How to Use the Dolphin Emulator GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Apps
How to Use the Dolphin Emulator
Play Gamecube and Wii games on your computer
By Robert Earl Wells III Updated on November 9, 2019 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section How to Download How to Get ROMs How to Use on PC How to Set Up Controllers Game Configuration Display Settings How to Use for Android Dolphin Emulator is a video game emulator available for multiple operating systems. If you know how to use Dolphin Emulator, you can play classic GameCube and Nintendo Wii games on your computer or even your smartphone. Instructions in this article apply to Dolphin 5.0 for the Windows and macOS operating systems. How to Download Dolphin Emulator
Dolphin Emulator is an open source program, which means anyone can download it and contribute to the source code. Visit the official Dolphin Emulator website to download Dolphin for your operating system. You can choose between the Stable version or the Development version. The Development version gives you access to the latest new features and updates, but they aren't guaranteed to work properly. If you want to play more classic games on your PC, use RetroArch to download video emulators for other consoles. How to Get ROMs for Dolphin Emulator
You will need your own ROMs in the ISO format to play GameCube and Wii games. If you have a physical copy of a game, you can rip the CD to your computer. Another option is to download ROMs from torrent websites. Not all games are compatible with Dolphin Emulator. The Dolphin Wiki contains information about compatibility issues as well as various enhancements. While the use of emulators is legal, it is illegal to download or distribute ROMs of games that you do not already own. How to Use the Dolphin Emulator on PC
Before you begin, it is recommended to put all of your ROMS in a single folder. Now let's play GameCube and Wii games with Dolphin Emulator. Open Dolphin Emulator and select Config. Select the Paths tab. Select Add. Select the folder containing your games. Close the Configuration window and select Refresh. Your games will appear on the main menu. Double-click the game you want to play to launch Dolphin Emulator. To save your game, go to Emulation > Save State in the Dolphin main menu. Select Load State to load a save file. Do not close the emulator before saving, or else you will lose your progress. How to Set Up Controllers for Dolphin Emulator
Dolphin Emulator supports many PC gamepads in addition to Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers. If you connect a PlayStation 3 or 4 controller to your PC, you can use that as well. It's even possible to use the original GameCube controller if you have the appropriate adapter. To play Wii games, you'll need an actual Wii Remote and a Bluetooth motion sensor bar. The Mayflash DolphinBar accessory makes it easy to sync Wii controllers with your PC. You can also find controller profiles for Dolphin Emulator that automatically configure button mapping for specific games such as Super Mario Galaxy. Here's how to configure controller settings. Select Controllers on the Dolphin Emulator main menu to open the Controller Configuration window. Select Port 1 under GameCube Controllers and select the type of controller you want to use, then select Configure. Configure the button mapping to your liking, then select OK. To save your controller settings, enter a name under Profile and select Save. Select Wiimote 1 under Wiimotes and select the type of controller you want to use, then select Configure. You can use your keyboard or a gamepad to play Wii games, but you will be unable to use motion control features. Once your Wii Remote is configured, set the Sensor Bar Position, select Enable Speaker Data, then click OK. Configuration files for Dolphin Emulator are stored in the My Documents > Dolphin Emulator folder on your computer. Keep all custom assets in this folder. Dolphin Emulator Game Configuration
You can also create custom settings for each game. For example, here's how to enable cheats for a game. Right-click the game in the Dolphin main menu and select Properties. Select the AR Codes tab. Check the boxes beside the cheats you wish to enable. The changes will take affect after you close the window. Dolphin Display Settings
If you have a high-end gaming PC, it should have no problem running GameCube and Wii games at their original speeds or even faster. To customize display settings, select Graphics on the Dolphin Emulator main menu. Under the General tab, you can choose your graphics card by selecting the box beside Backend. It's best to leave the Fullscreen Resolution and Aspect Ratio set to Auto unless you're having problems with a particular game. The Enhancements tab houses additional effects you can add. For example, set the Anti-Aliasing to 4X MSAA to smooth the jagged edges of 3D graphics, and select Disable Fog to improve long distance rendering. How to Use Dolphin Emulator for Android
The Dolphin Emulator app is still in beta, and it is only available for Android 9.0 (Pie). If you have a particularly powerful tablet, you can comfortably play GameCube games using the touchscreen overlay or a real controller. Playing Wii games is trickier due to the current lack of motion control support. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC The 8 Best Android Emulators for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Can I Play Nintendo 3DS Games on the Wii U? How to Use Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons on PC Wii U: Finding a Good Location for the Console How to Use a PS5 Controller on Your PC or Mac Your Wii: Finding a Good Location for the Console GBA File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Connect PS4 or Xbox Controllers to Switch How to Connect Steam Deck to a PC How to Sync a Wii Remote How to Play PS4 Games on a PC How to Use Snapchat on PC How to Use BlueStacks to Run Android Apps on Windows How to Connect GameCube Controllers to the Switch How to Surf the Internet on Your Nintendo Wii Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies