IMPORTANT: Please do not upgrade the Batocera software even if prompted. Doing so can cause the system to not work.
Console Setup
1. Unwrap game controllers, add batteries, then plug the included USB dongles into the console.
2. Turn on the console.
3. Once the main interface is loaded, turn on one controller using the switch at the bottom, then press Start to connect it. A solid red light at the top of the controller will indicate that it is connected.
4. Do the same for the second controller. Controllers go dormant quickly to save battery. Wake them by pressing Start.
Basic Controls
Select: "A"
Back: "B"
Search: "X"
Exit Game: "Mode" + "Start" (P1 controller only)
Credit/Coin: "Select" (MAME / Arcade only)
Additional Controls
In-game save: "Mode" + "X"
In-game load: "Mode" + "Y"
Power off: "Start" > "Quit" > "Shutdown System".
Add game to favorites: Hold "Y" on a game
Unfavorite game: Hold "Y" on a favorited game
WiiMote
The easiest method of playing Wii is to use a generic USB or battery powered IR bar with a Wiimote. We do not recommend using a Dophinbar as it is difficult to setup, and accuracy tends to be lower.
If you have both components, turn on your IR bar, then launch a Wii game. Press "Sync" on your Wiimote. You should see a notification that it connected successfully on the top left of the screen.
You can view the full documentation for the Wiimote
here.
Sinden Light Gun
1. Plug the Sinden into any USB port.
2. Hold down the left D-pad button until the crosshair stays centered.
3. Line up the sight and shoot the cursor in the center of the screen.
You can view the full documentation for light guns in Batocera
here.
Troubleshoot
Main Menu / User Interface is Locked
If you are attempting to adjust settings, but you cannot view them as referenced in the below instructions, it is likely that the "User Interface Mode" is locked. To unlock it, press Start on your controller, then select "Unlock User Interface Mode," then press B,B,B,A,B on your controller to unlock it. All settings should now be available.
No Audio
This is a very common and easy-to-fix issue. It's related to the Batocera software itself, where it does not automatically recognize the HDMI as the primary audio output.
Press "Start", then navigate to "System Settings", then "Audio Output". Select the HDMI option, then press "B" until you're back on the platform selection wheel. Audio should immediately play from the game video.
Console Does Not Boot to Batocera Interface
Consoles can occasionally get shaken during shipment, and the internal hard drive may become loose, which may cause the Batocera interface to not boot up normally. To check, you will need to open the top of the console and make sure the hard drive is secured properly.
1TB Console: power down the console, then flip the switch on the back to open the top.
2TB Console: power down the console, then unscrew the two black Phillips head screws in the back. Use a nail or another thin object to open the top.
OLED Steam Deck SD Card Will Not Boot
When you power on your Steam Deck, hold the "volume down" button, then choose to boot from “EFI SD/MMC Card”. For the OLED Steam Deck, after selecting the EFI SD/MMC Card, immediately press DOWN on the directional pad to select "continue boot", then DOWN again to select "verbose".
You will need to do this boot process each time you power on the Steam Deck in order to load Batocera. To revert back to the standard Steam OS boot, remove the SD card and power on normally.
Game Will Not Boot
If a game does not boot, hover over the game in the game list, then hold down the A button on your controller. There you will see an option called "Advanced Game Options", with an option called "Emulator". Change the emulator from "Auto" to another emulator in the list, then attempt to boot the game again. If that doesn't work, try the next emulator on the list.
Wireless Controller Will Not Respond
The included PS2 controllers go dormant quickly to save power. To wake it back up, press "Start" on the controller, and wait a few seconds. The solid red light should come back on, then the controller should work normally.
If one of the provided PS2 controllers doesn't respond, and it simply blinks with red/green lights, turn off both controllers, and unplug them both. Plug both back in, then turn on one and press "Start". When that controller shows a solid red light, turn on the second controller and press start.
System Frozen
If the standard method of Mode + Start isn't working to exit a game after 10-20 seconds, press and hold the power button on the front of the console to turn it off and back on. This won't damage the system.
Arcade/MAME Game Will Not Boot
The default emulator should be set to MAME .139, except for a small handful of titles like Killer Instinct, Area 51 and Carnevil.
To select the default emulator, press Select while on the MAME game wheel, then go to Advanced System Options > Emulator > MAME .139.
To change the emulator for an individual game, hover over the game title, and hold down the A button, select Advanced Options, then change the emulator to Libretro MAME or MAME as needed.
Arcade/MAME: Vertical Game Aspect Ratio
Hover over the game and hold the A button, then select Advanced Game Options > Game Aspect Ration, then select Core Provided. If this doesn't immediately fix the issue, follow the below steps:
1. On the Platform wheel, press Start and go to Game Settings
2. Make sure Video Mode is set to Auto, and that Game Aspect Ratio is set to Auto
3. Select Game Rendering & Shaders
4. Make sure Integer Scaling is set to Auto
5. Back out and select the MAME wheel, then press Select
6. In Advanced System Options, make sure Video Mode is set to Auto, and Game Aspect Ratio is set to Auto.
7. Select “Game Rendering” and turn Integer Scaling to Auto.
8. Back out and select Quit to reset the system, then select any vertical aspect game to confirm the resolution scale.
FAQ
Why do PS3, Wii U and Switch games sometimes stutter during gameplay?
Emulators for newer systems load new textures and environments on the fly, in a process known as "shader caching". This is how these emulators work, and there is no configuration that will completely eliminate it. It's also not a hardware limitation, and the same stutter will occur even on cutting edge hardware.
Why do PS3 games take so long to load?
The first time a PS3 game loads takes far longer than every time after. This is normal, and there is unfortunately no way to speed the process up.
Change Rendering Resolution
Some consoles will allow you to increase the rendering resolution without affecting performance. When the resolution is increased, jagged edges in older 3D games are smoothed out, which can help older games will look more modern.
This isn't available for most systems. If you change it and performance is effected, you can change it back to the original settings.
To access upscaling options (when available), select a system on the main platform wheel. Press Select, then Advanced System Options. You're looking for the term "Rendering Resolution". If available, select a multiple of the original resolution. Press B to back out to the game wheel, then press "A" start the game.
Change User Interface Theme
The theme refers to the overall look of the scroll wheels where platforms and games are displayed. You can change a theme by pressing "Start" on your controller, then "UI Settings" > "Theme Set"