Frequently asked questions

WebEmu is a free browser-based emulator. It lets you play classic video games from consoles like the NES, Game Boy, PlayStation, and more, directly in your browser, with nothing to download or install.

No. You can go to any console page, drop a ROM file, and play immediately without signing in. An account is only needed if you want to use the Collection feature, which saves your game library so you can find your games quickly next time.

A ROM is a digital copy of a game cartridge or disc. Each console uses a specific file type, for example, NES games are .nes files, Game Boy Advance games are .gba files, and PSP games are .iso files. You need to provide your own ROM files to play.

Go to Consoles, pick the system your game is for, then either drag your ROM file onto the page or paste a direct URL to the file. Hit Launch and the game will start loading.

Keyboard controls are shown on each console page before you launch a game. If you have a controller plugged in, it will be detected automatically, just plug it in before launching. Most standard USB and Bluetooth controllers work out of the box, XINPUT is recommended for compatibility, morever if your controller doesn't work, just replug it and it will get detected.

Move your mouse to the bottom of the screen while playing to reveal the controls bar. Click Save State to save your exact position. You can reload it later with Load State. Note that save states are downloaded as files, so keep them somewhere safe if you want to use them again, this is not the case for more higher end consoles, however it is just as intuitive.

Rewind lets you go back a few seconds in the game, useful if you made a mistake. Hold R on your keyboard to rewind. Fast Forward speeds the game up, hold Space to use it. These features are available on the classic systems (NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, Game Gear, Game & Watch), and for modern systems, keybinds are shown through emulatorjs.

Click the fullscreen button in the top right corner of the screen while a game is running, or press F11. Press Escape to exit the game entirely and return to the launcher.

Yes. Move your mouse to the bottom of the screen while playing to reveal the controls bar. The volume slider is on the right side, drag it to adjust, however for older system, where nostalgist.js is used, hover in the bottom and you can see the volume rocker.

Your ROM files are stored locally in your browser, on your device only. They are never uploaded to any server. Your game list (names, systems, cover art) is saved to your account so it appears when you log in, but the actual game files stay on your device.

This happens when you sign in on a new device or a different browser. Your game list is restored from your account, but the ROM files only exist on the device you originally used. Click Add ROM file on that game card and re-select the file to play it on this device.

Yes. On the Collection page, click Import Folder and select a folder from your computer. WebEmu will scan it for ROM files, automatically detect the console for most file types, and show you a list to review before importing. You can skip any games you don't want to add.

Click your profile picture in the top right of the Collection page. You can upload any image from your device. It will be saved to your account and appear on all devices you sign into. This is available for email accounts — Google accounts use your Google profile photo by default.

WebEmu supports 10 systems: NES, Super NES, Game Boy / GBC / GBA, Game & Watch, Genesis / Mega Drive, Game Gear, PlayStation, PSP, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo DS.

Classic systems (NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, Game Gear, Game & Watch) run at full speed with near-perfect compatibility. Nintendo DS and PlayStation work well for most games. Nintendo 64 and PSP are more demanding and may run slower on older or lower-powered devices, but for most modern systems, you shouldn't have any issues.

Chrome, Edge, or Brave give the best performance, especially for heavier systems like PSP and N64. Firefox works too but may be slightly slower on 3D games. Safari is not recommended for PSP or N64.

The site loads on mobile but it is designed primarily for desktop use with a keyboard and controller. Classic systems may work on mobile if you have a Bluetooth controller. Touch controls are not currently supported.

The emulator software itself is legal. ROM files are a different matter, you are responsible for ensuring you have the legal right to use any ROM you load. Many regions allow personal backups of games you own. WebEmu does not host or distribute any ROM files.

If you create an account, your email address, display name, and game list are stored in Firebase. Your ROM files never leave your device. WebEmu does not run ads, does not sell data, and does not track your activity.