Spruce Setup Guide: Custom Firmware for the Miyoo Mini Plus

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The Miyoo Mini Plus is one of the most beloved pocket handhelds ever made, and a big reason is its custom firmware scene. Onion OS made it famous, but Spruce has become a favorite alternative. Spruce is a polished, actively developed firmware that keeps things clean and fast while adding genuinely useful tools. If you own a Miyoo Mini Plus and want a fresh, modern setup, Spruce is well worth a look.

This guide explains what Spruce is, how it compares to Onion OS, and how to install it, set up WiFi, and add your games. We frame all of this around playing games you already own and preserving your personal collection. The

Miyoo Mini Plus

is the device this firmware is built for.

Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and Anbernic affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

What Spruce Is

Spruce is a custom firmware for the Miyoo Mini Plus, and some related Miyoo devices, built on top of the stock system. It focuses on a clean look, fast performance, and a set of quality-of-life features that make daily use nicer. It is actively maintained, with regular updates that add features and fix bugs.

Spruce vs Onion OS

✓ Pros

• Clean, modern interface that is easy to navigate
• Actively developed with frequent updates
• Useful built-in tools and quality-of-life features
• Good out-of-the-box emulator configuration
• Strong community support and documentation
• Swap SD cards to try it without losing your Onion OS setup

✗ Cons

• Targets the Miyoo Mini Plus family, not other brands
• Onion OS has a longer track record and a huge theme library
• As with any firmware, follow the install steps carefully
• Feature differences between versions, so read the release notes

Both Spruce and Onion OS are excellent on the Miyoo Mini Plus. The easiest way to choose is to try each on a separate SD card and keep the one you like. Your games can live on the same card structure, so swapping is low risk.

What You Need

A Miyoo Mini Plus
A microSD card, 64GB or larger recommended
A microSD card reader and a computer
The latest Spruce release
A tool to format the card and unzip files

Step 1: Download Spruce

Go to the official Spruce project page and download the latest release. Read the included instructions, since the exact steps can change between versions. Always use the official source.

Step 2: Format the SD Card

Format your microSD card following the project's instructions, usually as FAT32. A clean format avoids leftover files from a previous firmware. Make sure you back up anything you want to keep first.

Step 3: Copy Spruce to the Card

Extract the Spruce download and copy its contents to the root of the freshly formatted card. The package usually includes the system files and a folder structure for your games. Follow the project's layout exactly so the firmware boots correctly.

Step 4: First Boot

Insert the card into your Miyoo Mini Plus and power on. The first boot may take a little longer while Spruce sets itself up. When you reach the main menu, Spruce is running. Spend a minute exploring the menus to see the built-in tools.

Step 5: Set Up WiFi

The Miyoo Mini Plus has WiFi, which Spruce can use for transfers and extras. Open the settings, enable WiFi, and connect to your network. Note any network share or IP details shown, which let you copy games over your network. Our how to transfer ROMs guide covers network transfers.

Step 6: Add Your Games

Spruce uses a Roms folder with subfolders for each system. Drop your games into the matching folders, and place BIOS files where the documentation says, usually a BIOS folder. You supply all games and BIOS files from hardware you own. Our how to organize ROMs and BIOS files guide explains a clean structure.

Step 7: Box Art and Saves

Spruce supports box art and metadata. Add it on device or with Skraper on your computer, as covered in our how to scrape box art guide. Back up your saves regularly, especially before updating, using the routine in our how to back up your saves before a firmware update guide.

Troubleshooting

Handheld will not boot Spruce. The card may be formatted wrong or the files placed incorrectly. Re-format, then re-extract the release to the root of the card.

A game will not launch. Check that it is in the correct system folder and that any required BIOS is present.

WiFi will not connect. Double check your network password and that WiFi is enabled in settings.

Recommended Handheld

Spruce is built for the