RetroPie on Raspberry Pi: Quick Start (2025 update!)

Use RetroPie to turn your Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming machine! Play classics from NES, SNES, SEGA, Atari, and many more.

What is RetroPie? RetroPie combines EmulationStation, RetroArch, and more to provide a flexible, easy-to-use front end for emulators.
What is an Emulator: Software that makes your Pi behave like another system.
What is a ROM: A digital copy of a game cartridge or disc. Loading a ROM in RetroPie is like inserting the original game.
What is a BIOS? A BIOS is a set of software instructions that tells hardware how to work. Most emulators in RetroPie will emulate their own system’s BIOS, but others may require a file.

In our original demo, we used a cool open-source Game Boy Color title µCity by Antonio Niño Díaz: github.com/AntonioND/ucity.

Legal note: Copyright law around ROMs and BIOS files varies by country. RetroPie does not include copyrighted ROMs or BIOS files. Only use content you have the legal right to use.

Hardware - What you'll need:

• Raspberry Pi 4/4GB (Pi 4 or Pi 400 is recommended; Pi 3B+ works for lighter systems)
• Good quality power supply
• MicroSD card (32–128 GB, Class 10/U3 is best)
• Micro HDMI cable
• Display
• USB gamepad(s) or a USB keyboard (you can configure both)
• MicroSD card reader (for flashing the OS onto the SD card)
• (Optional) Case and heatsinks/fan
• (Optional) Ethernet cable (or use Wi‑Fi)
• Make sure to visit our Arcade section for more gaming accessories!

Installation

If you get stuck, email us at [email protected]. The official RetroPie docs and forums are also excellent.

Option 1 (Easiest): Flash the RetroPie SD Image with Raspberry Pi Imager

1. 1. Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer.
2. 2. Insert your microSD card in the computer.
3. 3. In Imager, choose OS > Emulation and game OS > RetroPie, then pick the version for your Pi model (Pi 4/400 for most modern builds).
4. 4. Select your microSD card as the storage target.
5. 5. (Optional) Click the gear icon to preconfigure Wi‑Fi, locale, and SSH.
6. 6. Click Write and wait for it to finish. Safely eject the card.
7. 7. Insert the card in your Pi, connect the HDMI cable and your controller/keyboard, then power on.

Option 2 (Advanced / Pi 5): Manual Install on Raspberry Pi OS

This installs RetroPie on top of a fresh Raspberry Pi OS (64‑bit strongly recommended for Pi 5).

1. 1. Use Raspberry Pi Imager to flash Raspberry Pi OS (64‑bit) to your microSD. Boot the Pi and complete first‑boot setup (network, locale, updates).
2. 2. Update packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

3. 3. Install prerequisites and the RetroPie setup script:

sudo apt install -y git
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup.git
cd RetroPie-Setup
sudo ./retropie_setup.sh

4. 4. When the dialog appears, choose Basic install. After it completes, exit the dialog.
5. 5. Launch EmulationStation:

emulationstation

6. 6. (Optional) Autostart EmulationStation on boot: run the setup script again → Configuration / tools → autostart → Start EmulationStation at boot.

First-Boot Controller Setup

On first launch, hold any button on your controller or a key on your keyboard to begin mapping. Follow the prompts carefully. Long-press any input to skip it. When prompted for a Hotkey Enable button, choose something convenient (often SELECT).

Messed up your mapping?
From the RetroPie main menu: Start → Configure Input → confirm. If you can’t reach the menu, attach a keyboard, press F4 to exit, then:

cd ~/.emulationstation
sudo rm es_input.cfg
emulationstation

Adding Games (ROMs)

Method 1: Network (SFTP/SSH)

• Ensure the Pi is online (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet). From RetroPie’s configuration screen, you can set up Wi‑Fi and enable SSH.
• Find the Pi’s IP address (SHOW IP in the configuration menu).
• Use an SFTP client (e.g., WinSCP on Windows, or any SFTP-capable file manager) to connect:
  • Host: your Pi’s IP | Port: 22
  • Username: pi | Password: raspberry (unless you changed it)
• Upload ROM files into /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/ (e.g., gbc, snes).
• Restart EmulationStation (or reboot) to see new systems/games.

Method 2: USB Drive

• Format a USB drive to FAT32 or exFAT, create a folder named retropie.
• Plug it into the Pi and wait until the activity LED stops blinking (folders will be generated).
• Back on your computer, open the drive and place ROMs into retropie/roms/.
• Plug the drive back into the Pi; wait for the transfer to complete. Reboot or restart EmulationStation.
• If the retropie folders aren’t created, install usbromservice from RetroPie Setup > Manage packages > Manage optional packages, then try again.

Reboot & Play!

That’s it! Just choose a console, pick a game, and dive in!

FAQ

Which Pi should I use? A Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 400 is the current sweet spot. The new Raspberry Pi 5 can run RetroPie via the manual install (no official prebuilt image is available as of now). The older Pi 3B+ works fine for 8/16‑bit consoles.

Where do I get BIOS files? Some systems require them; check each system’s notes in the RetroPie docs. Only use BIOS files you are legally permitted to use.

Do you sell a complete kit? We’re working on a streamlined kit. In the meantime, we have boards, power, storage, cases, and controllers to build your own.