RETROARCH on your old iPAD with AltStore | Complete beginner's setup guide
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- Опубликовано: 15 июн 2024
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LINKS:
Altstore install guide:
Windows: faq.altstore.io/getting-start...
Mac: faq.altstore.io/getting-start...
Retroarch installation link: www.retroarch.com/index.php?p...
7zip: www.7-zip.org/
Here are my written notes:
www.adinwalls.com/2022/12/06/...
Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
0:13 Things you will need
0:29 AltStore Setup Guide
4:39 AltStore walkthrough
6:00 Why choose RetroArch over the other emulators?
7:09 RetroArch setup on iPad / iOS
12:28 Where do I load my ROMs?
13:04 Installing bios files
14:08 Making RetroArch easy to use
17:26 How to scan for ROMs
19:55 Replacing deleted cores
20:45 Setting up Retroachievements
21:19 Game testing and discussion
23:29 Who is this for? (best use cases)
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Software:
DaVinci Resolve on PC
LumaFusion on iPad
I am not sponsored by anyone and all views are my own.
RETROARCH on your iPAD with AltStore | Complete beginner's setup guide in 2022 
Кино
Current day update- I believe retroarch shrunk the size for iOS to 295.5 MB, probably to help with sideloading
Thank you for this
Are roms special for ios? I'm used to doing all of this on Android. Or is it the same thing from where I normally get them.
Same Roms for iOS
Mine was the same until I sent it over to my iPad with file transfer, then it became 303MB and wouldn’t install 🤷♂️
@@ZeePirateMan same did you find a fix?
Thank you for helping out I finally managed to get it running, subbed and liked 💯😎
Thanks for this fantastic step-by-step walkthrough
No worries!
Absolutely marvelous tutorial, thank you very much! 👍
Just set up my base model iPad, and RetroArch works phenomenally well. I use it with my PS4 controller, and it's smooth! I have used retroarch with my jailbroken ps4 before, but the convenience and smoothness are way better in iPad. It took some work (setting up altserver, itunes, etc.) but in the end totally worth it. The only fishy part was the iCloud password in AltStore, but I'll trust them for the convenience. Thanks a lot for making this great tutorial!
I am planning to write a blog post soon for this, will also include some tips and my personal settings in it.
Ah that’s great to hear. Please share the blog when you’re done
The pw only goes to apple servers and even they don't have it. It's just used to verify you
Hi
Would you have (just bullet points) steps to install on a (6thGen) iPad please?
@@carlozbee6333mate im gonna install it now, if you need it ill explain you after
If your iPad still isn’t showing up when choosing a device to install on, I would suggest making a good cable. I tried usb to usb c to my iPad Pro and it didn’t work. I had to use my USBC to USBC cable and THEN the iPad showed up. Great video! Thank you for your help!
Awesome video. Will give it a run through tomorrow
Great!
Great video, thank you for this, this is awesome !
Thanks for this … already subscribed🎉
Omg this is awesome!!! Thanks for the tutorial… was considering spending hundreds of dollars on a retro device, but if this works on my iPad then all my problems are solved! 😍🙏🏼
Kind of… I’m happy I made this video and I am glad so many have been able to get this going BUT it’s not ideal. In the long run you will probably end up buy an emulation console, and for that I highly recommend the Retroid Pocket 3+ or the Anbernic RG405M
Perfect! Thank you
Thank You! 300.3 mb worked 🙂
Amazing detailed explanation
Correct haha 😛
Thank you my guy!
This is an excellent video - your instructions and explanations are clear and easy to follow! Unfortunately for me, I'm attempting this with a *very* old iPad (iOS 10.3.3), yet to run AltStore, I learned via error messages that the minimum required version is iOS 12.2 or later. Hope that info might be helpful to others, meanwhile I'm gonna keep looking for an alternate route to get RetroArch on this thing. Onward!
I was able to install 32 bit retroarch on an iPad 4 with 10.3.3. But the app just loads to a black screen so I gave up.
Thanks again for the great tutorial! Have things basically all worked out, with a question regarding systems that work with iOS.
I have FBNeo,NES, SNES, Megadrive - Genesis, PSP and PS1 all working. I am assuming that GameCube and PS2 are still not working on iOS?
However, could you possibly advise how you got Nintendo 64 working or best core to use, as I can't get it going at all.
Thanks for all your help and great channel!
thanks allot bro I had no clue why it wouldn't download
This is awesome
Thanks man
Dude ur a life saver
I know right 😂
That's so freaking cool
It is 😊👍
Going to have to watch and see if I can do it to my iPhone. Wonder if I can use my old Motorola phone to do the setup
Great video. My iPad Pro 4th generation 12.9-inch model runs Retroarch just fine, but the device gets hot. Is the next generation iPad with the M1 chip much better with the heat issue?
Thanks! This seems to be the only free way to sideload apps (from a few hours of research other sideload/jailbreak methods are broken, please comment if I’m wrong.). Sideloading retroarch is still required to use older iPhones/iPads (I’m running iOS 12.5.7 on an ipad 2 mini) as they are not supported by apple and the developer hasn’t included their iOS 9+ version in the app store for a first party install.
Thanks for the update!
I did it with a MacBook Air 13. It didn't worked because when you started using 7zip I was absolutely lost. Didn't know what I have to do on my MacBook 😭 It's been an hour that I'm trying
Thanks for this, followed it and now I can play my old faves!! Cannot copy a PS2 file across to try though as itunes says not enough room when theres plenty, any ideas?
No idea man sorry
Can we please get an indepth video about core management, I've been trying to install psp and ps2 with no luck
RetroArch has gameboy controllers also you just need to change the on screen overlay
Hell, thanks for the video it was very useful, I was able to install RetroArch on my iPad Air 5th, but when I change the Menu to xmb, it does not look the same as in your video, it kinda looks like PS4 menu, but without the icons, do you know if I have to make additional configuration to get the same menu appereance as you?
Thanks.
It’s very possibly that it’s changed since I made the video.
9 months later! click the "update assets" part of the "online updater" as it needs to downloaded. close Retroarch and reopen!
Is it possible to use this when overseas or on the plane because that's why I want it on my Ipad for these long haul flights.
Hey there I don’t see why not. The only issue is refreshing the account with your computer.
another way that I do it is using scarlet! that id what i use to nstsll ipas!
Scarlet? Sounds interesting
How long does it approximately take after putting in my AppleID into AltStore for RetroArch install? I left it over night and didn't work, so I just tried signing in on the settings page of AltStore and still same spinning/thinking icon. Installation went flawlessly based on the tutorial up to then! Hoping there might be an easy fix I've missed?
Hey the installation shouldn’t take that long. What iPad are you using? There may be a small step you’ve missed.
Got it! Thanks for the quick reply though! For others, my fix was just uninstalling AltStore and then reinstalling, ensuring iPad was connected to computer with AltServer, iTunes and iCloud all connected and running. I was then able to install RetroArch in a few minutes, if that!
I changed my theme to XMB like you instructed but it looks different. Do you know how to fix this?
Thanks for the guide! However, I'm wondering how you managed to update the cores at 19:56 as it is not working for me. I'm able to see the cores like PPSSPP and dolphin there, but it's not downloading anything when I select them.
As I recall, PPSSPP wasn’t working.
Is the apple id login in the altstore app supposed to take a long time? It doesn't load for me at all.
Edit: Disabled the windows firewall for Altstore and it worked
Any luck with Netplay? When trying to join a server on the netplay host list I get an error “could not read content file”
have you tried to play retroarch games with an external monitor?, because i have seen a lot of videos about it, and the external monitor option doesn't support fullscreen videogames, can you test it?
PD: Sorry for my bad english :)
Hi there I haven’t tested it again. Maybe check Reddit threads about it.
Hey I am trying this on my iPhone 13and Retroarch's file size went back to 320 MB and now there is no module folder. I found a framework folder that seems similar, but if I try to delete one the folders or the files inside it prompts errors on altstore because it couldn't create the file/folder. Have you encounter this?
need to know how to get the roms and bios files!!!!
I installed it into my Ipad pro m2 12.9 I did everything step by step, but after adding the app in Altstore, it doesnt appear in "My Apps" but instead on the home screen with no logo and when i touch it to open it it saids "Unable to install retroarch This app cannot be instlled because its integrity could not be verified." any ideas would be very helpful
Retro arch didn’t make a retro arch folder on my iPad. Whenever I open retro arch it says “failed saving config to /private/var/mobile/containers/data/application/…” have any suggestions to fix this?
Hey! quick question, how big approximately was the roms that you installed?
The vary. Old handheld games are just a few megabytes. But PS1 games are a few gigs.
@@adinwalls is there any chance you can guide me through the core installation? I cannot get the GameCube games to work because I do not have cores. Greetings from Guatemala!
I don’t have any icons at the top on xmb, but all the other files/games are on there. Any fix?
Would it be safe to follow these steps to try to install on my iPhone 15 running ios17?
It should be I haven’t refreshed this tutorial but I had a look at all this the other day and not too much has changed.
Can you explain how you got your 8BitDo controller to work? Mine works perfectly on iOS but will not function at all in Retroarch
You have to map the controller in SETTINGS / INPUT
hey, did retroarch work? i’m having trouble so I figured id msg and sus if i can get direct assistance
Sir you gotta help me please ! I have an iPad 4 64GB IOS 10.3.4 AND My computer is WIN7 32bit ......When i hit install Altstore to iPad 4 it is saying : Could not install Altstore to iPAD4 - SSL ERROR:WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_FLAG_CERT_DATE_INVALID SLL Certificate is expired. What to do ?
Need iOS 14 and higher
I followed your guide and I was able to get everything to work except there is no audio. I'm using an M1iPad Pro, any ideas?
Nevermind! Figured it out, for anyone having the same issues check the notification area if the volume is muted!
Hehe yup was gonna say the same thing 👍
Thanks for checking out the vid!
How do I add cores
when i delete the cores it says there missing when i try to install it on altstore and i deleted same ones as you?
how does retro arch works? i got roms for mario 3ds should be easy taking into into account that I am running from an iPad pro m2. is basically I click on load content and then I have to choose a core. I have tried all of them and none work
Hey there. Unfortunately I haven’t tested 3DS but technically yes, you should be able to download the core and make it work.
I’ve got games running on my iPad Air 5th gen, but I can’t gen any input from Bluetooth controller. Do I need to install any separate drivers?
No the controller should work
hey, i’m having trouble so I figured id msg and sus if i can get direct assistance. i too have an ipad air 5. PLEASE HELP ME 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😭
When I try to erase cores with 7zip It shows an error Message “read-only”. What can I do?
Any way to use controller analog as mouse/touch input?
I’m not sure. Sorry I need to do a refresher video on this soon, this vid is quite old now.
how did you get PCSX2 onto Retroarch IOS been struggling to get ps2 games
I never did get PCSX2 on the iPad. This doesn’t work currently.
As soon as I went to the "playstation" look on my iPad Pro M1 - I am screwed. Doesn't look like his from that top nav, and the font is an "8-bit" and I am basically bricked in the app. Any ideas? 🤷♂
Hey not sure what’s happening there. Usually it’s just a case of painstakingly going through each step.
I use the same version of Retroarch as you, I even tried older ones and even the current one. However, I cannot view thumbnails of any kind. Check the configuration sector and everything seems to be correct. I try to download, but it does nothing. There is nothing in the directory. The names of the roms are correct. What I can do? Thanks
Hey there sorry I am not sure what your issue is. Is your iPad not perhaps just too old?
My ipad is 6ta generation. ¿It is old for thumbnail? Thankd for your answer.
Is it available in Mexico?
Hi
Can Retroarch be installed on iPad (6thGen)? If so, how to, please.
Thanks
Yes, just did it today
Is there a pack of roms that I can buy with most of the popular games?
I’m not sure man
Can someone give me a hand? when I click on install on my iPad it says iCloud not found and ask me to locate the iCloud manually and when I select the carpet where I have iCloud nothing happens, someone with this same issue?
Where we can download bios files?
I tried exactly this but it said the ipa was read only. What did I do wrong?
Will work with ipad 2???
This will work for an iPhone XS?
Yes
How to play PlayStation 2 games I can not open them, writes that "you need to select the core", as I understand i need PCSX2, but how to install it on the iPad I do not understand 😭😭😭
I love playing old games on emulators and buying a ipad pro m1. Man it's extremely disappointing to see how much you have to struggle just to play some games
Yup it’s frustrating. Android is also difficult but admittedly far easier to get going.
What is it called
How do you know which cores to delete? Do you have to delete some?
I’ve read that the new download is the correct size and won’t cause issues.
Thank you!
Hello nice tutorial! I was wondering if you figured out the PS2? I want to buy a iPad Pro M1 and the only thing that’s stopping me is getting a ps2 emulator for it. Thank you sir
I'm trying to figure it out too, but if it's just ps2 that's stopping u the emulator play! Is also something you can sideload and it's specifically for ps2
Hey there unfortunately I haven’t been able to look into it further with my older iPad Pro. It would be worth looking into a standalone PS2 emulator for iOS
i installed retroarch this way
but can't seem to find PS2 or the PCXC2 on this build,
Am i doing something wrong?
I don’t think you’ll be able to emulate ps2 anyway so that probably why it isn’t included.
why Altstore and why not sideloadly if it is an IPA file?
On 13 pro max , ios16 i cannot scan files . Bro pls any tutorial? How did you played ps2 games ?
Hi there. I never got PS2 games to play. Not sure why your not able to look for files. Are you meaning ROM files?
Hey looks like retroarch is on my home screen, but not under my apps on the altstore
Hey there I do recall that happening to me but I can’t remember if it was a problem or not 😂 is everything working?
@@adinwalls yeah everything works great! Thanks for replying 😊
Hey guys, Anyone uses Altstore on two devices with the same apple id? When I do it, it says the previous device cant be found.. sigh trying hard to find a tutorial.
sorry, when i tried to go to Profiles & Device Management. i couldn't find an option to tap "Trust [Your Apple ID]. do you have any solution?
nevermind, i figured it out by removing google policy management or something like that. but i have new problem that says "Developer Mode Required"
Yes. You need to enable developer mode on your iPad.
@@adinwalls how do we enable developer mode if it isnt shown in the privacy settings??
Can you play two player ok?
i dont have icons per section on retroarch
I can not find BIOS file in System folder. Please let me know how to add BIOS file.
Unfortunately I can’t legally tell you this but a simple google search will get you what you need.
It won’t let me use download retro arch through Alt store it says error
does it work with ipad pro 12.9 4th gen 15.6?
4th Gen… maybe?
I dont have developer mode
Is it possible to play ps 2 games on retroarch?
Currently I don’t the so. Maybe with the new iPads.
Got it running great minus ps1 I have the bios added but still won’t let me start my games any suggestions?
Are you using .chd files?
@@adinwalls I’m not to sure how would I check that? The roms show up on retroarch just won’t let me play them
Well just check the roms you’ve added. What are their file extensions. Also, they must not be in additional folders.
The roms I have for example silent hill says “silent hill (USA).7z”
Ya so that’s the wrong format. You’ll need to find some Roms with the file extension .chd
stuck in the sign in part it is just loading and not stopping
(this is why I just emulate on android)
You may just need to restart your computer. And yes, Android is far easier.
I have also been able to get this to install on the iPad but my iPhone 14 Plus 16.1.2 no luck. Anyone else having this issue? Its odd.
Did you try making the file smaller?
@@adinwalls I did not but tried today. Have ua Mac and 7 zip is a pain. Is there another method to make smaller or maybe the smaller file available for download?
Hey there I only know the 7zip method.
@@adinwalls can I just download any modules I deleted via 7 zip once retroarch is installed? IE make it as small as I can and just redownload them with retroarch.
I’m not 100% sure on this. The safest is to google the core names, and remove the ones that you are least likely to use. As far as I could see the cores I deleted ended up being added via the cloud once it was installed but I can’t say for sure it will do this for everything.
does need for speed works?
Depends on your iPad performance
So doesn’t work with iPhone?
My psx don’t show up
damn can anyone help me find the bios for playstation ?
Le Google
How do you play GameCube games
I haven’t looked at this for a while but I don’t think you’ll get GameCube going.
@@adinwalls ok 😭😭
anyone help me how do i get bios for them XD
Google… 😊
Retroarch will be disabled every 15 days isn't it ? It could be useful to explain this part too to avoid to have it disabled.
As long as the AltServer is running on your computer, your device is set to sync over WiFi with iTunes and you open the AltStore once in a while, you should be fine.
@@adinwalls does it require to run itunes too and trigger a sync or just AltStore in background is enough ?
@@adinwalls is iTunes needed to enable it? Like, if I go on vacation (aka: no laptop around) and it gets disabled I can't enable it again?
Hey there. I’m just going off memory but yes I think so.
@@adinwalls is there a specific way to enable it after it's disables or is it just open altstore/itunes? thanks man
Does switch games work??
Not on my ipad
after installing Retro Arch, can I uninstall everything else...?
What do you mean by everything else?
@@adinwalls like alt store and the other stuff, because of what I've read that's not possible? I'm not sure, since I've unterstood it like that, that the apps will get recognized as some apps that are certified as "apps you develop" and that's why they work, but they'll only work for 7 days because Apple says like "if it's actually an app in development then after 7 days it changed alot anyways to certify it again" or something like that, but all that seems way too far fetched and crazy to be true from apples site
Where did the Roms come from?
Hi there you will need to source your own Roms.
@@adinwallsyeah, but what site do you use mate.
@@basketball7677 yes I understand. Unfortunately I can’t legally tell you that. Technically we should all be ripping Roms from games that we own.
@@adinwalls yeah, altstore doesn't work on iOS so I am just using desmume on my mac
shaders doesn't seem to work on ios... anyone find a workaround???
I never got into all that with iOS. It works but it’s not as full featured as Android.
@@adinwalls thanks for the reply. I had to use the shader_slang folder shaders, choosing vulkan for the gfx engine and the shaders all showed up :D. It's all working like a charm now beautifully! U should use shaders, I'm using scalefx-aa shader and it's the best for 2d games, while a more moderate ones like xbrz will be better for 3d games like psx games. And I'm not sure if this made any difference to retroarch but choosing jit via altstore may help performance too. I hope these will help others to get a better experience with emulation :D
the 7 day trial is terrible. when youre on holyday for longer than 7 days, what do you do. always bringing your laptop with internet acces or ? man
Yup pretty much. It’s not a perfect system for sure
@@adinwalls maybe i got an idea for a new video for you... i could not manage to get it working yet ... but how about that... connect an ipad via vpn to your home router to access altserver... start you pc at home via wake on lan or something and boom ... reactivating altserver apps...
@@adinwalls But after every refresh, the altstore apps will work for 7 days without any need for a computer, right?
I could even uninstall itunes, icloud and altserver on my computer and the altstore apps will still work for 7 days?
everything will work like a normal app and even offline?
Also, is there any telemetry or similar stuff in icloud, itunes and altserver? Do they collect any data about my computer and iPad?
Does iPad have to b plugged in the whole time?
No but there are points in the tutorial where I say the iPad must be plugged in.
Why does Apple have to be so primitive when it comes to things like this. I say this as an iPhone and iPad user - give me Android ANY DAY when it comes to gaming
Exactly , why do they lock it ? It’s mine
whenever i press sources ,the app shuts down
In my experience if anything went wrong I went back through the steps and made sure I didn’t miss anything. Although how old is your iPad
@@adinwalls I'm using iPad air 1 which has ios 12.5.6
Try the installation again, but it may just be too old to handle it. Sorry man.
@@adinwalls yeah that must be it, thanks tho
Can i install without using pc ???
No you need a computer to install
@@adinwalls wrong there’s other ways to get RetroArch without a pc