Your Journey Begins

This guide starts after you have already downloaded and installed the LaunchBox for Android APK. If you have not installed it yet, download the APK from the official LaunchBox website, open it on your Android device, and follow Android's install prompts. Depending on your device, Android may ask you to allow installs from your browser or file manager before the APK can be installed.

LaunchBox for Android is built to organize and launch your game library from one place. The app does not include games or BIOS files. You provide your own files, choose how you want them organized, and then LaunchBox helps with metadata, media, emulator launching, Android app launching, and browsing your library.

First Launch

The first time you open LaunchBox, the app prepares a LaunchBox data folder, checks storage access, initializes your library, and scans for Android games if that feature is enabled. Some prompts are Android system prompts, while others come from LaunchBox.

Storage and file access

Modern Android versions protect storage access more aggressively than older versions. LaunchBox needs storage access so it can create and maintain the LaunchBox data folder, read the game folders you choose during imports, save downloaded media and themes, and pass files to emulators when a game is launched.

If Android asks for file access, allow it. On Android 11 and newer, you may be taken to an Android settings page for "All files access" or a similar permission screen. Enable access for LaunchBox, then return to the app. Without this permission, imports and emulator launching may not work reliably.

Data folder setup

LaunchBox creates or reuses a LaunchBox folder on your device storage. This folder stores your library data, settings, media, themes, logs, and support files. If you are migrating from an older install and LaunchBox finds an existing LaunchBox folder with platform data, it will attempt to use it.

You can view or change the current data folder later from Options > Data Folder. Changing it requires a restart because LaunchBox needs to reload the library from the new location.

License and game limit

LaunchBox for Android can be used without a license, but unlicensed installs have a game limit. If an import would take you over that limit, LaunchBox will let you continue without a license or open the license page. You can manage your license later from the main menu under License Registration.

The Main Menu

After startup, the main menu is your hub:

• Main: browse your platforms, filters, and games.

• Import Games: add a platform of games to your library.

• Add Game: manually add a single game.

• Manage Themes: install, update, repair, or remove Android themes.

• Manage Emulators: install and update RetroArch and Dolphin integration.

• Manage Storefronts: manage connected storefront features such as Steam.

• Sync Status: shows whether cloud sync is connected, disabled, syncing, in sync, or out of sync.

• Options: app-wide behavior, navigation, media, Android apps, video streaming, EmuMovies, and more.

• License Registration: apply, view, or remove your Android license.

• About LaunchBox, Change Log, Forums Support, and Exit.

Android Games and Apps

LaunchBox can automatically add installed Android games and apps to an Android platform. This is why you may see Android titles appear even before you import ROM-based platforms.

Android apps are handled differently from imported ROMs. Their application path is the Android package name, and the default emulator is Android Native. When you launch one, LaunchBox starts the installed Android app directly instead of sending a ROM file to an emulator.

Showing or hiding Android apps

Go to Options > Show Android Apps.

• On: selected Android apps appear in your LaunchBox library.

• Off: Android apps are hidden from the library, even if LaunchBox has detected them.

Turn this off if you only want LaunchBox to show imported console, arcade, computer, or handheld platforms.

Adding new Android apps on startup

Go to Options > Add New Android Apps on Startup.

• All: LaunchBox adds all detected Android apps.

• Marked As Games: LaunchBox only adds apps Android identifies as games. This is usually the best beginner choice because it avoids clutter from utility apps.

• None: LaunchBox does not add newly detected Android apps on startup.

This setting controls what happens with newly detected apps. Existing Android app entries can still be managed manually.

Managing which Android apps appear

Go to Options > Manage Android Apps. Each detected Android app has a toggle. Turn apps on if you want them to appear in LaunchBox, or off if you want them hidden.

There is also an option to show apps marked as games. This is useful when your Android library has become noisy and you want to quickly return to the apps Android considers game apps.

Importing Your First Platform

For most classic systems, the recommended way to build your library is Import Games. LaunchBox imports one platform at a time. For example, import Super Nintendo Entertainment System as one platform, Sega Genesis as another, Sony PlayStation as another, and so on.

This approach keeps metadata, emulator defaults, media folders, and platform settings clean. It also makes troubleshooting easier: if SNES games launch but PS1 games do not, you know to focus on the PlayStation platform settings instead of your entire library.

Before you start

Organize your files in a way that is easy to select. A common structure is:

• Games/Super Nintendo Entertainment System

• Games/Sega Genesis

• Games/Sony PlayStation

• Games/Sega Saturn

• Games/Nintendo 64

Each platform can have its own folder. For disc-based systems, keep multi-disc games organized in the platforms root, and name them consistently so LaunchBox can combine related files when possible.

Step 1: Open Import Games

From the main menu, choose Import Games.

You will see the normal import options:

• Folder of Games to Import

• Platform for Imported Games

• Region to Prioritize

• File Extension Filter

• Combine ROMs with Matching Titles

• Import Games from Subfolders

• Use Folder Names

• Use MAME Metadata

• Force Import Duplicate Games

• Proceed with Import

Step 2: Choose the folder

Select Folder of Games to Import and browse to the folder that contains the games for one platform. If your folder is named exactly like a supported platform, LaunchBox may automatically select that platform for you.

You can also choose a network share if you have configured network storage. Network imports are useful when your games live on a NAS or another device, but local storage is usually simpler for a first import.

Step 3: Choose the platform

Select Platform for Imported Games and choose the matching platform, such as Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, or Nintendo 64.

Choose the platform the files actually belong to. This affects metadata matching, default emulator recommendations, media folders, and platform-specific behavior.

Step 4: Choose a region priority

Region to Prioritize helps LaunchBox choose the preferred version when multiple regional versions appear to be the same game. Options include North America, Europe, Japan, and World.

For example, if you have both USA and Europe versions of a game and combine matching titles, this setting helps decide which version should be treated as the primary one.

Step 5: Use the file extension filter

File Extension Filter lets you limit the import to specific file types. Leave it at All Files for a simple import, or specify extensions if the folder contains extra files you do not want imported.

This is useful for folders that include documentation, cue sheets, saves, patches, or other non-game files.

Step 6: Decide whether to combine ROMs

Combine ROMs with Matching Titles is enabled by default. It groups files that appear to be different versions of the same game under one LaunchBox entry.

This is helpful when you have regional variants, revisions, demos, or multi-disc files that should not all clutter the platform list as separate games. Turn it off if you want every matching file imported as its own game entry.

Step 7: Include or ignore subfolders

Import Games from Subfolders tells LaunchBox to scan inside folders below the selected folder.

Turn this on if each game has its own folder, or if your platform folder is divided by region or alphabet. Leave it off if the selected folder already contains only the files you want imported.

Step 8: Use folder names when needed

Use Folder Names tells LaunchBox to treat folder names as game names. This can help when files inside each game folder have unclear names, common disc names, or technical filenames.

This is especially useful for disc-based systems or games stored in one-folder-per-game layouts. Leave it off for simple ROM folders where the file names are already clean.

Step 9: MAME metadata

Use MAME Metadata is automatically enabled for arcade-related platforms such as Arcade, SNK Neo Geo MVS, CPS, Sega Model platforms, and similar arcade boards.

For standard console platforms like SNES, Genesis, PS1, Saturn, and N64, leave this off. For arcade platforms, MAME metadata helps LaunchBox understand parent/clone relationships, playable status, arcade categories, and other arcade-specific details.

Step 10: Duplicate handling

Force Import Duplicate Games tells LaunchBox to import games even if they appear to already exist in your library.

Most beginners should leave this off. Turn it on only when you intentionally want duplicates, such as separate curated sets, testing libraries, or different storage locations for the same platform.

Step 11: Proceed and review the scan

Choose Proceed with Import. LaunchBox scans the selected folder and shows a list of files or games it found. Review the list. If it looks wrong, go back and adjust your folder, platform, subfolder, folder-name, or extension settings.

If the list looks right, proceed. LaunchBox will import the platform, create game entries, download and apply metadata and media where available, and update your library.

Step 12: Restart and browse

After the import finishes, LaunchBox may restart or return you to the main library. Open Main and choose the imported platform. You should now see your games using the current platform or game view.

At this point, your library is imported, but launching games depends on emulator setup.

Here are two paste-ready sections.

If a Game Is Matched Incorrectly

Sometimes LaunchBox may not connect a game to the right LaunchBox Games Database entry. This usually happens because the file name is unclear, abbreviated, misspelled, contains extra tags, or uses a title that differs from the official database title.

For example, a ROM named SMW.sfc is much harder to identify than Super Mario World.sfc. Region tags, translation patches, hacks, disc numbers, and scene-style filenames can also make matching less reliable.

When a game is not matched correctly, LaunchBox may not be able to download the right metadata or media. You may see missing box art, missing screenshots, incorrect details, or a game connected to the wrong title.

That is okay. You can manually connect the game to the correct LaunchBox Games Database entry.

How to fix a bad database match

1. Open the platform that contains the game.

2. Open the game menu. On touch devices, you can usually do this by long-pressing the game.

3. Choose Edit Metadata.

4. Select LaunchBox Games Database.

5. Search for the correct game title.

6. Choose the correct result.

7. Review the updated metadata.

8. Choose Save Changes.

Once the game is connected to the correct database entry, LaunchBox will have a much better chance of finding the right metadata and media for it.

Manually editing game metadata

You do not have to rely entirely on the LaunchBox Games Database. From Edit Metadata, you can also manually edit fields yourself, including:

• Title

• Platform

• Startup File

• Developer

• Publisher

• Genre

• Series

• Release Date

• Region

• Rating

• Version

• Max Players

• Play Mode

• Status

• Source

• Video URL

• Notes

• Sort Title

• Favorite

• Broken

• Additional Versions

Manual edits are useful when you want your library organized your own way, when a game is a ROM hack or fan translation, or when the database does not have the exact entry you want.

How Media Downloading Works

LaunchBox can make your library look polished by downloading media for games and platforms. Media can include box fronts, clear logos, screenshots, backgrounds, videos, and other artwork used by different views and themes.

What gets downloaded during an import

When you import a platform, LaunchBox attempts to identify each game and attach matching metadata where available. Good file names help a lot here. A clean title such as Super Mario World is easier to match than a heavily abbreviated or unusually tagged filename. No-intro sets and other standard naming conventions will yield better matching results than others.

Media is not downloaded as part of the import itself. Instead, LaunchBox adds the games to your library first, then media can be downloaded automatically as you browse or manually through media download options.

Automatic media downloads while browsing

The Options menu includes Automatically Download Missing Media When Needed. When this is enabled, LaunchBox downloads missing media as you navigate through your library.

For example, if you open a platform and select a game that does not have box art or other artwork yet, LaunchBox can download the missing media in the background and display it once it is available. This makes setup feel smoother because you do not have to download everything up front, but it does take up more of your device’s resources while it continuously needs to download media while you are navigating.

This option is convenient for beginners, but it can use more network data while browsing. If you are on a limited connection, you may want to disable it and use manual media downloads instead when you are on wifi.

Downloading missing media later

You can also bulk-download missing media for a platform by going to that platform’s Games View and selecting Download All Missing Media from the toolbar/action menu. This opens a download options page for that platform.

From there, you can choose what LaunchBox should download:

• Region to Prioritize

• Box Front Images

• Wheel Clear Logo Images

• Background Images

• Game Title Screenshot Images

• Gameplay Screenshot Images

• Gameplay Videos from EmuMovies

Use this when you have finished importing a platform and want to fill in its artwork in bulk instead of waiting for automatic downloads as you browse.

Bulk media downloads can take time and use storage, especially if you include videos. For a first setup, it is often best to import one platform, confirm the games and metadata look right, then use Download All Missing Media for that platform before moving on.

Manually Setting or Editing a Game's Media

You can also manually control a game's media. This is useful when LaunchBox cannot find the right image automatically, when you prefer a different image, or when you want to replace incorrect artwork.

To edit a game's media:

1. Open the platform that contains the game.

2. Open the game menu. On touch devices, long-press the game.

3. Choose Edit Media.

From here, you can manage media types such as:

• Box Image

• Clear Logo Image

• Game Title Screenshot Image

• Gameplay Screenshot Image

• Background Image

• Video

Each media item will show whether media currently exists. Select a media type to view or change it.

For image types, you can use Browse for New Games Database Image to choose a different image from the LaunchBox Games Database. This is helpful when multiple images exist and you prefer a specific region, style, or version.

Manual media editing is especially helpful after fixing a game's database match. Once the game is matched to the correct database entry, return to Edit Media and browse for the correct images again.

LaunchBox Games Database and EmuMovies

LaunchBox uses its own games database for metadata and media. You can also enter EmuMovies credentials under Options if you have an EmuMovies account. EmuMovies can provide additional media, especially videos, where supported.

If you use EmuMovies, enter your EmuMovies User ID and Password in Options, then use Test EmuMovies Credentials to make sure LaunchBox can sign in before starting a large media download.

Videos and streaming

Some views and themes can show gameplay videos, theme videos, or background videos. Video media looks great, but it uses more storage and bandwidth than images.

The Video Streaming options control whether LaunchBox streams video media, whether streaming is limited to Wi-Fi, and what quality level is used. If you are on limited data or a slower connection, keep video streaming conservative until you know how much media your library uses.

Why media may be missing

Missing media does not always mean something went wrong. Common reasons include:

• the game title did not match the database entry

• the platform was imported under the wrong platform name

• the database does not have media for that game yet

• the selected media type is not available for that title

• network access was unavailable during import

• EmuMovies credentials were missing or incorrect for EmuMovies-only media

If a game is missing media, first check the game title and platform. Then use the game's edit or media options to search again, choose a better match, or manually manage the artwork.

Storage considerations

Media can take up significantly more space than the library database itself, especially videos. If your device has limited internal storage, consider using a larger data folder location, downloading images first, and adding videos later once the core library is working.

For the smoothest beginner setup, import one platform, let it download basic media, confirm the games look right, and then move on to the next platform.

Emulators: How They Fit In

LaunchBox organizes games and starts emulators, but the emulator does the actual gameplay. Each platform has a default emulator setting. Each game can also override that platform setting.

A basic launch flow looks like this:

1. You select a game.

2. LaunchBox checks the game's platform.

3. LaunchBox finds the platform's default emulator and core, unless the game has an override.

4. LaunchBox prepares the ROM path, archive extraction, scoped storage permission, and launch arguments.

5. LaunchBox opens the emulator with the selected game.

RetroArch and Dolphin Integration

LaunchBox has special management support for RetroArch and Dolphin. If you try to play a compatible game and the needed emulator is not installed or not set up, LaunchBox can recommend downloading and configuring it for you.

RetroArch

RetroArch is especially useful because it supports many platforms through cores. LaunchBox can download and install RetroArch, run first setup, refresh platform and game RetroArch settings, and help manage cores.

For a RetroArch platform, the platform emulator setting includes both Default Emulator and Default Core. LaunchBox selects a default core based on the platform's built-in defaults where available. You can change the core per platform or per game.

In Manage Emulators, RetroArch includes:

• Status: shows whether RetroArch is installed, up to date, or has an update available.

• Download and Install / Update: installs or updates RetroArch and available cores.

• Send Core on Every Game Launch: when off, LaunchBox attempts to send a core only when needed; when on, LaunchBox sends the selected core every launch.

Use Send Core on Every Game Launch if RetroArch is opening without the expected core or if you frequently switch cores and want LaunchBox to be explicit every time.

Dolphin

Dolphin is used for GameCube and Wii platforms. LaunchBox can download, install, update, and launch Dolphin. Dolphin does not use RetroArch-style cores, so platform setup is simpler: choose Dolphin as the default emulator for supported platforms and verify the configuration.

In Manage Emulators, Dolphin includes status plus Download and Install / Update actions.

Platform Emulator Settings

Open a platform's emulator settings from the platform menu. This is where power users tune how a whole platform launches.

The main settings are:

• Default Emulator: chooses which emulator LaunchBox uses for the platform.

• Default Core: appears for emulators that use cores, such as RetroArch.

• Scoped Storage Permission: grants LaunchBox access to the games folder using Android's scoped storage system.

• Extract Archives: extracts compressed games before launch. This helps emulators that cannot open zip, 7z, or other archives directly.

• Quit RetroArch on Losing Focus: available for RetroArch platforms.

• Verify Configuration: checks whether LaunchBox can find and use the selected emulator configuration.

• Open on the Play Store: opens the emulator's Play Store listing when available.

• Open Emulator: launches the emulator directly so you can configure BIOS, folders, controllers, graphics, or cores inside the emulator.

• Problematic Emulator notes: warning details for emulators with known limitations or setup requirements.

Custom emulator options

If you choose Custom Emulator, LaunchBox asks for Custom Emulator Package Name, Custom Emulator Activity Name, and Custom Emulator ROM Path Key.

If you choose Custom Emulator (With Code), LaunchBox asks for custom launch arguments instead. This is for advanced users who need a more flexible intent definition.

Custom emulator setup is powerful, but beginners should start with built-in emulator entries whenever possible.

Per-Game Emulator Settings

Per-game emulator settings are useful when one game needs different launch behavior than the rest of its platform.

Open a game's menu and choose its emulator settings. The first option is Override Platform Emulator Settings.

• Off: the game follows the platform emulator, core, archive, and custom emulator settings.

• On: the game can use its own emulator, core, archive extraction, scoped storage, custom emulator settings, verification, store link, and open-emulator action.

Use per-game overrides when one game works better in a different RetroArch core, needs archive extraction, needs a standalone emulator instead of RetroArch, or needs special custom emulator launch arguments.

Other Emulator Tips

Set up each emulator before expecting games to work perfectly. Many emulators require BIOS files, controller mapping, graphics settings, or their own folder access. LaunchBox can start an emulator, but it cannot replace emulator-specific setup.

Use Verify Configuration after changing emulator settings. If a launch fails, open the emulator directly and confirm the game works there first. Once the emulator itself can run the game, LaunchBox settings are much easier to troubleshoot.

For Android 11 and newer, scoped storage can matter. If an emulator cannot access a game file, grant Scoped Storage Permission for the platform's games folder and try again.

Options Menu Reference

Options controls app-wide behavior. These settings are grouped into sections.

Home screen launcher and security

Enable Home Screen Launcher Mode lets LaunchBox act more like a launcher experience. Use this on dedicated Android gaming devices or TV boxes where you want LaunchBox to be central.

Security opens PIN-based security settings. Use it to protect settings and library actions from accidental changes.

General

Language changes the app language. Changing it reloads the app.

Data Folder shows where LaunchBox stores data, media, themes, and settings. Changing it requires restart.

Check for Updates on Startup checks for new LaunchBox Android releases when the app starts.

Enable Beta Releases allows beta update checks. Use it if you want early access to new builds and understand that beta builds can be less stable.

Enable Debug Logs writes extra diagnostic logs. Turn this on when troubleshooting or when support asks for logs.

System

Hide Top Status Bar gives a more fullscreen look by hiding Android's status bar.

Hide Bottom Navigation Bar hides Android's navigation bar. Enabling it also requires hiding the top status bar.

Screen Timeout controls whether the screen follows the Android system timeout or a LaunchBox-selected timeout behavior.

Navigation

Default Root Filter controls the first filter type shown when you open the main library.

Default Secondary Filter controls the next filter level after the root filter.

Start with Platform Categories begins browsing at platform categories instead of a flat platform list.

Override Arcade Genres changes arcade genre handling to LaunchBox's curated arcade filter behavior.

Show All Games Filters adds an All Games quick filter.

Show Recently Played Filters adds a Recently Played quick filter.

Show Favorites Filters adds a Favorites quick filter.

Show Favorited Games First sorts favorites ahead of other games where supported.

Show Playlist Filters includes playlists in the browsing flow.

Remember Last Platform/Filter returns to the last selected platform or filter instead of always starting from the default.

Skip Game Menu launches a game directly on a single tap instead of opening the game menu first.

Behavior

Show Android Apps controls whether selected Android apps appear in the LaunchBox library.

Add New Android Apps on Startup controls whether LaunchBox adds All apps, only Marked As Games, or None when it scans installed Android apps.

Manage Android Apps lets you manually choose which Android apps appear.

Manage NAS opens network storage management for connecting and saving network share credentials.

Download Missing Media When Needed allows LaunchBox to download missing images or videos as you browse instead of only during imports or manual media downloads.

Show Play Time Tracking Prompt controls whether LaunchBox asks about tracking play time when launching games.

Orientation Lock controls whether LaunchBox follows device rotation or locks to a selected orientation.

Game Progress Organization

Game Progress Organization controls how progress states are grouped and displayed.

Game Progress Automation controls automatic progress changes based on play behavior.

Migrate Completed Flag reruns the migration that converts older completed-style data into the newer game progress organization.

Navigation Sounds

Play Navigation Sounds enables menu movement and selection sounds.

Play Move While Holding Navigation controls whether move sounds repeat while a direction is held.

Sound Pack chooses the navigation sound pack.

Order Type controls how sounds are selected from the sound pack, such as random or ordered playback.

Video Streaming

Enable Video Streaming allows video media streaming behavior.

Only Play on Wi-Fi prevents streamed video playback on mobile data.

Optimize Library prepares video streaming data for better performance.

Stream Video Quality chooses the quality level used for streamed videos.

EmuMovies

EmuMovies User ID and EmuMovies Password store your EmuMovies credentials.

Test EmuMovies Credentials verifies that the saved credentials work. Use EmuMovies if you want additional media downloads from EmuMovies where supported.

Themes and Views

Themes control how LaunchBox looks when browsing filters, games, and launching games. A theme can provide custom XAML views for Filters Views, Games Views, and Launching Views.

The default built-in views are always available, and installed custom themes can add more choices.

Default filter views

Filter views are used when browsing platforms, categories, playlists, genres, developers, and similar filter lists.

Built-in filter views include Basic Text List, Banners, Banners Dual Screen on supported devices, Text List with Details, and Wheel with Details.

Default game views

Game views are used after you enter a platform or filter and are browsing individual games.

Built-in game views include Basic Text List, Boxes Grid, Text List with Details, Text List with Two Column Details, Wheel with Details, and Wheel with Two Column Details.

Launching views

Launching views appear briefly when a game is starting. The built-in launching view is Box Art. Custom themes can include their own launching views.

Changing views and view settings

You can change views while browsing using the view-change action in the current filter or game view. You can also adjust view behavior through view settings.

Filter view settings include Background Fade Amount, Background Videos, Stretch Background Videos, Show Box Image Selected, Show Text Details Selected, and Reset to Defaults.

Game view settings include Background Fade Amount, Background Videos, Stretch Background Videos, Prioritize Gameplay Screenshots, Launching View, and Reset to Defaults.

Boxes Grid settings include Box Width, Box Height, Launching View, and Reset to Defaults.

Global view settings

Global view settings let you force one view across broad areas of the library instead of setting views platform by platform.

The app supports global root filter view, global secondary filter view, and global game view behavior. These are useful when you want one consistent experience everywhere, such as always using a wheel view for platforms and always using boxes grid for games.

If a global view is set, it can override the view saved on individual filter sets. If you want each platform or filter to keep its own view, clear the relevant global view setting.

Custom themes

Open Manage Themes to browse available Android themes. Themes are grouped by installed themes, installed themes with updates, new or updated themes, most popular themes, and available themes.

A theme detail page can show developer, installed version, latest version, description, credits, recent changes, screenshots or preview media, like/unlike, install/uninstall, update or repair, and support link.

Install a theme if you want additional layouts or a different visual style. Update installed themes when new versions are available. Repair a theme if files appear missing or corrupted. Uninstall themes you no longer use.

Custom theme restrictions:

• Android themes must be made for LaunchBox for Android.

• A theme only adds the view types it includes.

• Custom views are loaded from the LaunchBox/Themes folder.

• If a custom view fails to parse, LaunchBox falls back to a built-in view.

• The Example Theme is for theme creation and is not listed as a selectable custom theme.

Beginner Checklist

For a smooth first setup:

1. Install the APK and grant storage permissions.

2. Let LaunchBox initialize its data folder.

3. Decide whether Android apps should appear.

4. Import one platform at a time.

5. Review the scan list before proceeding.

6. Install or configure the emulator for that platform.

7. Launch one game and verify the emulator works.

8. Adjust platform emulator settings before using per-game overrides.

9. Choose a view that fits your device and library size.

10. Turn on debug logs only when troubleshooting.

Start small. Import one platform, launch a few games, and confirm the emulator behavior before importing a very large library. Once one platform is working, the rest of the setup becomes much easier.