RetroArch comes to Apple TV on the App Store! Game and controller tutorial

Quick video showing that RetroArch can now run officially through the Apple TV App Store. Tested on my Apple TV 4K 2023.
► Links:
Master M1 game compatibility list: www.applegamingwiki.com/wiki/...
Please join me on Discord here: / discord
Check out AppleGamingWiki: applegamingwiki.com
►► Mac:
Record screen audio and gameplay (Mac): • How To Record Mac Game...
Set 16:9 aspect ratio (Mac): • How To Force MacBook 1...
Highlight mouse cursor (Mac): • How To Highlight Mouse...
Display keystrokes (Mac): • How To Display Keystro...
Snap windows (Rectangle, Mac): • How To Snap Windows On...
OBS setup (Mac): • How To Setup OBS On ma...
Temperature/fan monitor (Mac): • How To Control Mac Fan...
►► General:
Microphone setup (Blue Yeti): • How To Setup Blue Yeti...
Greenscreen setup (OBS): • How To Setup Elgato Gr...
Note-taking (Notion, Mac): • How To Install Notion ...
Highlight mouse cursor (Windows): • How To Highlight Mouse...
DIY 2TB SSD USB-C (Mac and Windows): • How To Build Great Val...
► Windows gaming on Mac:
►► Windows on M1 Mac Tutorial: • Windows Gaming Guide F...
►► CrossOver FREE 14 DAY TRIAL - use coupon APPLEGAMINGWIKINEW for 20% DISCOUNT: www.codeweavers.com/store?ad=...
►► Parallels 19 use code APPLEWIKI10 for 10% DISCOUNT: prf.hn/click/camref:1101lfR6V
Amazon Affiliates Disclosure: Andrew Tsai is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites as well as other affiliate programs.

[@y0sh1rulez]

Almost 5 years ago I ported RetroArch to tvOS (and all of its cores) and got the changes into the main code line so it’s great to see it be the #1 app on the App Store for AppleTV after all this time! Thanks for showcasing this.

[@ScentlessSun]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@ScentlessSun]

I encountered this issue where I had all 5500 games I loaded on my Apple TV wiped out. What are your thoughts on a way to leverage network storage for roms? "tvOS does not provide apps with a persistant storage area; instead it allows for up to 500kb meant for configuration data. The disk space shown through the web UI is a cache space. If the OS needs to reclaim disk space, it will delete files from that cache space without warning. This includes state and saves! When this happens, you will immediately see that the appearance of RetroArch is wrong, as the assets will need to be re-downloaded."

[@mukiex4413]

I'm now curious to know how the input/display/audio latency can be tweaked across Apple devices from an A12 to an M4.

[@CarlosCajiaoV]

@@ScentlessSunsadly I haven’t found any info to resolve this issue!!

[@ScentlessSun]

@@CarlosCajiaoV I haven’t either.

[@dkorati]

Retroarch on Apple TV!

[@dfkjbdfondfngg]

This brings me so much joy, and even more wonderful memories :) Thanks. I just started setting up my games there now

[@alaisdair]

BEST tutorial! Thank you so much

[@dannycollee]

Thanks so much for this superb explanation!

[@simoncurtain]

Thank you for your explanation

[@amroelnour]

Warning ⚠️ apple tv deletes the files automatically (not sure why), I lost all my files all of a sudden including the saves after couple of days very disappointing

[@Hermskillet89]

Wow 🤯 can’t wait to try this!

[@MotownBatman]

Hell Yea! Thanks for the Heads Up Brotha!

Thanks!

[@BobsMaginty]

Nice one, thank you!👍👍

[@DIOS_PRIMERO]

Wow Very cool Thanks

[@joewozniak2231]

Finally a good reason to have a large capacity Apple TV. Definitely doing this with my 128gb.

[@shivavision23]

Not really, you don't need much space for these retro games. But since the price difference between the two models is small, it has always made sense to buy the bigger one.

[@worfrozhenko4032]

The 128GB also has a wired Ethernet port

[@shivavision23]

@@worfrozhenko4032 So?

[@linuxes9681]

​@@shivavision23Nah. Once you get to PS1 and PSP and maybe higher consoles now eventually. Space is gonna go quicker than you think.

[@MRfyleas75]

Awesome 🤩

[@louwar96]

man im really stoked. I consider myself a former gamer and i no longer own a console or PC. something like this on my apple tv is just fantastic for some casual gaming and to share some old games with my kids as well

[@cristhianortiz]

Can also hard close the app using the dualsense controller. Press the PS button twice to show the app switcher, and press up to close RetroArch.

[@KeilorT]

Could you please show us how to load mame roms? Thanks!!

[@chinito77]

Just waiting for Yuzu on AppleTV and I'm set for a long while! Meanwhile this vid was very helpful.

[@EddyOver9000]

Well unfortunately it got taken down about 2 months ago because of nintendo 😔

[@seemoremacstuff]

Finally a use for the 128GB of storage on my Apple TV lol

[@pratafwd]

is it possible to install other MAME cores? and run Arcade games on it?, please do a tutorial if possible!!!

[@ibrayanyT]

Can you pair 2 controllers to play against your friends? Or Mario kart with multiple players?

[@FlintG]

Its about time hopefully more emulators come to the app store. This just made the apple tv a lot more fun.

[@LiRaye]

finally 🎉

[@markanderson5207]

No dos core on the iOS one?

[@WhiskeyThieves]

How does one get Mame games to run with this setup?

[@chrisryan8894]

Which is the lowest gen  tv this will run on ?

[@tonyrosario1940]

An article from 9to5Mac confirms that the Apple TV only allows 500 kb, yes kilobytes, of persistent storage per app. This is why roms and settings in the RetroArch app are randomly being deleted every few days, also when an update hits the app. This basically makes RetroArch unusable on Apple TV. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@MrSamPhoenix]

This is… W😮W

[@djkim0701]

iPad Pro too?

[@Unminusbekannt]

How can i install the PS2 Core? Want to play Need For Speed Underground 2

[@CLAMBAKED]

It’s not letting me select settings or main menu on mine

[@alexythimia23]

I don’t know what’s going on but ps1 is not working for me, have the correct bios in the system folder yet says “missing” It just seems really buggy compared to my steamdeck

[@marcelchesterman5420]

are you able to run scumm VM in retroarch. It always crashs when I try to run it on my M2 mac when trying to open the core

[@Kingwizrd539]

what system can a apple tv 4th Gen run up to ? anyone have a thought im safely assuming up to atleast a psp

[@soleanna14]

Can this run on older Apple TVs?

[@aym__beast2103]

Can i play ps2 games please tech us how.????

[@BrianAnderson-tk9dn]

Patiently waiting for Dreamcast core support…

[@tymepilot8471]

how can add more cores

[@Deebofreebo]

Oh man, I love this, although I tried setting it up and the ps5 controller is just way laggy. Not sure what to do…

[@gambitgambitgambit]

This is exactly what I was thinking could be a problem. Thanks for sharing

[@jamest8959]

Check your tv set to game mode for retro arch

[@robifrancisco9508]

Where did you download the file for tekken 3

[@gr10110]

Im in the us and retro ain’t showing up in the app store anyone know y ?

[@jeysmoothies]

How do you do this with GBA games

[@IgnacioCodocedo]

I downloaded the application from the App Store and when I try to open it, it doesn't open the application, someone else happens to it?

[@tonyrosario1940]

I set RetroArch up on my Apple TV a few days ago, Roms, settings, etc. Today, after the update, all of that is gone, no roms, nothing. Anyone else having this issue?

[@user-n0tf0und.]

Read the devs description, don’t bother with this until it’s fixed… see top comment above

[@tonyrosario1940]

Devs description mentions nothing about this not working properly for Apple TV. But I agree, all should avoid using this until Apple changes their persistent storage limits on Apple TV. 🍻

[@Lowaza]

i have my games stored in onedrive, anyway to run the roms for retroarch directly from onedrive for IOS?

[@ScentlessSun]

You can’t mount a OneDrive shared folder like it’s an SMB file share or network drive without a 3rd party utility. I’ve only ever seen one such utility and it was compiled for a Windows x86 architecture. There’s no way I can think of that this could be done. You also couldn’t stream the file..

[@phantomstarproductions4587]

URL on my Apple TV doesn’t work

[@volport.]

wow

[@BillHaverchuck3]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to go back to the main menu of the app once in a game when I have my Switch NES controller connected to the  TV. Can you map the Select button to be the retroarch menu button?

[@Alex_U]

I think you should set it in Hotkeys menu of retroach. I have Select+down to bring out retroarch menu

[@boro057]

When I set a hotkey it doesn’t save. The default (that I see at least) is L1 + R1 + down + Y. Y being from a Nintendo layout, so square on a PS controller.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

@@boro057Whenever you make changes to the settings, you must save them via: Main Menu > Configuration > Save Current Configuration

[@rez9159]

@@boro057 This didn't work for my XBOX controller too. Changing to 2 second hold of select button worked.

[@tonyrosario1940]

Dumb question, are the roms being stored or transferred to the internal Apple TV storage?

[@mister-tee]

Yes

[@tonyrosario1940]

@@mister-tee ok thanks, so no go on putting entire rom collections on this, haha 🍻

[@gorbypranata]

Any workaround to this? “tvOS does not provide apps with a persistant storage area; instead it allows for up to 500kb meant for configuration data. The disk space shown through the web UI is a cache space. If the OS needs to reclaim disk space, it will delete files from that cache space without warning. This includes state and saves! When this happens, you will immediately see that the appearance of RetroArch is wrong, as the assets will need to be re-downloaded.”

[@ScentlessSun]

Good to know. I need to delete a few apps. 😂

[@vigneshraja3771]

Can we play multiplayer mode in Tekken by pairing two controllers to Apple TV?

[@andrewtsaitips]

Yep!

[@BeamerTime354]

Wish I could just run the roms from my massive hdd that’s on the computer. 16tb of roms won’t fit on my Apple TV 😂

[@boro057]

There’s a lot that’s still half baked with the TvOS version. I’m hoping they put a little more time into fixing the bugs and allowing for networked drives. Maybe setting up a Bluetooth keyboard and just typing in the network path might work?

[@MrEandc4life]

Thank you, little advice, should blur your own ip

[@dawsonschamber]

Definitely not his ip address because mine is the exact same numbers as his

[@somekidnamedkyle]

the website that retroarch shows doesn't load on my mac laptop or windows PC that is on the same network as the apple tv. anyone else have this issue or know how to fix?

[@leeocarvaalho1]

Same issue here 😵‍💫

[@01dt1m3r]

I tried to play a ps1 game, used the same core you mentioned in the video but it didn’t work. I tried the other core but I got an error sch5500.bin is missing, I know that is the bios file and I already have it on my laptop I’m just not sure where to put it on the app !?

[@andrewtsaitips]

Put it in the system folder, hope that helps! I explain where to put it in my iPad RetroArch tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3iWkK2OaJ6ima8

[@user-tj5sy4ed8e]

will this work with PS1 games in chd format?

[@synonys]

Yes!

[@victorromero8010]

My roms are stored on a Windows desktop hooked up to the Internet via Ethernet cable. Will this method still work?

[@andrewtsaitips]

Yes as long as it's on the same network.

[@victorromero8010]

@@andrewtsaitips Does that mean I would have to set up wi-fi on it?

[@WhiteHawk77]

@@victorromero8010depends on what version of the Apple TV 4K you have, the base 65GB model doesn’t have a Ethernet connection, the 128GB model does.

[@thailazyguy]

Can it add more cores in this version?

[@MobileDecay]

Nintendo has job positions opened up for more Ninjas.

[@erik93203]

My game MK64 is going too fast.

[@tonyrosario1940]

How is the input lag on the controller connected to the Apple TV?

[@ltucker987]

Thankfully, there is no input lag. It’s just as if your controller was connected to a gaming console or Mac/PC.

[@tonyrosario1940]

@@ltucker987 great, can’t wait to try it 🍻🤘🏼

[@perrub]

But dont forget to turn Game Mode on your TV. Inwas having input lag and that was the reason

[@tonyrosario1940]

@@perrub game mode is always on, for sure 🍻👍🏼

[@MrTitoButler]

Do you have to do it on a computer to transfer the files? It’s not working on my iPad web browser

[@andrewtsaitips]

Make sure iPad is on the same network.

[@rez9159]

I had no problems with accessing the Apple TV via Safari on iPhone. Seems to be a network issue.

[@boomshakalaka7912]

Is there a way to add files using an iPad or iPhone only? Not a pc.

[@andrewtsaitips]

Yes just enter the same IP address and make sure your iPad or iPhone is on the same network as the Apple TV.

[@boomshakalaka7912]

@@andrewtsaitips got it thanks

[@SeanBradley1986]

I think it needs to be a newer Apple TV because I can’t get this working on my 2021 4k model 😢

[@slugzz-]

Able to get it working?

[@SeanBradley1986]

@@slugzz- I did! I switched the video from “Vulcan” to one of the other two options and it worked!

[@pinoyguy4271]

Can you explain how to get PSP games to work? Mine crashes every time I try to load it

[@andrewtsaitips]

People have been reporting PSP games crashing on RetroArch iOS, need to wait for an update.

[@BL_Angel]

@@andrewtsaitipsHi Andrew do you think they will port PPSSPP to the AppleTV ?

[@mousqy]

i have been able to load up patapon but game runs too fast

[@Drummer7e7]

None of the ROMS i'm downloading are working. Any tips? do they need to be zip? .7z?

[@tabathagano1014]

Yes you need a izip type app

[@kevinmckenna5682]

Ok, what's that case you're using for your AppleTV controller?

[@patricklasko1360]

Let me enlighten you good sir. RetroArch in XMB (gui) mode, the remote control inputs are wonky afk...this issues also effects Android tablets (example; Samsung devices) via touch screen & Amazon FireTV with the included remote. So yeah, a gamepad, mouse & keyboard are recommended for a proper tuning (setup).

[@kevinmckenna5682]

@@patricklasko1360 Thanks, but I was asking him about the black case on his AppleTV controller, not the gamepad he was also using.

[@alibramadan3152]

Does ps1 games works without bios files?

[@farisomeragic8900]

Yes when you use pcsx rearmed core

[@Skvj777]

How to play PS2 games on it ?

[@Ricky-ri4kq]

Is player 2 (2nd controller) is possible ?

[@cynicalcitizen]

Anyone else having issues trying to import. It shows RetroArch directory is empty from Apple TV. Works fine on iPhone/iPad

[@cynicalcitizen]

Found solution. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5O6dIuPq7V_Z8k

[@ppj845]

Is PSP working on yours? Open up psp games on mine instantly crashes

[@patricklasko1360]

It's because Apple don't allow access to architecture coding (JIT computer language) meaning it's running Software emulation...in sort term, apps like PPSSP are not utilizing all the CPU, GPU an so on. Some roms will run but sometimes with missing texture or will crash (thanks apple).

[@outrowender]

@@patricklasko1360 Are you sure JIT is required in PPSSPP core for tvOS? iOS version works just fine without JIT

[@ppj845]

They updated the app, PSP works now. A staff replied on Reddit

[@DauntlessDamian]

Nice to have, but a little pointless until Apple removes the persistent storage restriction. Game files and saves could be deleted at any time without warning.

[@andrewtsaitips]

Yes I’ll be making a video on how to sync all settings via WebDAV.

[@anderslarsen7174]

This is not just plug and play, takes forever and you have to be tech savy to

[@espressomatic]

Maybe one day someone will build a decent replacement UI for Retroarch (for iOS), as using it as a front-end makes for an abysmal experience. Especially with their trash interpretation of XMB. I'm guessing we'll eventually see LaunchBox make its way to iOS, because if there's anything its developer likes more than crapping on his user base, it's making loads of money.

[@herranton]

Ark is a boat. Arc is a curved line. Both are pronounced with a hard k sound at the end. An arch is a curving structure and is pronounced with a ch sound like at the beginning of the word choose or cheese. Like the gateway arch in St. Louis. Or arches national park. How do so many people get it wrong. It just hurts my ears.

[@Ajibolaa]

Same spelling-ish

[@jeysmoothies]

Slow down you’re going way too fast it’s as if you’re nervous

[@bhoqeem1975]

Yeah. It’s high time to buy Apple TV box. I’ve been meaning to. Just now found the reason. Goodbye AAA games. Good move, Apple!

[@GarrusVakarian-to2uh]

Wait for the next version the current is old

[@bhoqeem1975]

@@GarrusVakarian-to2uh Ah, I see. Thanks for the heads up. What about the PPSSPP, is it current?

[@DJordydj]

@@GarrusVakarian-to2uh for when the next version?

[@GarrusVakarian-to2uh]

@@DJordydj hopefully this year, the Apple TV is 2 years old already, but who knows

[@barryalexander219]

Slow down Bro you speaking too fast

[@drewf6063]

Is he speaking too fast, or are you listening slow? In either case, you can change the playback speed playa

[@sheldonruth5404]

Use 0.75 playback speed

[@runforrestrun1965]

Way too fast man, slow down please.

[@BrianAnderson-tk9dn]

Patiently waiting for Dreamcast core support…

[@farisomeragic8900]

You have flycast