Dolphin Guide

Guide Author: Credit to the guide authors in each section

This guide provides comprehensive instructions for setting up and using Dolphin UWP, the GameCube and Wii emulator, on an Xbox Series S/X in Developer Mode. It covers initial setup, file transfers, Netplay, optional resources (saves, cheats, textures), troubleshooting, and advanced topics.

Important Notices (Read Before Proceeding):

• Read the Guides: Before asking for help, thoroughly read the #dev-mode-guide channel (presumably in a Discord server) and the USB tutorial in #app-guides if using USB storage. If you’re still stuck, ask for help in #support.
• Dolphin PC is Recommended: Think of the PC version of Dolphin as an extended settings menu for Dolphin UWP. While not strictly required, Dolphin PC is extremely useful (and sometimes necessary) for many features and configurations. This guide assumes basic familiarity with Dolphin PC. A powerful PC is not required for this.

Initial Setup - USB (Recommended)

This method uses a USB drive for storing games and Dolphin’s user data.

Adding Games

1. Open Dolphin Settings: On your Xbox, launch Dolphin UWP. Press the Select/View button on your controller to open the Dolphin settings menu.
2. Add Game Path: Select “Add Path”.
3. Choose Game Location: Navigate to where your games are stored on your USB drive. The guide suggests the following structure:
   • E:\Games\Nintendo - GameCube
   • E:\Games\Nintendo - Wii

Setting the User Folder

The User Folder is where Dolphin stores important files like:

• Texture Packs
• Controller Configurations
• AR/Gecko Codes (Cheats)
• Box Art

1. Create Dolphin Folder: On your USB drive, create a folder at the root level (e.g., E:\) named Dolphin.

2. Open Dolphin Settings: Launch Dolphin UWP and press Select/View to open the settings.

3. Set User Folder Path: Go to “Paths & Folders” > “Add Path” and select the Dolphin folder you just created.

4. Automatic Folder Creation: The first time you launch a game, Dolphin will automatically create its necessary subfolders (like Load, Config, GC, Wii) inside the User Folder you specified.

Initial Setup - Internal (Not Recommended)

WARNING: Using internal storage is strongly discouraged due to its limitations (30GB) and the risk of undeletable files if the app is uninstalled incorrectly (requiring a factory reset). However, if you don’t have a Windows PC to format a USB drive, this is your only option.

Adding Games

1. Connect via FTP: Use Durango FTP (see #app-guides for instructions) to connect to your Xbox from your PC.

2. Create Game Folder: Navigate to: LocalFolder\[FULLNAME]\LocalCache. Replace [FULLNAME] with the actual full name of the Dolphin UWP application folder (see “How to find the FULLNAME of Dolphin” below). Inside LocalCache, create a new folder to store your games.

3. Add Games: Copy your game files into the folder you just created.

4. Set Game Path in Dolphin: Launch Dolphin UWP, press Select/View, select “Add Path”, and choose the folder where you placed your games.

Setting the User Folder

1. Create Dolphin Folder: Using Durango FTP, navigate to LocalFolder\[FULLNAME]\LocalCache. Create a new folder named Dolphin.

2. Set User Folder Path: Launch Dolphin UWP, press Select/View, go to “Paths & Folders” > “Add Path”, and choose the Dolphin folder you just created.

3. Automatic Folder Creation: Dolphin will automatically create its subfolders inside this Dolphin folder.

   • list_ui.png (UI overlay for list view)
   • carousel_ui.png (UI overlay for carousel view) * Optional Files:
   • carousel_background_wii.png (Wii tab)
   • carousel_background_gamecube.png (GameCube tab)
   • carousel_background_other.png (Other tab)
   • carousel_background_list.png (List screen)
   • carousel_background_netplay.png (Netplay screen)

Note: A known glitch might replace the background with box art. Close and relaunch Dolphin to fix.

FAQs

How do I change settings on Dolphin?

• Main Menu: Press Start/Menu on your controller to access the Settings menu for most settings.
• Dolphin PC/dolphin.ini: For settings not available in the main menu, use Dolphin PC and copy the User Folder, or manually edit the dolphin.ini file.
  • Helpful link: https://wiki.dolphin-emu.org/index.php?title=GameINI_

How do I access my localstate/user folder in Dolphin?

• Use ADV File Explorer or Durango FTP on your Xbox.
• See the #app-guides channel for instructions.

How do I get games for Dolphin?

• Legally Dump Games: You must dump games from a hacked Wii, Wii U, or GameCube console.
  • https://wii.guide/dump-games
  • https://dolphin-emu.org/docs/guides/ripping-games

What if my question isn’t answered here?

• Read the instructions carefully.
• Ask for help in the Emulation Collective or Revives Community Server Discord servers. Be patient and don’t spam.

Troubleshooting

“The folder path you have selected is not writable!” & Black Screen Fix

Written by GoldenSky#4649

Recommended Method (Automated):

• Use XboxMediaUSB: https://github.com/SvenGDK/XboxMediaUSB/releases

Manual Method:

1. Format USB: Connect your USB drive to your PC and format it as NTFS.
2. Security Tab: Right-click the drive, click “Properties”, and go to the “Security” tab.
3. Permissions:
   • Go to Advanced > Add > Select Principal > Advanced > Find Now.
   • Select “ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES”.
   • Click OK.
   • Tick the “Full Control” box.
   • Click OK.
   • Tick the “Replace all child object permission entries” box.
   • Click OK.
4. Ignore Error: Ignore any error about “System Volume Information”.

How to Fix Settings Resetting

1. Re-do USB Fix: Repeat the USB fix steps above.
2. If Still Not Working:
   1. Create Dolphin Folder: Create a folder named Dolphin on your USB drive.
   2. Reset User Folder: Open Dolphin, go to Settings, reset the User folder, press Select, and quit.
   3. Set User Folder: Open Dolphin, go to Settings, set the User folder to the Dolphin folder you created, press Select, and quit.
   4. Set Game Path: Open Dolphin, go to Settings, set the Game Path to your game directory on the USB, press Select, and quit.
   5. Run Dolphin: Launch Dolphin; it should now work correctly.

How to Fix Games Not Showing Up

• File Format: Ensure games are not zipped or in nkit.iso format. Use RVZ, WBFS, or ISO.
• USB Fix: Make sure you’ve correctly performed the USB fix (T1).
• ROM Integrity: Verify that your ROM is working correctly.

My UI is Lagging; How Do I Fix It?

• Load Cover Art: Scroll left or right until all your game cover art is loaded. This should eliminate the lag.

Fix for Controllers Not Picking Up Correctly

1. Language: Change your console language to English.
2. Update Controller: Update your controller’s firmware.
3. Insider Preview: Quit the Xbox Insider Preview program.

Advanced Guides

How to Get Homebrew Working on Dolphin

The normal Homebrew Channel doesn’t boot by default.

1. Download WAD: Download this WAD file: https://github.com/FIX94/hbc/releases
2. Place in Games Folder: Place the downloaded WAD file in your games folder.
3. Launch WAD: In Dolphin, select and launch the WAD file.

4. Transfer Apps: Transfer your PC-generated WiiSD.raw file to the Load folder in your Dolphin User Folder. Some apps requiring custom iOS patches may not work.

5. GameCube Tab: Go to the “GameCube” tab.
6. Slot A: Set “Slot A” to “Memory Card”.
7. SP1: Set “SP1” to “Broadband Adapter (HLE)”.

How to Dump NAND from Your Wii

• Requirements:
  • Homebrewed Wii with BootMii installed: https://bootmii.org/download/
  • SD card
  • Wii

1. Access BootMii: Launch BootMii through the Homebrew Channel.
2. Navigate: Use a GameCube controller or the Power/Reset buttons (see https://bootmii.org/faq/).
3. Backup NAND: Select “Options” (the gear icon) > “Backup NAND” (the green arrow from chip to SD card).
4. Wait: Wait for the backup to complete.
5. Retrieve NAND: Remove the SD card, insert it into your PC, and you should find a nand.bin file.

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWgMWz77gJM&t=65s

How to Import Wii’s NAND into the Windows Version of Dolphin

1. Import: In Dolphin PC, go to Tools > Import BootMii NAND Backup. Select your nand.bin file.
2. Decrypt: Dolphin will decrypt and unpack the NAND. Device credentials and system files will be extracted automatically.
3. Extract Certificates: Go to Tools > Manage NAND > Extract Certificates from NAND.

How to Get the Wii’s NAND Working on Dolphin UWP

Credit to juntelart#9146 for help

1. Copy Files (PC): On your PC, go to Documents > Dolphin Emulator > Wii and copy everything from that folder.
2. Paste Files (Xbox): On your Xbox, use Durango FTP to navigate to your Dolphin UWP User Folder > Wii. Paste the copied files, replacing existing files if prompted.
3. Edit dolphin.ini Using the Dev Portal on your PC, navigate to LocalAppData > Dolphin > Localstate > Config and download the dolphin.ini file.

4. Add Lines (INI): Open dolphin.ini with a text editor and Add these lines to the dolphin.ini file, replacing AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF with your Wii’s MAC address: If you only want to play online, you can choose to only transfer clientca.pem clientcakey.pem and rootca.pem into the localstate/wii folder. This didn’t work for me personally.

   [General]
   WirelessMac = AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
   

5. Save and Reupload: Save your modified dolphin.ini to your PC, then using the Dev Portal, upload and replace the dolphin.ini back into the LocalState > Config folder on your Xbox.

How to Play Online (Wiimmfi)

1. Patch Games: Patch your game ISOs using a Wiimmfi patcher: https://wiimmfi.de/patcher/
2. Wii NAND: You must have a NAND from a real Wii.

How to Connect to a DSU and Have Motion Controls (WIP)

• See this document for device-specific guides: How to connect different controllers to Dolphin.

How to Make a WiiSD.raw (Homebrew Apps on Dolphin)

1. Dolphin PC: Open Dolphin PC, go to Options > Configuration > Wii.
2. Convert to Folder: Click “Convert File to Folder” in the SD card settings.
3. Locate Files: Go to Documents > Dolphin Emulator > Load. You’ll find the relevant files.
4. WiiSDSync: Go to the WiiSDSync folder.
5. Create Apps Folder: Create an apps folder inside WiiSDSync.
6. Transfer App Files: Place your downloaded app files (e.g., Project+ folder, apps folder, private folder, Boot.elf) into the WiiSDSync folder.
7. Convert to File: In Dolphin PC, go to Options > Configuration > Wii. Click “Convert Folder to File”. This might take a while, and Dolphin might appear to freeze. Wait for it to finish.
8. Transfer WiiSD.raw: Copy the generated WiiSD.raw file to your Dolphin UWP Load folder on your Xbox.

How to Play Super Smash Bros. Brawl Mods on Dolphin

1. Prerequisites:
   • A WiiSD.raw file with the mods installed, transferred to your Load folder.
   • A Homebrew WAD file placed in your games folder.
   • A dumped copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
2. Launch Homebrew WAD: In Dolphin UWP, launch the Homebrew WAD file.
3. Select Mod: You should see your Smash mod in the list.
4. In-Game Settings: Press L3 + R3 to open In-Game Settings.
5. Change Disc: Select “Change Disc”, locate your copy of Smash Bros. Brawl, and select it.
6. Load Mod: Select the mod and load it within the Homebrew environment.

Note: This guide does not apply to G15.

How to Configure Custom Controls for a Specific Game

You need a default controller configuration before using this.

1. Create Controller Config: Create a controller configuration (see “Control Mapping” section).
2. Place Configs:
   • Wii: yourDolphinPath\Config\Profiles\Wiimote
   • GameCube: yourDolphinPath\config\Profiles\GCPad\
3. Rename: Give the file a recognizable name.
4. Multiple Controllers: For multiple controllers, copy and paste the file multiple times, renaming each one (e.g., MyConfig1.ini, MyConfig2.ini).
5. Create GameINI: Create a .ini file and rename it to the Game ID of the game you want to configure.

6. Add Settings (Wii Example): For a Wii game, add and modify these lines (replace Name of config with your actual config file names):

   [Controls]
   WiimoteSource0 = 1
   WiimoteSource1 = 1
   WiimoteSource2 = 1
   WiimoteSource3 = 1
   WiimoteProfile1 = Name of config1
   WiimoteProfile2 = Name of config2
   WiimoteProfile3 = Name of config3
   WiimoteProfile4 = Name of config4
   
   [Core]
   WiimoteContinuousScanning = True
   

   More information on settings

How to Make Riivolution Mods Work

Written by JJRoyale#5840

1. Create Folder: Create a folder on your USB drive for the Riivolution mod files.
2. Extract Mod: Extract the mod contents to the folder you created. Repeat for each mod.
3. Dolphin PC: Open Dolphin PC.
4. Start with Riivolution: Right-click the game to be patched, select “Start with Riivolution Patches” > “Open Riivolution XML”.
5. Select XML: Select the XML file (usually in a folder named riivolution within the mod folder).
6. Save Preset: Click “Save as Preset”, navigate to your Wii games location, and name the preset.
7. Modify XML: Open the generated XML file and change the file path to match the path on your Xbox:
   • Dev Mode: E:\
   • Retail Mode: D:\ (when/if it returns)
8. Launch in Dolphin UWP: In Dolphin UWP, you should see your mod listed.

How to Patch a ROM/Game for a Mod (Example: Super Mario Eclipse)

Written by jpolo1224, edited by JJRoyale

1. Dumped ROM: Start with a dumped ROM of the game you want to mod.
2. Download Patch: Download the patch file for the mod (e.g., an .ips or .xdelta file).
3. Patching Tool:
   • .ips Patches: Use Flips Manager.
   • .xdelta Patches: Use xdelta and xdeltagui.
4. Apply Patch: Use the chosen tool to apply the patch file to your ROM, creating a new, patched ROM. Back up your original ROM.

How to Use Smash Brawl Mods for Netplay without Homebrew (PMEX and similar)

Written by jpolo1224. Redone by Jeen

Prerequisites:

1. Brawl ISO (or WBFS).
2. Dolphin 1.16 installed.

Setting Up Default ISO:

1. Locate dolphin.ini: Navigate to your Xbox Dolphin User Folder > config > dolphin.ini.
2. Add DefaultISO: Under [Core], add this line: DefaultISO= followed by the full path to your Brawl ISO on your Xbox.
   • Simplified Method:
     1. Add your game path on PC Dolphin.
     2. Set Brawl as the default ISO on PC Dolphin.
     3. Boot the game on PC Dolphin.
     4. Close the game.
     5. Go to config, paths in the PC Dolphin User Folder, and copy the DefaultISO path.
     6. Paste this path into your Xbox dolphin.ini file.
     7. Or find it in your PC dolphin.ini.

Downloading PMEX Remix:

1. Visit Website: Visit the PMEX Remix website: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u6aENdnSyDio-CmpNRLg8NXxc8xoYfQh to download the necessary files.

2. Download Launchers: Download the offline and netplay launchers (.elf files). These are for solo/local play and online multiplayer, respectively. You’ll find these in separate folders within the Google Drive.

3. Place Launchers: Place the downloaded .elf files into your games folder on your Xbox (the same folder where you have your Brawl ISO/WBFS). This could be on your USB drive (recommended) or internal storage (not recommended).

4. Obtain SD Card: From the PMEX Remix Dolphin download (likely a .zip or .7z file), find the Wii folder. Inside, there should be a folder named sd. Rename this folder to WiiSD.

5. Replace WiiSD.raw: Replace the existing WiiSD.raw file in your Dolphin UWP Load folder (on your Xbox) with the renamed WiiSD folder you just prepared. This contains the mod’s data.

Launching PMEX Remix:

1. Launch Launcher: In Dolphin UWP on your Xbox, launch the .elf file corresponding to the mode you want:
   • PMEX Offline Launcher: For full game access from the title screen (single-player, local multiplayer).
   • NETPLAY Launcher: For online multiplayer.
2. Enjoy: The modded Super Smash Bros. Brawl should now load.