permissions in the emulator directory
  • Check that config.json isn't marked as read-only
  • Settings save automatically when changed (e.g., F11 for CRT filter, F3 for ROM)

Save states not working

  • Ensure you've loaded a ROM first
  • The saves/ directory should be created automatically
  • Check file system permissions in the emulator directory

Performance issues

  • Try disabling CRT filters (F11 to cycle to "None")
  • Close other resource-intensive applications
  • Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date

For system requirements, see the Download & Install page.