Last updated: November 2026
Dolphin is the GameCube and Wii emulator. It runs on Windows, Linux (including the Steam Deck), macOS and Android, it is free and open source, and it needs no BIOS for either console. Most of the setup is choosing a game folder and a graphics backend, and most of the questions people ask afterward are about shader stutter and Wii Remotes.
This is a researched guide, built from Dolphin’s official FAQ, its wiki, its GitHub repository and release coverage, each linked below. Menu names were checked against the current source code. Menus move between versions, so if a name differs on your build, look for the closest match.
Everything here assumes games you own, dumped from your own discs or console. This site does not link to game downloads.
Download From the Official Site Only
| Platform | Official source |
|---|---|
| Windows, macOS, Linux | dolphin-emu.org/download |
| Android | Google Play or the APK on the same download page |
| Steam Deck | The Linux Flatpak from the download page, or the Flathub package in Discover |
Dolphin’s version names are dates. The current release is 2609, published September 24, 2026, and it brought NetPlay and Balance Board support to Android (Ubuntu Handbook). The project’s GitHub tags also show a 2609a follow-up. Between releases the download page offers development builds, which get fixes sooner and break more often.
The Flathub listing is packaged by the community rather than verified by the Dolphin team (Flathub). It is the easy route on a Deck. If you want the build Dolphin itself ships, use the Flatpak file from the official download page.
Search results for “Dolphin download” are full of lookalike sites, and Dolphin’s own forum has a thread on one that exists only for ad revenue (Dolphin forums). These sites often bundle adware. The real one is dolphin-emu.org.
What It Needs
From the official FAQ:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | 64-bit only: Windows 10 or newer, Linux, macOS 11 Big Sur or newer, Android 7.0 or newer |
| CPU | Fast per-core speed matters more than core count; four or more cores suggested |
| GPU | DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL 4.4 support |
| RAM | 2 GB or more |
| Game formats | ISO/GCM, GCZ, CISO, WBFS, WIA, NFS, RVZ |
The FAQ recommends RVZ when you compress your dumps, and Dolphin can convert to it from the game list.
BIOS: Wii games need no BIOS or system files. GameCube games run without one too, because Dolphin emulates the GameCube’s startup itself. The GameCube IPL (the boot menu with the spinning cube) is optional. If you want it, dump it from your own console and place it as IPL.bin in the GC/USA, GC/EUR or GC/JAP folder inside Dolphin’s user folder; this is the file name and region layout used in Dolphin’s source code. Then Tools > Load GameCube Main Menu opens it, and unticking Skip Main Menu under Config > GameCube plays it before each game.
First Run on PC and Steam Deck
- Install or extract. Windows builds come as an archive you extract anywhere. On Linux, install the Flatpak.
- Add your game folder. Open Config > Paths, and under Game Folders click Add… and choose the folder with your dumps. The game list fills in.
- Find the user folder. File > Open User Folder opens where Dolphin keeps saves, configs, the Wii NAND and the optional IPL. Back this up.
- Set graphics, then controllers, both covered below.
- Double-click a game to start it.
On a Steam Deck, Dolphin runs fine from Desktop Mode, but most people add it to Game Mode. EmuDeck installs Dolphin, sets its paths and maps the Deck’s controls for you, which saves most of the steps on this page.
Graphics Settings That Matter
Open the Graphics button on the toolbar. Names below are from Dolphin’s current Qt interface.
Backend
On the General tab, Backend offers Vulkan, OpenGL, Direct3D 11, Direct3D 12 on Windows, and Metal on macOS, plus a software renderer you should ignore. Dolphin does not force a choice. A sensible rule of thumb:
| System | Start with | Try if you see problems |
|---|---|---|
| Windows, AMD or Nvidia | Vulkan | Direct3D 12 or Direct3D 11 |
| Windows, Intel graphics | Direct3D 11 | Vulkan |
| Linux and Steam Deck | Vulkan | OpenGL |
| macOS | Metal | Vulkan |
| Android | Vulkan | OpenGL |
Internal Resolution
On the Enhancements tab, Internal Resolution goes from Native (640x528) upward in multiples, and Dolphin labels each step with the screen it suits: 2x is marked 720p, 3x 1080p, 4x 1440p and 6x 4K. Match it to your display. On a Steam Deck’s 1280x800 screen, 2x is the right pick; higher only costs battery. A desktop with a recent GPU handles 3x or 4x easily.
Shader Compilation
This is the setting behind most “it stutters for a second when something new appears” complaints. The GameCube and Wii build effects on the fly, and Dolphin has to compile a matching shader for your GPU the first time each one appears. The Shader Compilation box on the General tab has four modes:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Specialized (Default) | Lowest GPU load. Stutters briefly when new effects appear. |
| Hybrid Ubershaders | Uses ubershaders while shaders compile, then moves to specialized shaders. Usually removes stutter with little cost, depending on the driver. |
| Exclusive Ubershaders | Always uses ubershaders. Near stutter-free, very GPU-heavy. |
| Skip Drawing | Skips anything not yet compiled. No stutter, but objects can briefly vanish. |
The descriptions are Dolphin’s own, from the app’s settings text. Hybrid Ubershaders is the one to try first on a decent GPU. Compile Shaders Before Starting builds known shaders up front, so games take longer to start but stutter less once running. Stutter also fades on its own as your shader cache fills.
Controllers
Open Controllers on the toolbar.
GameCube. Set Port 1 to Standard Controller and click Configure to map buttons. Pick your controller in the Device list first, then click each GameCube button and press the matching input. Owners of the official GameCube adapter can choose GameCube Controller Adapter (USB) and use real GameCube pads.
Emulated Wii Remote. Set Wii Remote 1 to Emulated Wii Remote and configure it. You map the Wii Remote buttons, pick an extension (Nunchuk or Classic Controller) in the Extension list, and map the pointer to a stick, mouse or gyro. Classic Controller games are the easiest fit for a gamepad; motion-heavy games are where emulated remotes struggle.
Real Wii Remote over Bluetooth. Leave Emulate the Wii’s Bluetooth adapter selected and set a slot to Real Wii Remote. Pair the remote with your computer’s Bluetooth (press the red sync button), and with Continuous Scanning on, Dolphin picks it up.
Bluetooth passthrough. The alternative, Passthrough a Bluetooth adapter, hands a whole Bluetooth adapter to the emulated Wii. The Dolphin wiki says it gives better third-party remote support, Wii Remote audio and finer motion, but on Windows it needs a replacement driver installed with Zadig, results vary a lot by adapter, NetPlay is not supported, and it does not work on Android. The Mayflash DolphinBar cannot be used for passthrough.
Android Specifics
The Android app has the same core with a touch-friendly layout. From the current Android strings:
- Add games: use Add Folder to Library and point it at your games folder. On a handheld with a microSD slot, keep games on the card; a Samsung PRO Plus 256GB holds a large library of RVZ files.
- Settings: the gear icon opens Settings. Video Backend, Internal Resolution and the same four shader compilation modes live under Graphics.
- GPU Driver: on Snapdragon (Adreno) devices, the GPU Driver option lets you install an alternative driver package. Leave it on the system driver unless a specific game has a known driver problem.
- Controls: GameCube Input and Wii Input map a built-in or Bluetooth controller. Handhelds with physical controls should map once and hide the touch overlay.
- Internal Resolution: 2x is a realistic target on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-class handhelds; drop to native if a game slows down.
Chip matters more than anything else on Android. Snapdragon chips with Adreno GPUs have the most mature Vulkan drivers for Dolphin; MediaTek and Unisoc devices are hit and miss. The Android emulation guide covers the wider picture.
Common Fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Short stutters when new effects appear | Set Shader Compilation to Hybrid Ubershaders, or turn on Compile Shaders Before Starting |
| Game list is empty | Check Config > Paths. Tick Search Subfolders if your games are in subfolders |
| Game runs slowly | Lower Internal Resolution first. Then try another backend |
| Graphics glitches in one game | Right-click the game, open Properties, and check the Game Config tab for per-game overrides; also check that game’s wiki page |
| Real Wii Remote will not connect | Re-pair it in your OS Bluetooth settings, turn on Continuous Scanning, and keep only one Bluetooth stack active |
| Game will not boot | Your dump may be bad. Right-click the game, open Properties, and use the Verify tab |
| Dolphin will not run at all | Confirm a 64-bit OS that meets the FAQ minimums, then update GPU drivers |
For which games run well, each title has a page on the Dolphin wiki with known issues and recommended settings. For how Dolphin compares with the alternatives, see best GameCube emulator.
Handhelds That Run Dolphin Well
If you are choosing hardware specifically for GameCube and Wii, best handheld for GameCube emulation compares more options.
FAQ
Do I need a BIOS for Dolphin? No. Wii games need nothing extra, and GameCube games boot without the IPL. The IPL only adds the original startup animation and menu, and you dump it from your own GameCube.
What is the latest Dolphin version? Release 2609, from September 2026, with a 2609a tag after it. Development builds on the download page are newer.
Which graphics backend should I use? Vulkan is a good start on most systems. Use Direct3D 11 or 12 on Windows if Vulkan misbehaves, and Metal on a Mac.
How do I stop shader stutter? Set Shader Compilation to Hybrid Ubershaders. Exclusive Ubershaders removes more stutter but needs a strong GPU.
Can I use a real Wii Remote? Yes. Pair it over Bluetooth and set the slot to Real Wii Remote. Bluetooth passthrough is an advanced option with stricter adapter requirements and no Android support.
Is the Play Store version the official one? Yes. The listing with the package ID org.dolphinemu.dolphinemu is the official app.
Last verified: November 2026