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COMPLETE GUIDE A TO Z
Version
43.1
Type
Retro OS
Format
IMG.GZ
Price
Free
Complete Guide
Batocera Complete Guide - Install On PC A To Z
Download, flash, boot, add games and set up controllers on the free Batocera retro gaming operating system
BATOCERA 43.1
FREE
OPEN SOURCE
Retro Gaming
Linux
USB Boot
Step By Step
Batocera is a free retro gaming operating system that boots straight into a game launcher, so there is no desktop to set up. This guide walks you through everything in order: choosing the right image, flashing it to a USB drive or SD card, first boot, adding your games and BIOS files, scraping artwork, connecting controllers and fixing common problems. A video walkthrough is at the end of the post.
Project
Batocera.linux
Current Version
43.1
Image Type
Compressed .img.gz
What Is Batocera
Batocera is a free, open-source operating system built for retro gaming. Instead of installing emulators one by one on Windows, you flash Batocera to a USB drive, SD card or disk and boot your computer or device straight into a game launcher. It is distributed as a ready-to-run disk image, and it runs from the drive you flash it to without touching your existing Windows installation unless you choose to install it permanently.
The project supports a wide range of hardware. The official download page lists regular PCs (x86_64), a separate x86-64-v3 image for the Steam Deck and most handheld PCs, older 32-bit PCs, many Raspberry Pi models, Odroid and Rockchip boards, and several handheld consoles. That is why picking the correct image for your device is the first and most important step of this guide.
Batocera only provides the system and emulators. You add your own game backups and any BIOS files yourself, so this guide covers exactly where those files go and how to make them show up in the menu.
Download Batocera 43.1
Version
43.1
Format
IMG.GZ
Price
Free
NOTE: Server 2 opens the official Batocera download page, where you choose the image for your device (PC x86_64, x86-64-v3 for Steam Deck and handhelds, Raspberry Pi and so on). Each image on that page comes with an MD5 checksum so you can verify your download.
Required Tools
Rufus
A small Windows tool for writing disk images to USB drives. Use it to flash the Batocera image to a USB stick.
balenaEtcher
A cross-platform flashing tool for Windows, macOS and Linux. A simple alternative to Rufus with a three-click flow.
What You Need Before Starting
1
A USB drive or SD card to flash Batocera onto. This drive will be erased, so back up anything on it first.
2
The correct Batocera image for your device from the download page above.
3
A flashing tool - Rufus or balenaEtcher from the Required Tools section.
4
A PC or device to boot from the USB drive, plus a keyboard for the first setup.
5
A game controller if you have one. Batocera can also be navigated with a keyboard.
6
Your own game files and BIOS files, which you add after the first boot.
Which Image Should You Pick
| Your Device | Image To Choose |
|---|---|
| Desktop PC, laptop, NUC, Intel-based Apple computer | x86_64 |
| Steam Deck, most handheld PCs | x86-64-v3 |
| Older 32-bit PC | 32-bit x86 |
| Intel Atom or very low-powered device | The V5.25 build listed for Atom devices |
| Raspberry Pi | The image matching your exact Pi model (Pi 4, Pi 5, Zero 2 and so on) |
| Handheld consoles and ARM boards | The image listed for your exact model on the official page |
Step 1 - Download And Unpack The Image
1
Open the official download page and choose the image that matches your device (see the table above).
2
Download the image. It arrives as a compressed .img.gz file.
3
balenaEtcher can flash a .img.gz file directly. If your tool cannot read it, extract the file first with a program such as 7-Zip to get the .img file.
4
Optional: compare the file's MD5 checksum with the checksum file on the download page to be sure the download is not corrupted.
Step 2 - Flash With Rufus
1
Plug in your USB drive and open Rufus.
2
Under Device, select your USB drive. Double check it is the correct one because everything on it will be erased.
3
Click SELECT and choose the Batocera image file.
4
If Rufus asks how to write the image, choose DD Image mode.
5
Click START, confirm the warning and wait until the status bar shows READY.
Step 2 (Alternative) - Flash With balenaEtcher
1
Open balenaEtcher.
2
Click Flash from file and pick the Batocera image.
3
Click Select target and choose your USB drive or SD card.
4
Click Flash! and wait for flashing and validation to finish, then close the program.
Step 3 - Boot From The Drive
1
Leave the USB drive plugged in and restart the PC.
2
Open the boot menu while the PC starts. The key depends on the brand and is commonly F12, F11, F10, F8 or Esc.
3
Choose your USB drive from the list. If you see both a UEFI and a legacy entry, try the UEFI one first.
4
Wait for Batocera to load. The first boot takes a little longer because the system sets up its storage.
Step 4 - First Boot Setup
1
When the system list appears, press START on your controller (or the matching key on your keyboard) to open the main menu.
2
Open Network Settings and connect Wi-Fi if you are not using a cable. The IP address is also shown here, which you need for file sharing.
3
Open System Settings and set your language and any other basics you want.
4
Open the controller settings and configure your pad. Batocera 43 includes a new hotkey configuration, so check it if your buttons behave differently from older guides.
Step 5 - Add Games And BIOS Files
Batocera stores everything on a data partition named SHARE, separate from the boot partition named BATOCERA. Game files go in the roms folder, one subfolder per system. BIOS files go in the bios folder. Some systems need a subfolder inside bios (for example bios/neocd for NeoGeo CD).
Each system folder contains an _info.txt file that lists the file extensions that system accepts. Creating a new folder for a system that is not on your platform will not add that system.
| Method | How To Do It |
|---|---|
| Over the network (easiest) | With Batocera running, open File Explorer on Windows and go to \\BATOCERA\share. On macOS use Finder, Go, Connect to Server and enter smb://BATOCERA/share. On Linux use smb://BATOCERA.local/share. |
| If the name does not work | Use the IP address instead. Find it in Main Menu, Network Settings, IP Address. |
| USB drive (on PC and Raspberry Pi 4) | Plug the drive into the Batocera machine, press F1 on the system list to open the built-in file manager, then copy the files across. |
| Direct copy from another computer | Copy files onto the SHARE partition, but boot Batocera at least once first so the partition is expanded. |
NOTE: Only add games and BIOS files that you own or have the right to use. Batocera does not include games.
Step 6 - Refresh The Game List
1
Batocera only shows systems that actually contain games.
2
After copying files, press START to open the main menu.
3
Go to Game Settings and choose Update Gamelists.
4
Your new systems and games now appear in the system list.
Step 7 - Scrape Artwork And Info
1
Open the main menu with START and choose the Scraper option.
2
Pick a scraping source and the systems you want to scrape.
3
Start the scrape. Batocera downloads cover art, descriptions and other details for your games when it finds a match.
4
Return to the system list to see the artwork. This step needs an internet connection.
Step 8 - Controllers, Hotkeys And Settings
Pair Controllers
Connect a wired pad by USB or pair a Bluetooth pad from the controller settings in the main menu. Batocera 43 moved to the mainline Nintendo controller driver, so Nintendo pads may need to be configured again.
Hotkey Menu
Batocera uses a hotkey button on your controller together with other buttons for in-game actions such as exiting a game. Check the new hotkey configuration in version 43 to see your layout.
Per-System Settings
Each system and game can have its own settings for shaders, ratio and emulator choice, so you can tune performance for heavier systems.
Updates
Batocera has a built-in update option in the main menu. Back up your SHARE partition before a major version jump.
Optional - Install Batocera To Your Internal Drive
1
Booting from USB is the safest way to start and does not change your PC.
2
If you later want a permanent install, look for the option to install Batocera to another disk in the System Settings menu while booted from the USB drive.
3
Choose the target disk very carefully. Installing erases the target disk, so back up your files first and never select your Windows drive unless you want it wiped.
4
After installing, remove the USB drive and boot from the internal disk.
What Is New In Batocera 43
| Area | Change |
|---|---|
| Handhelds | x86_64 handhelds with AMD and Intel graphics supported on the x86_64-v3 image using Wayland and the LabWC compositor. Nvidia drivers on that image are experimental. |
| Controllers | Nintendo controller driver moved to the mainline version, so pads may need reconfiguring. |
| Nvidia | Legacy 340.xx and 390.xx drivers removed. 470.xx, 580.xx and 590.xx remain. |
| System | Batocera Control Center, a Wi-Fi country selector and new hotkey configuration added. The custom.sh script feature is deprecated and existing scripts are converted into services. |
| Emulators | DraStic removed. Dolphin now supports Triforce. Azahar replaced Azahar Plus (3DS games need decrypting). Updates include RetroArch 1.22.2, PCSX2 v2.6.3, RPCS3 v0.0.40 and Xemu v0.8.134. |
| Base | Linux kernel 6.18.16 and Mesa3D 25.3.6 |
Source: coverage of the Batocera 43 release notes. Version 43.1 is the current version on the official download page.
Troubleshooting
My PC does not boot from the USB drive
Open the boot menu again and choose the UEFI entry for your USB drive. Also try a different USB port, preferably a USB 2.0 port, and re-flash the drive if needed.
My games do not show up
Check the file is inside the correct system folder, that its extension is listed in that folder's _info.txt, then run Update Gamelists from Game Settings.
The network share name does not open
Use the IP address from Network Settings instead of the name, and make sure both devices are on the same network.
A system says it needs a BIOS
Place the required BIOS file in the bios folder (or the subfolder that system needs) and restart Batocera.
Controller buttons are wrong
Re-run the controller configuration from the controller settings. This is common after updating to version 43 for Nintendo pads.
The flash failed or the drive is not recognized
Re-download the image, check its MD5 checksum against the official file, try a different USB drive and flash again.
System Requirements
Boot Device
USB drive or SD card
Supported Hardware
PC, Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi and many boards
Image
Matches your exact device
Internet
Needed for updates and scraping
NOTE: Exact memory and storage needs depend on the systems you plan to emulate. Older systems run on very modest hardware, while heavier systems need a stronger graphics card. Check the official Batocera documentation for your specific device.
Software Information
| Name | Batocera.linux |
| Current Version | 43.1 |
| Category | Retro Gaming Operating System |
| Image Format | Compressed .img.gz |
| Checksum | MD5 file provided on the official page |
| Flashing Tools | Rufus, balenaEtcher |
| Platforms | PC (x86_64), Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi, handhelds and more |
| License | Free and open source |
Video Guide
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DISCLAIMER: Batocera is a free, open-source project and Tech Decode is not affiliated with it. This guide is for informational purposes. Batocera does not include games or BIOS files. Only use game and BIOS files that you own or are legally allowed to use. Flashing a drive erases its contents, so back up your data and double check the target drive before you start.
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