Amiga Emulator Guide: WinUAE, FS-UAE and Kickstart Setup

Last updated: October 2026

Amiga emulation has one extra step most systems do not: the Kickstart. Every Amiga had its core operating system on a chip on the motherboard, and the emulator needs a copy of it to boot the machine accurately. Get the Kickstart sorted the legal way and the rest is straightforward.

This guide covers the two main emulators (WinUAE on Windows, FS-UAE everywhere else), how to dump the Kickstart from an Amiga you own, how to load disk images, running Amiga games on a Steam Deck or Android handheld, and the A500 Mini for people who want none of this.

What You Need

WinUAE vs FS-UAE

WinUAE is the most complete Amiga emulator. Version 6.0 rewrote the custom chipset emulation for better accuracy and performance, and the 6.0.x updates since have focused on fixes. If you are on Windows, start here.

FS-UAE is built on the same UAE emulation core and runs on every desktop OS. Its Launcher makes picking a model and attaching disks simpler, and it suits a TV or a couch. An early alpha of FS-UAE 5 is also available for testing.

Kickstart: Dump Your Own

The Kickstart is still under copyright, and emulators cannot ship it. The clean route is to dump it from an Amiga you own. WinUAE’s download includes TransROM, a small Amiga program that saves the Kickstart chip’s contents to a file. Run it on your real Amiga, copy the resulting file to your PC (over a serial or network link, or via a disk your PC can read), and keep it alongside your emulator. An A500 gives you Kickstart 1.3, which covers most of the game library. An A1200 gives you Kickstart 3.x for AGA games.

Keep the file private. It is for your own use with the hardware you own.

No Kickstart at all? WinUAE has a built-in Kickstart replacement from the AROS project. Select the internal AROS Kickstart replacement and many older games will boot, but compatibility is lower than a real Kickstart. It is a test drive, not a replacement.

Set Up WinUAE

1. Download WinUAE from winuae.net and install it.
2. Open Paths, point the Kickstart folder setting at where your Kickstart files live, and click the rescan button so WinUAE detects them.
3. Go to Quickstart. Pick the A500 model and a configuration (the default Kickstart 1.3, 512 KB Chip + 512 KB Slow RAM is the classic A500 setup that most games expect).
4. Insert a disk image in DF0: with the button next to it.
5. Click Start.

For AGA games (made for the A1200), pick A1200 in Quickstart. That model needs a Kickstart 3.x file, dumped from your own A1200.

Useful while playing:

• F12 opens the settings window mid-game, where you can swap disks.
• Set your joystick to port 1 (the second port). Port 0 is normally the mouse.
• Turn on the floppy speed turbo option under Floppy drives to cut long load times.

Save the configuration once it works, so you can launch it with one click next time.

Set Up FS-UAE

1. Download FS-UAE and the FS-UAE Launcher from fs-uae.net.
2. Copy your Kickstart files into the Kickstarts folder inside the FS-UAE base directory (the Launcher shows its location) and use the Launcher’s scan option to detect them.
3. In the Launcher, pick the Amiga model (A500 for most games).
4. Add a disk image to the floppy slots.
5. Click Start.

FS-UAE’s menu key is F12 too. Controllers are detected automatically and mapped to the joystick port.

Disk Images: ADF, IPF and WHDLoad

Your own disks. Amiga floppies use a different disk format from PC floppies, so a standard USB floppy drive cannot read them. Imaging real Amiga disks needs dedicated hardware.

Legal software. The demoscene and homebrew community keeps releasing new Amiga software; get it from the creators’ own release pages.

Amiga on a Steam Deck or Android Handheld

The practical option on handhelds is RetroArch with the PUAE core, a UAE-based Amiga core.

1. Install RetroArch (RetroArch setup guide), or on the Steam Deck let EmuDeck set it up.
2. Download the Commodore - Amiga (PUAE) core from the Online Updater.
3. Copy your Kickstart files into RetroArch’s system folder, renamed to the filenames listed in the PUAE core documentation. Our RetroArch BIOS guide covers how the system folder works.
4. Load an ADF. PUAE picks a model automatically, or you set it in the core options.

On the Steam Deck you can also run FS-UAE’s Linux build in Desktop Mode.

For more on Android setups, see the Android emulation guide and best handheld emulators.

The A500 Mini: No Setup Required

Retro Games Ltd’s A500 Mini is a licensed, half-size Amiga 500 that plugs into a TV and needs no Kickstart, no config and no disk images to get started.

The keyboard on the case is decorative; plug in a USB keyboard if you need to type. Because it reads WHDLoad games from USB, it also works as a simple home for Amiga software you own. US Amazon listings are currently resellers well above its original price, so check the maker’s retailers before you pay a markup.

Pick the A500 Mini if you want Amiga games on the TV tonight. Pick WinUAE or FS-UAE if you want every model, every setting and Workbench.

FAQ

Do I need a Kickstart to emulate an Amiga?

For proper compatibility, yes. WinUAE’s built-in AROS replacement boots many older games, but a real Kickstart dumped from your own Amiga runs far more software correctly.

Is it legal to download Kickstart files?

No. Kickstarts are still under copyright. Dump the Kickstart from an Amiga you own and keep the file for your own use.

WinUAE or FS-UAE?

WinUAE on Windows for accuracy and coverage. FS-UAE on macOS or Linux, or on Windows if you prefer its Launcher.

Which Amiga model should I emulate?

The A500 with Kickstart 1.3 for most games. The A1200 with Kickstart 3.x for AGA games.

Does the A500 Mini need a Kickstart file?

No. It is licensed hardware with everything built in.

WinUAE | FS-UAE

More retro computer guides: Commodore 64 emulator guide | DOSBox setup guide | 86Box and PCem guide

Last verified: October 2026