Permit'southward begin our adventure on the Retropie downloads page. Fetch the version appropriate to your Raspberry Pi board type — there are separate SD card images optimized for the Raspberry Pi "1" (Models A, B, A+, B+ and Zero), and another for the Raspberry Pi 2 or iii.

If you've used RetroPie in the past, bank check if a newer release is available…information technology'south updated frequently! This guide requires version 3.6 or newer.

While that downloads, you can get started with formatting a 4GB or larger microSD card (or full-size SD if using a "classic" Model A or B).

Later on downloading and uncompressing the RetroPie paradigm, you can write it to the SD bill of fare equally you would any other operating arrangement. It'due south explained in this guide.

Use the latest RetroPie image (3.half-dozen or newer) optimized for your board blazon (Raspberry Pi 1 or 2/iii).

Initial Setup…

Insert the SD card in the Raspberry Pi. Plug in an HDMI monitor, USB keyboard, then connect power.

raspberry_pi_retropie-splash.jpg

On get-go boot, you lot should meet some Linux console messages scroll by, followed past a RetroPie splash screen. It will report that it's resizing the SD card partition, and so performs a reboot cycle. The second time around, you'll get the RetroPie splash screen, followed by the EmulationStation splash screen, and then information technology will prompt you to configure an input device.

Y'all do not need to configure inputs yet…instead, press F4 to exit EmulationStation and get a Linux prompt. Then nosotros'll do some basic system configuration…

sudo raspi-config
sudo raspi-config

The following raspi-config options are required:

  • Nether System Options:
    • Audio: force 3.5mm headphone jack (since HDMI volition be disconnected later). In before releases, this is under Advanced Options.
  • Under Display Options:
    • Underscan: disable (earlier releases: Overscan inAdvanced Options)
  • Nether Interface Options:
    • SPI: enable

If using an older version of RetroPie, as well select Expand Filesystem (recent releases practice this automatically on start boot), enable the Device Tree under Advanced Options, and when enabling SPI above, respond "yes" when prompted whether to enable the kernel module.

These steps are optional just recommended:

  • Modify Password (since everyone knows the default).
  • Under Internationalization Options, select Change Locale, Modify Timezone and Change Keyboard Layout to your liking. If keys aren't producing the expected characters, this is why.
  • Under Advanced Options, change Hostname if desired (default is "retropie") and enable SSH (for remote administration).

Do Not select:

  • Overclock. Nosotros tin can enable thislater, but at that place are some important details that need explaining with the PiTFT outset! Start out at the default speed.
  • Retentiveness Separate. In the past when using the PiTFT you'd desire this as modest every bit possible (16 MB). But now that we're actively using the GPU, nosotros want some GPU memory, so don't touch this!

When you're washed, tab to "finish" and reboot when prompted.

Configure Input

Afterwards rebooting, the arrangement will once again ask you lot to configure an input device. Let's set up information technology up for keyboard input for now (nosotros can change this later). Concord down any fundamental on the keyboard for a few seconds until information technology starts asking for keys to assign to certain controls.

At that place are a HUGE number of inputs (shoulder buttons, dual analog sticks, etc.)…only for any you don't anticipate using you tin can just hold a key down for a few seconds and information technology volition skip ahead to the side by side selection. As an 80's child, I spend almost of my time in MAME, and then I configure EmulationStation's input to be fairly minimal (but your emulator of preference might be dissimilar):

Button

Key on Keyboard

Up/Down/Left/Right

Arrow keys

Kickoff

1

Select

5

A

Left Control

B

Left Alt or Command

Think — one time configured, EmulationStation is navigated usingthese keys only. So, for example, the Return key won't necessarily select an item, even though the aforementioned fundamental may have the expected outcome within some emulators.

You lot can set up prepare a more extensive combination of inputs for unlike emulators later…no need to become serious with the gameplay yet, just confirm that things launch as expected.Most emulators volition exit and render to the EmulationStation carte with the Escape central.

Later on, you can reconfigure it for a gamepad…y'all'll need to admission the EmulationStation settings menu with a keyboard still attached. Press the central you'd configured every bit "Get-go," then select "Configure Input," then continue through each command as you did earlier with the keyboard, but using the gamepad at present.

The control settings you select hither don't always deport through to some emulators. Others may take their own settings that overlap the keys you've called, causing mayhem. See the "Configuring Private Emulators" department for tips on finding each emulator's individual config file, and then you can fine-tune these aspects.

Networking

If yous don't plan to use networking, skip ahead to the next section below: Install ROMs. Yous'll demand to use a USB flash bulldoze and move files manually from the command-line.

Loading ROM files is most easily done on a wired Ethernet network. Contempo RetroPie releases already accept file sharing enabled; the organization should appear on your network as "retropie.local" (unless you gave the system a different hostname during the initial setup).

If you programme to use wireless networking…the RetroPie menu includes an pick for configuring WiFi, but I couldn't go this to connect. If y'all take trouble with it, press F4 to exit EmulationStation for a control-line prompt and set up WiFi the old-fashioned manner, by editing /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf. Here's a guide for basic network setup on Pi.

Once networking is all set up (information technology may require another reboot), you lot should be able to access the RetroPie system remotely…equally a network share for transferring files, and (if you enabled SSH in raspi-config) for remote login to finish certain command-line tasks afterwards.

You can always go out EmulationStation with the F4 key for a command line prompt, but remote login has the benefit that y'all tin can copy-and-paste some of the commands we'll be using.

raspberry_pi_retropie-net-roms.png

Networking must be configured and operable before proceeding.

Install ROMs

Emulators crave ROM files. If you don't want to do this step, that'southward okay…a few self-contained games tin be installed in the "Ports" section of EmulationStation, such as Doom and Quake (explained in next section below).

With networking enabled, information technology's possible to copy the ROM files beyond the network — the retropie system should be visible as an SMB or AFP share. Alternately, yous tin fill a USB stick with ROM files, mount this on the Raspberry Pi and move them to the advisable locations.

ROM files are installed in specific subdirectories of /habitation/pi/RetroPie/roms — one for each different emulator package. For case, NES roms go in the "nes" directory.

Some systems are supported by multiple emulators (for example, in that location are unlike MAME implementations, each with its ain directory). Each emulator has its own quirks — some may render or perform amend than others, or some might not work with sure ROMs. Hunting down these quirks and determining your preference for one emulator over another is a procedure yous'll have to work through yourself…there are only besides many emulators and far too many ROMs for u.s.a. to know them all. There are entire sites and forums devoted to the various emulators, and you may demand to Google around and practice your ain research on the best selections for different games. The RetroPie web site and EmulationStation web site are great places to offset to start, with forums, FAQs and wikis.

Additional Emulators and Ports

Version iv (and after) of RetroPie does not include games like Doom and Convulse by default. If you're patient and reasonably tech savvy, you can add these on after the fact…

From the RetroPie carte, select "RetroPie Setup." This runs a text-based menu from which options can be selected (use the arrows and enter central here rather than the "A" push).

Select "Manage packages," then "Manage optional packages." You'll exist greeted with a list of additional emulators and native (not-emulated) Raspberry Pi ports of some games. Employ the "Install from binary" option to install these.

Examination Information technology!

An emulated arrangement won't prove upwards in the EmulationStation menu until corresponding ROMs are installed…merely it only scans for ROMs at startup. It's easiest just to reboot…or you lot can leave to the command line (F4) and type "emulationstation" to restart the menu.

If you oasis't already configured the keyboard or a gamepad for input, do that now. Hold down a central or button and proceed through each push button when prompted.

Do non continue until you're able to successfully launch i or more than games, displayed on the HDMI monitor.

This guide was first published on Mar 12, 2015. It was last updated on Mar 12, 2015.

This page (RetroPie Setup) was concluding updated on Apr 10, 2022.

Text editor powered by tinymce.