setup

A full setup guide for the AYANEO Pocket Micro 2. The best emulators, the right settings for its 3:2 screen, microSD tips, and how to get the most from the Snapdragon 865.

iiSU is a visuals-first Android launcher for handhelds, with a PSP and 3DS feel, a WiiSU menu mode, and RetroAchievements. Here is how to set it up.

Delta is the best Nintendo emulator on iPhone, and it is free. Here is how to install it, load games, add controller support, and sync saves.

3D printing opens up custom shells, buttons, and grips for retro handhelds. Here is how to find designs, choose materials, and finish prints that fit.

Mushy shoulder buttons are a common handheld weak point. Here is how to mod them for a crisp click, from drop-in kits to soldered microswitches.

A worn or swollen battery is fixable. Here is how to safely replace the lithium battery in a retro handheld, what capacity to pick, and the safety rules.

Cracked glass or a dim panel is fixable. Here is how to replace a handheld screen or glass safely, plus what a laminated screen mod is worth.

A shell swap is one of the best first mods. Here is how to move your handheld board into a new shell safely, from opening it to transferring buttons.

New to modding retro handhelds? Here are the tools you need, what is safe to try first, what is risky, and how to plan your first hardware mod.

How to emulate Atari's classic systems on a handheld, covering the 2600, 7800, and the underrated Lynx, with setup tips and the games worth playing.

Bluetooth controller won't pair with your handheld, or keeps lagging and dropping? Here are the fixes, from pairing mode to input lag and firmware quirks.

How to emulate the Commodore 64 and Amiga on a handheld, two legendary computers with huge libraries, including BIOS, disk handling, and the games to start with.

How to play classic MS-DOS games on a retro handheld with DOSBox. Doom, Commander Keen, and the LucasArts classics, plus how to handle keyboard and mouse controls.

How to set up DuckStation, the best standalone PlayStation 1 emulator, on your retro handheld. BIOS, upscaling, and the settings that make PS1 games look great.

How to install a screen protector on your retro handheld with no bubbles or dust. Step by step for tempered glass and film, plus how to fix trapped bubbles.

How to pair a Bluetooth controller with your retro handheld for couch play and local co-op. Pairing steps by firmware, plus how to fix lag and connection drops.

How to add box art, screenshots, and metadata to your retro handheld game library. On-device scraping versus Skraper on a computer, plus how to fix missing covers.

How to set up RetroArch netplay to play retro games online with a friend. Hosting, joining, lobbies, and the settings that keep matches smooth across the internet.

Three ways to move games onto your retro handheld. Card reader, WiFi network transfer, and FTP, with the pros and cons of each and how to avoid corrupted files.

How to set up arcade emulation on a retro handheld with MAME and FinalBurn Neo. ROM sets, BIOS files, and why the romset version matters so much.

How to set up mGBA, the most accurate Game Boy Advance emulator, on a retro handheld. BIOS, link cable features, solar sensor games, and the best display settings.

Sega's Naomi and the Atomiswave arcade boards hosted some of the best 2D and 3D arcade games ever. Here is how to emulate them on a handheld with Flycast.

PICO-8 is a fantasy console packed with thousands of tiny free games, and it runs perfectly on handhelds. Here is how to set it up and the best games to play.

PortMaster brings hundreds of native game ports to retro handhelds, from indie classics to open-source remakes. Here is how to install it and start.

Copied your games over but they do not show up? Here are the common causes and fixes, from wrong folders and file formats to refreshing the game list.

How to emulate the Sega Saturn on a retro handheld. Which emulator to use, the BIOS you need, and the device power required for smooth Saturn play in 2026.

How to set up ScummVM on a retro handheld to play classic point-and-click adventures like Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. Folder layout, controls, and tips.

How to emulate the Sega CD and Sega 32X on a retro handheld. The BIOS files you need, the right RetroArch cores, and how to get CD audio working correctly.

Setting up a retro handheld for a child? Here is how to pick the right device, load kid-friendly games, and set it up so it is simple, safe, and durable.

The Sharp X68000 was a Japanese home computer with near-arcade-perfect ports. Here is how to emulate it on a handheld and the games that make it special.

Nintendo's Virtual Boy is one of the most curious consoles ever made, and it emulates easily on a handheld. Here is how to set it up and the games worth playing.

Two cult handhelds, the WonderSwan and Neo Geo Pocket Color, hold some real gems. Here is how to emulate them and the games worth playing.