Dolphin Emulator is a GameCube and Nintendo Wii emulator that is offered for computer, Mac,and Android It’s one of the most preferred emulator for those gaming consoles, and it is just one of the most effective for certain. You’re right here due to the fact that you desire to discover how to install and established the emulator on either your Windows COMPUTER, Mac, or your Android phone. We’ll reveal you how to install and established Dolphin Emulator.
Read extra: The ideal Android emulators for computer and Mac
Download and install Dolphin Emulator on Windows
There are in fact 2 approaches to install Dolphin Emulator on a Windows COMPUTER. The initially is the conventional technique, where you install it as a program on your computer system and open it like any kind of application. The various other technique has the application included in a folder that you put where you desire and accessibility as you pick. We’ll do both right here.
Download the beta variation (advised)

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
The beta variation obtains upgraded extra regularly than the secure variation. Thus, we in fact advise this set considering that it remains in energetic growth. This tutorial is for Windows 11, and it’s a little various from previous os.
- You’ll require to download and install 7-Zip We advise the 64-bit Windows x64 variation on top of the download checklist. Dolphin Emulator’s betas are available in 7z archive documents, which 7-Zip takes care of.
- Head to Dolphin Emulator’s download web page
- Find and pick one of the most current beta variation. It is 5.0-18498 since this writing.
- Hit the Windows x64 switch to download.
- Once done, go to your Downloads folder and locate your download.
- Right- click the download and faucet Show More Options.
- Select 7-Zip from the context food selection, and after that pick Extract Here.
- Once done, you’ll have a folder with a number of Dolphin Emulator documents.
- It’s a mobile application, so there is no installment. You simply double-click Dophin, and the emulator opens up.
- Pro suggestion — Since it is a mobile application, you can relocate the folder any place you desire for much easier accessibility. I normally stash it on the desktop computer, however you can also pop it onto a flash drive if you desired to.
Download and install Dolphin Emulator on Mac

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
This is really comparable to the beta variation of Windows, where it’s a mobile application, and you essentially simply require to open it. Again, we advise the beta variation rather than the secure variation considering that it remains in energetic growth. Here are the actions.
- Head to Dolphin’s main site
- Download one of the most current beta variation. Select the macOS (ARM/Intel Universal) switch.
- Once downloaded and install, browse to your downloads folder and locate the Dolphin Emulator DMG.
- Double- click the DMG to open it. Double- click Dolphin to open the application.
- Note— It might toss an advising regarding it being an application downloaded and install from theInternet Just hit Open to proceed.
Set up a video game directory site (both computer and Mac)

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Regardless of which technique you use, you’ll desire to develop a folder where you can stash your video game ROMs. This is a very very easy procedure however a really essential one. Otherwise, your Downloads folder is going to obtain crowded eventually.
- Go to where you desire to develop your ROM folder. I selected the desktop computer, however lots of individuals use their Documents folder.
- Right- click a void, pick New, and after that pick Folder.
- Rename your folder whatever you desire. I call mine Dolphin ROMs.
- Open Dolphin Emulator and double-click where the home window informs you to.
- Navigate to your Dolphin ROMs folder and pick it.
- Dolphin will immediately include any kind of GameCube or Nintendo Wii ROMs it finds when you include them therein.
- Pro- suggestion— I advise doing this procedure no matter if you get on computer orMac The screenshot over was handled Windows 11, however I likewise duplicated this technique when screening on my Macbook Air.
Once you’re done, you simply require to include some ROMs. After that, you prepare to established your emulator and begin playing.
How to play a video game in Dolphin Emulator

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
You’ll require a ROM prior to you can begin, and sadly, we can not inform you where to obtain those for lawful factors. However, when you get a ROM, placed it in your ROM folder, and lots up the emulator, points obtain quite very easy.
- Place your ROM in your ROM folder and open Dolphin Emulator.
- The emulator needs to immediately identify the brand-new video game.
- Tap on the video game, and after that touch on the Play switch on the leading toolbar.
- The video game needs to open up and play.
Of training course, there are some base arrangements that function great out of package, however you might desire to configure it better prior to playing. We’ll reveal you how to do that following.
Set up and use Dolphin Emulator on Windows and Mac
Luckily, Dolphin Emulator comes quite well established out of package. It must play most video games at excellent structure prices, with only small changes required depending upon your computer system. For instance, both the GameCube and Nintendo Wii regulates come pre-mapped to your key-board. You simply have to discover which switches do what. There is marginal arrangement required to appear and play, however we’ll still discuss some typical products for modification objectives.
While there might be some tiny adjustments in between systems, arrangement on Windows and macOS is really almost the same, and the exact same directions must function 99% of the time in between them.
Configure a controller

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Configuring your controls not just permits you to remap your key-board to be extra comfy however likewise aids you discover what each switch does. We really greatly advise a wired GameCube controller in addition to a USB GameCube adapter The 3 joystick arrangement for the GameCube controller does not equate well to computer mouse and key-board. In any kind of situation, right here’s how to set up every little thing.
- Open Dolphin Emulator
- Tap the Controller symbol along the leading toolbar.
- There are 2 major areas right here. The leading area is for GameCube controllers, and the center area is for the Nintendo Wii controller.
- Select Configure for the controller you want to personalize.
- On the following display is every switch a GameCube or Nintendo Wii controller can pushing, in addition to all 3 joysticks. Remap the switches and joysticks to your heart’s web content.
- Optionally— If you desire several controller accounts, find the Profile box on the ideal side of the home window, enter an account name, and hitSave You can conserve and lots several accounts in this manner.
- Once done, struck ALRIGHT when you’re completed.
- Note— The emulator will immediately change in between controllers depending upon which video game you’re playing.
The controller arrangement display most definitely looks daunting in the beginning. We advise taking your time and checking out every little thing. Don’ t hesitate to play and fool around. You can constantly strike the Default switch to recover every little thing to its initial setups.
Configure graphics setups on Dolphin Emulator

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Graphics setups are established quite well out of package, and my COMPUTER and Mac had not a problem running Super Mario Sunshine at max structures. However, your system might require some changes to obtain the most effective feasible efficiency, so we’ll reveal you how to do that.
Standard graphics setups
- Open Dolphin Emulator
- Select the Graphics alternative along the leading toolbar.
- A home window will certainly open up with 4 tabs, General, Enhancements, Hacks,and Advanced Each tab has numerous graphics setups you can alter.
- We normally provide each adjustment and what they do. However, Dolphin Emulator has an outstanding attribute where it’ll inform you what each alternative does if you computer mouse over it.
- Adjust the setups as essential and hit Close when you’re done.
- Pro- suggestion— One of the adjustments we advise is raising the Internal Resolution under the Enhancements tab if your computer system can manage it. The greater resolution not just looks much better however provides you a bigger display to have fun with.
For one of the most component, it appears Dolphin is set up for performance out of eviction. A great deal of visual setups, like anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering system, and so on, go to their most affordable feasible setups or switched off completely. There does not appear to be much to do if your FPS is as well reduced, however there’s lots to do if your device can manage a greater work.
Other arrangement setups

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Dolphin Emulator has some added arrangement setups you can access by touching Options on top of the home window and after thatConfigure This houses some basic arrangement controls. You should not require to tinker this all that a lot, however it might assist with fixing if your emulator is pestering out on you. Below, we’ll speak about each tab in the Configure food selection.
- General— These basic arrangements make it possible for points like double core, still missing, and use data reporting. You should not ever before require to touch anything in right here, however you can if you desire to.
- Interface— This provides you a couple of small personalizations to the emulator UI. For instance, you can tick a box right here that asks you to validate you’re leaving the application prior to it allows you leave, avoiding the loss of any kind of conserved information.
- Audio — As the name suggests, this component of the food selection manage audio setups. You just require to alter these alternatives if the sound in your video game is screwing up.
- GameCube and Wii— Both of these tabs have console-specific alternatives, like facet proportion, sd card, and various other such points.
- Paths— This allows you include, eliminate, or alter courses to your ROM folder. You can likewise specify courses to Default ISO, DVD Root, Apploader, and Wii NAND Root if you desire to.
- Advanced— The just alternative right here is the capacity to “overclock” your emulator. This boosts framerates however likewise places a much greater pressure on your CPU. You can play with it if you desire, however if your computer system is currently running video games at limit framerate, we would not trouble.
That’s regarding it for arrangement. As we claimed previously, the emulator comes established quite well out of package, so in addition to controller arrangements and possibly raising the graphics setups, there isn’t much to do to play.
Download and install Dolphin Emulator on Android

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Installing Dolphin Emulator on your Android gadget is extremely very easy.
It actually is that very easy. We advise utilizing the Google Play variation considering that it obtains normal updates anyhow. We do not assume there is a lot on the main site that isn’t in the Play Store variation.
Create a ROM directory site for Dolphin Emulator

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
Much like the computer variation, we advise you develop a folder on your phone to stash your ROMs. It makes it much easier for the emulator to locate brand-new video games, and it likewise makes it significantly much easier to back up if you ever before require to change your phone. For this tutorial, we use Solid Explorer (Google Play), however you can use any kind of excellent data internet browser application.
- Open your data internet browser application and browse to your interior storage space.
- Use your data internet browser to develop a brand-new folder. Rename it to whatever you desire. I simply called mine DolphinEmulator ROMs.
- From right here, go to your Downloads folder and relocate any kind of video games you have to your brand-new ROM folder.
- Note— Dolphin Emulator can not check out ZIP documents, so you’ll require to essence any kind of video games you download and install prior to they show up in the emulator.
- Pro- suggestion— When you go to update your phone at some point, either use an application like Autosync (Google Play) or simply Google Drive to back up the folder. You can download and install the folder on your brand-new phone, and it’ll exist when you require it.
This component isn’t 100% essential, however it is very advised. Otherwise, your emulator reads video game ROMs out of your Downloads folder, where you can mistakenly erase it if you’re not listening. It’s constantly excellent to obtain irreversible documents out of the Downloads folder.
Set up Dolphin Emulator on Android
Dolphin Emulator on Android is a whole lot like its computer and Mac version. It’s mainly established to head out of package, and all you actually require to do is small tweaks to obtain it established for you. Let’s decrease with some typical arrangements to obtain you good to go up and prepared to go.
Configure your Dolphin Emulator controls

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
You have 2 alternatives right here. You can use on-screen controls or an equipment controller. We’ll reveal you how to set up both. For this tutorial, we made use of a Moga XP5-X Plus Bluetooth controller.
Customize on-screen controls
- Open Dolphin Emulator and after that open whichever video game you desire.
- Once the video game is open, open the Dolphin Emulator food selection by moving in from the side of the display and striking your back switch.
- From right here, pick Overlay Controls.
- Move your controls— Click Edit Layout, and after that relocate the switches around up until they’re where you desire. Click Done when you’re done.
- Resize controls and adjustment opacity— Tap Adjust Controls, where you’ll locate dimension and opacity sliders.
- To conceal your on-screen controls— Tap Toggle Controls and after that touch the Toggle All switch at the end of the home window. This works for concealing the controls when utilizing a controller.
- Tip — You do have to do this by hand for each video game, and you’ll require to by hand toggle the controls back on if you do not have your controller with you on any kind of provided day.
You can locate added key-board controls by striking the Cogwheel on the Dolphin Emulator house display and picking either GameCube Input orWii Input However, that’s even more for equipment controller things than on-screen controls.
Configure equipment controllers in Dolphin Emulator

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
- Turn your controller on and attach it to your phone.
- Open Dolphin Emulator and click the Cogwheel symbol on top.
- Go to GameCube Input.
- Select GameCube Controller 1 and after that faucet Emulated.
- You’ll see a checklist of every one of the GameCube inputs. Tap each switch to map it to your controller. Unfortunately, this has to be done by hand.
- Once done, countered.
- Select Wii Input and repeat the previous actions, but also for the Wii controller.
- Once done, leave the food selection, open your video game, and delight in.
- Pro- suggestion— To conceal your on-screen controls, open up any kind of video game and open the food selection. To go Overlay Controls, after that Toggle Controls, and touch the Toggle All switch to conceal every one of the switches.
There are likewise added alternatives for establishing a GameCube adapter orDolphin Bar They are quite simple however do need equipment acquisitions initially.
Configure graphics for Dolphin Emulator on Android

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
You should not require to configure Dolphin Emulator on your Android phone. The default setups service the large bulk of modern-day Android gadgets. However, if you do, right here’s where you can locate them.
- Open Dolphin Emulator and struck the Cogwheel.
- Tap Graphics Settings
- You’ll locate numerous alternatives right here. If you’re having efficiency concerns, the just one you can actually alter is Shader Compilation Mode, which creates the video game to stutter, however does enhance general structure prices. The programmers just advise utilizing it on really reduced end equipment.
- Enhancements— Includes a selection of handling improvements to guarantee smoother gameplay and much better graphics. In certain, Internal Resolution is a great one to rise if your phone can manage it.
- Hacks— Includes alternatives to rise efficiency or visual high quality. Read with each alternative and check or uncheck the alternative if required.
- Statistics— Lets you reveal points like FPS, VPS, and rate so you can see if your adjustments are in fact doing anything. None of these alternatives influence efficiency.
- Advanced— Lets you make it possible for points like structure packs, mods, and various other arbitrary points. Some of these alternatives influence efficiency too.
There are a great deal of actually awesome points therein, and each setup has a description of what it does. Thus, jab about in there if you desire to have some enjoyable, or if you require to transform the setups up or down to match your preferences or equipment.
Other arrangement setups

Joe Hindy/ Android Authority
There are a couple of various other places of note in the setups that you might desire to understand about. You can reach this component of the food selection by opening up Dolphin, touching the Cogwheel, and after that picking the Config alternative.
- General— Some basic setups that you should not have to tinker. This is where you can make it possible for conserve states if you have to, however the designer does not advise it.
- Interface— Some UI setups that allow you fine-tune when and how you obtain details. This is where you can access the application motif if you desire to.
- Audio— There is where the sound setups are and we do not advise tinkering them in any way unless your sound stutters. In that situation, make it possible for the Audio Stretching setup.
- Paths— This is where you can specify where you desire every one of your documents to go or originate from. This is likewise really valuable for understanding which folders to back up if you ever before change gadgets.
- GameCube— Some GameCube-specific setups like sd card setups.
- Wii— Some Nintendo Wii- certain points like putting a digital SD card, area, and various other points you should not have to change typically.
- Advanced— Allows you to tick some setups that might be needed for some video games, like MMU. You can likewise overclock the emulator in right here, however we do not advise that for battery life and thermal factors.
- Log— Lets you identify which logs are created and where they are created.
- Debug— Some debugging setups that no typical customer must ever before require to touch or tinker.
- User Data— Lets you import or export customer information to avoid loss when removing them application or when changing phones. We very advise utilizing this to back-up your information occasionally in situation your phone needs some factor.
There are a few other arrangements, however like a lot of the emulator, they aren’t points you must require to touch unless something really weird is occurring. We likewise advise having a look at the main subreddit if you encounter concerns.
Up following: The ideal emulators for Android to play old faves
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
No Emulator and ROM use are 100% lawful. However, they exist in an ethical grey location considering that you are, basically, pirating old computer game. There’s still a great deal of lawful discussion regarding this subject, however you will not go to prison for utilizing an emulator.