Welcome to iPhone & iPad emulation. Now that emulators are allowed on the App Store, playing retro games on an iPhone or iPad is easier than it has ever been. This board is for setting them up, pairing controllers, managing your files and getting the most out of Apple hardware.
What belongs here
• App Store emulators such as Delta, PPSSPP, RetroArch and others
• Importing your own game dumps through the Files app, iCloud Drive or a computer
• Controllers: Xbox and PlayStation pads, MFi controllers and clip-on designs
• Skins, layouts and on-screen controls
• Performance and compatibility on different iPhone and iPad models
• General discussion about sideloading and alternative app marketplaces where they are available
What doesn't
• Android phones and handhelds: Android emulation
• Emulation on a Mac or PC: PC emulation
• Making games look like a CRT: Shaders, bezels & CRT looks
• Frontends and library tidying across platforms: Frontends & launchers
How to ask so people can help
1. Your device model and iOS or iPadOS version
2. The emulator name and version, and whether it came from the App Store or elsewhere
3. For RetroArch: the core you are using
4. The controller you are using, if it is an input problem
5. What you have changed and what you have already tried
6. The exact error message, or a screenshot
Starter knowledge
• Apple's platforms do not normally allow the JIT compilation that many demanding emulators rely on. That is why some systems run well on Android or PC but struggle or are unavailable on iOS. Workarounds exist, but they change often and depend on your iOS version.
• Most emulators keep their files in their own folder in the Files app. If a game will not show up, check you put it in the folder the app expects.
• Many App Store emulators are free or ask for an optional donation. Be wary of copycat apps that charge for someone else's open-source work.
• Back up your save files. Deleting an app usually deletes its data with it.
• Modern Xbox and PlayStation controllers pair through Bluetooth settings and work in most emulators without extra setup.
Legal and safety
Emulation is welcome here, piracy is not. Do not link, share or request ROMs, ISOs, BIOS files, firmware, keys or copyrighted games, and do not ask where to find them. Dump your own games and BIOS from hardware you own. Do not share signing certificates, paid app cracks or anything that installs apps without the developer's permission. No malware and no selling or paid services.
As ever, the house rules apply: be kind, English only (posts in other languages are translated automatically), no spam, no keyboard mashing and no self-promotion spam. Spot something that breaks the rules? Use Report. This thread is locked, so start a new thread in this board if you have a question.
Dexter
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