Getting Started with mGBA

This guide will help you install and set up mGBA on your platform. Follow the steps specific to your operating system to get started with Game Boy Advance emulation.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• CPU: Dual-core processor (2.0 GHz or higher)
• RAM: 2GB system RAM
• Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible GPU (Windows) or OpenGL 3.3+ (Linux/macOS)
• Storage: 50MB free disk space

Recommended Requirements

• CPU: Quad-core processor (3.0 GHz or higher)
• RAM: 4GB system RAM
• Graphics: Dedicated graphics card with hardware acceleration support
• Storage: 100MB free disk space

Installation by Platform

Windows

For Windows users, you have two installation options:

1. MSI Installer (Recommended):
   • Download the MSI installer from the official website
   • Double-click the MSI file to launch the installer
   • Follow the installation wizard
   • mGBA will be installed in Program Files and added to Start Menu
2. Portable ZIP:
   • Download the portable ZIP archive
   • Extract the ZIP file to your desired location
   • Run mGBA.exe directly from the extracted folder
   • No installation required

macOS

For macOS users, you can install mGBA using:

1. DMG Installation:
   • Download the DMG disk image from the official website
   • Open the DMG file
   • Drag mGBA.app to your Applications folder
   • Launch mGBA from Applications
2. Homebrew:

   brew install mgba

Linux

For Linux users, multiple installation methods are available:

1. AppImage (Universal):
   • Download the AppImage file
   • Make it executable: chmod +x mGBA-*.AppImage
   • Run directly: ./mGBA-*.AppImage
2. Snap:

   sudo snap install mgba

3. Flatpak:

   flatpak install flathub io.github.mgba_emulator.mgba

4. Distribution Packages:
   • Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install mgba
   • Fedora: sudo dnf install mgba
   • Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S mgba

Android

1. Install from Google Play Store (recommended)
2. Or download APK from the official website and install manually
3. Grant necessary permissions when prompted
4. Launch mGBA from your app drawer

iOS

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad
2. Search for "mGBA"
3. Tap Install to download and install
4. Launch mGBA from your home screen

First Launch

After installation, follow these steps for first-time setup:

1. Launch mGBA: Open mGBA from your applications folder, desktop shortcut, or app drawer
2. Verify Graphics: Ensure graphics rendering is working correctly. You should see the mGBA window
3. Check Audio: Load a game and verify audio output is working
4. Configure Controls: Go to Settings → Input to configure keyboard or gamepad controls
5. Set Save Directory: Configure save file location in Settings → Paths

Loading Your First Game

Loading a ROM File

1. Go to File → Load ROM or press Ctrl+O (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+O (macOS)
2. Navigate to your Game Boy Advance ROM file (.gba format)
3. Select the ROM file and click Open
4. The game should start automatically

Supported ROM Formats

• .gba: Standard Game Boy Advance ROM format (primary format)
• .zip: ZIP-compressed ROM files (automatically extracted)

Basic Configuration

Video Settings

Configure video settings for optimal performance:

1. Go to Settings → Video
2. Select rendering backend (OpenGL, Vulkan, Direct3D 11, or Metal)
3. Adjust resolution scaling (1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, or custom)
4. Choose filtering options (LCD simulation, scanlines, bilinear)
5. Click Apply to save settings

Audio Settings

Configure audio output:

1. Go to Settings → Audio
2. Set sample rate (default: 44.1 kHz)
3. Adjust buffer size for audio quality vs. latency
4. Set volume level (0-200%)

Input Configuration

Configure keyboard or gamepad controls:

1. Go to Settings → Input
2. Select input type (Keyboard or Gamepad)
3. Click each button to remap controls
4. Configure hotkeys for save states and other functions
5. Save your configuration

Using Save States

mGBA supports save states for instant saving at any point:

• Quick Save: Press F1-F10 to save to one of 10 available slots
• Quick Load: Press Shift+F1-F10 to load from a save state slot
• Save State Menu: Go to File → Save State to save to a specific slot
• Load State Menu: Go to File → Load State to load from a specific slot

Next Steps

Now that you have mGBA installed and configured, you can:

• Read the Technical Documentation Overview for detailed information
• Explore Advanced Configuration for more options
• Learn about Lua Scripting API for automation
• Check the Troubleshooting Guide if you encounter issues

Related Articles

For more information, explore these related guides:

• Advanced Configuration Guide - Deep dive into advanced settings and optimization techniques
• Configuration API Reference - Programmatic configuration options and settings management
• Performance Tuning Guide - Optimize emulation performance for your hardware
• Troubleshooting Guide - Solutions to common issues and problems