GameINI

You can configure settings per game through their GameINI. GameINI is a plain text file with game's GameID as its file name and INI as its file extension. It can be retrieved from game's properties; right-click the game from game list then choose Properties from the context menu, then click on the Edit Config button and edit the empty text file that pops up. When editing, carefully arranged line, headings, and capitalization are important.

For controller settings, go to GameINI (Controller Settings).

Properties Window

These are settings you can update GameINI directly from the game properties window.

• Enable Dual Core - controls #Dual Core
• Enable MMU - controls #Memory Management Unit (MMU)
• Skip DCBZ clearing - controls #DCBZ
• Enable FPRF - controls #Floating-point Result Flag
• Synchronize GPU thread - controls #Synchronize GPU Thread
• Speed up Disc Transfer Rate - controls #Speed Up Disc Transfer Rate
• DSP HLE emulation (fast) - controls #DSP HLE
• Deterministic dual core - controls #Dualcore Determinism
• Stereoscopy Depth Percentage - controls StereoDepthPercentage in #Stereoscopic 3D Offset Settings
• Convergence - controls StereoConvergence in #Stereoscopic 3D Offset Settings
• Monoscopic Shadows - controls StereoEFBMonoDepth in #Stereoscopic 3D Offset Settings

[Core]

The following entries go under [Core] (or [Dolphin.Core]) section of the GameINI.

Dual Core

• CPUThread = True or False to enable and disable "Dual Core" mode respectively.

Graphics Backend

• GFXBackend = D3D to set the video backend to Direct3D 11.
• GFXBackend = D3D12 to set the video backend to Direct3D 12. Direct3D 12 was removed in 5.0-3774 then reintroduced in 5.0-9878, this setting will do nothing during this interval.
• GFXBackend = OGL to set the video backend to OpenGL.
• GFXBackend = Vulkan to set the video backend to Vulkan.
• GFXBackend = Metal to set the video backend to Metal (macOS only).
• GFXBackend = Software Renderer to set the video backend to Software.
• GFXBackend = Null to set the video backend to Null(no output).

CPU Emulator Engine

• CPUCore = 0 to set the CPU emulator engine to "Interpreter".
• CPUCore = 1 to set the CPU emulator engine to "JIT x64".
• CPUCore = 2 to set the CPU emulator engine to "JITIL". Removed (will do nothing) in 5.0-3792 and later.
• CPUCore = 4 to set the CPU emulator engine to "JIT ARM64".
• CPUCore = 5 to set the CPU emulator engine to "Cached Interpreter".

Floating-point Result Flag

• FPRF = True or False to enable and disable "Floating-point Result Flag" calculation respectively.

DSP HLE

• DSPHLE = True or False to enable and disable "DSP HLE" respectively.

If DSP HLE is disabled, DSL LLE will be used, it will use either DSP LLE recompiler or DSP LLE interpreter based on your general Dolphin settings, or see #DSP Emulator Engine. More information at Audio Emulation.

Emulation Speed (formerly Framelimit)

• EmulationSpeed = 0.000000000 will set it to "unlimited".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.100000001 will set it to "10%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.200000003 will set it to "20%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.300000012 will set it to "30%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.400000006 will set it to "40%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.500000000 will set it to "50%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.600000024 will set it to "60%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.699999988 will set it to "70%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.800000012 will set it to "80%".
• EmulationSpeed = 0.900000036 will set it to "90%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.00000000 will set it to "100%", as in normal emulation speed.
• EmulationSpeed = 1.10000002 will set it to "110%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.20000005 will set it to "120%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.30000007 will set it to "130%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.39999998 will set it to "140%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.50000000 will set it to "150%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.60000002 will set it to "160%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.70000005 will set it to "170%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.80000007 will set it to "180%".
• EmulationSpeed = 1.89999998 will set it to "190%".
• EmulationSpeed = 2.00000000 will set it to "200%".

CPU Overclock

Implemented in 5.0-2302 and later.

• OverclockEnable = True or False to enable and disable "CPU Overclock" respectively.
• Overclock = 1.0 translates to "100%" CPU clock. The value of Overclock can be any float, and it acts as a multiplier; 0.5 is 50%, 1.0 is 100%, 1.5 is 150%, 2.0 is 200%, etc.

Memory Override

• RAMOverrideEnable = True or False to enable and disable "Emulate Memory Size Override" respectively.
• MEM1Size = 0x01800000 size in bytes in hex or decimal.
• MEM2Size = 0x04000000 size in bytes in hex or decimal.

Synchronize GPU Thread

SyncGPU is a speed hack for dual core mode to allow games to get around dual core glitches without having to use single core. Usually not much faster than single core mode.

• SyncGPU = True or False to enable and disable the "Synchronize GPU thread" respectively. Even with this setting set to false, Dolphin will still synchronize the threads during idle skipping.

On Android, the Synchronize GPU thread setting instead provides three choices. To set the same configurations through the GameINI (which also works on non-Android versions) use:

• SyncGPU = True and SyncOnSkipIdle = True for "Always"
• SyncGPU = False and SyncOnSkipIdle = True for "On idle skipping"
• SyncGPU = False and SyncOnSkipIdle = False for "Never"

GPU Overclock

• SyncGpuOverclock= 1.0 translates to "100%" GPU clock. The value of Overclock can be any float, and it acts as a multiplier; 0.5 is 50%, 1.0 is 100%, 1.5 is 150%, 2.0 is 200%, etc. This setting has an effect only if SyncGPU is enabled or, since 5.0-683, if Dual Core is disabled.

Speed Up Disc Transfer Rate

Accelerates the emulated disc speed, removing any loading emulation.

• FastDiscSpeed = True or False to enable and disable the "Speed up Disc Transfer Rate" respectively.

Dualcore Determinism

• GPUDeterminismMode = fake-completion or none to enable and disable "Deterministic dual core" respectively. GPUDeterminismMode = auto will only enable "Deterministic dual core" during Netplay or movie recording/playback.

Memory Management Unit (MMU)

• MMU = True or False to enable and disable the "Memory Management Unit" respectively.

DCBZ

Will do nothing in 5.0-8482 and later.

• DCBZ = True or False to enable and disable "Skip DCBZ Clearing" respectively.

Progressive Scan

• ProgressiveScan = True or False to enable and disable "Progressive Scan" respectively.

GameCube Language

Implemented in 5.0-2023 and later.

• GameCubeLanguage = 0 for English or Japanese, depending on the region of the console/game.

Choose a number for the language you want from the list below:

0 = English/Japanese
1 = German
2 = French
3 = Spanish
4 = Italian
5 = Dutch

GameCube Slots

Implemented in 5.0-15842

• SlotA = 8 for GCI Folder. Choose a number from below list to change what is in Slot A.
• SlotB = 255 for Nothing. Choose a number from below list to change what is in Slot B.

0 = Dummy
1 = MemoryCard
4 = Microphone
7 = Gecko
8 = GCI Folder
9 = Advance Game Port
255 = Nothing

Set the full path to the memory card file.

• MemcardAPath = pathtoslotAfile
• MemcardAPath = pathtoslotBfile

Set the full path to the GCI Folder (since 5.0-17900).

• GCIFolderAPath = gcifolderApath
• GCIFolderBPath = gcifolderBpath

GameCube Serial Port

Implemented in 5.0-15842

• SerialPort1 = 255 for nothing. Choose a number below which type of Broadband Adapter you are using.

5  = Broadband Adapter (TAP)
10 = Broadband Adapter (XLink Kai)
12 = Broadband Adapter (Built In)

• BBA_MAC = MAC to set the Ethernet MAC address.

• BBA_XLINK_IP = 127.0.0.1 to set the IP address of the PC/device where XLink Kai is running.

• BBA_BUILTIN_DNS = IPADDRESS the DNS server to use for the builtin adapter

Wii Configuration

• PAL60 = True to enable EuRGB60 or False to disable.
• WiiSDCard = True to enable Wii SD/SDHC Card or False to disable.
• WiiSDCardAllowWrites = True to allow SDCard writes or False to disable.

[Controls]

See GameINI (Controller Settings)

[Video_Settings]

The following entries go under [Video_Settings] (or [Graphics.Settings]) section of the GameINI.

Internal Resolution

Values starting from 0 represent the drop down order in the list that dolphin uses.

• InternalResolution = 0

To increase the maximum available resolutions in the UI, you can set:

• MaxInternalResolution = 9

(the default is 8)

Shader Compilation

• ShaderCompilationMode = 0

0 = Specialized (Default)
1 = Exclusive Ubershaders
2 = Hybrid Ubershaders
3 = Skip Drawing

Compile Shaders Before Starting

• WaitForShadersBeforeStarting = True or False to enable and disable "Compile Shaders Before Starting" respectively.

Texture Cache Accuracy

Controls the "Texture Cache Accuracy" setting, shown as a slider in the GUI.

• SafeTextureCacheColorSamples = 0 → Texture Cache Accuracy "Safe", the left most option on the slider.
• SafeTextureCacheColorSamples = 512 → Texture Cache Accuracy "Middle", the middle option on the slider.
• SafeTextureCacheColorSamples = 128 → Texture Cache Accuracy "Fast", the right most option on the slider.

GPU Texture Decoding

• EnableGPUTextureDecoding = True or False to enable and disable "GPU Texture Decoding" respectively.

Aspect Ratio

Values starting from 0 represent the drop down order in the list that dolphin uses.

• AspectRatio = 0 is auto, assigned based on what the emulated console indicates.
• AspectRatio = 1 to force the aspect ratio to 16:9.
• AspectRatio = 2 to force the aspect ratio to 4:3.
• AspectRatio = 3 to set the aspect ratio to "Stretch to window".

Widescreen Hack

Separates the aspect ratio rendered by the game from the one displayed in the game window. Use #Aspect Ratio options in addition to this setting.

• wideScreenHack = True or False to enable and disable the "Widescreen Hack" respectively.

Anti-Aliasing

• MSAA = 0 will set it to the top of the list value which is "None". "2x", "4x", "8x" samples would need 2, 4, 8 to be used respectively.
• SSAA = True or False will toggle between "SSAA" and "MSAA" respectively. The amount of samples used for SSAA will depend on the MSAA value above.

External Frame Buffer

Will do nothing in 5.0-5874 and later. Use #XFB copies and #Immediate XFB instead.

• UseXFB = True or False to enable and disable "External Frame Buffer" respectively. Virtual or Real will be set according to what you have set it last at the general settings. To control it use together the line below:
• UseRealXFB = True or False to enable "Real XFB" or "Virtual XFB" respectively.

Fast Depth Calculation

• FastDepthCalc = True or False to enable and disable "Fast depth calculation" respectively.

Per-Pixel Lighting

• EnablePixelLighting = True or False to enable and disable "Per-Pixel Lighting" respectively.

Disable Fog

• DisableFog = True or False to enable and disable "Disable Fog" respectively.

Load Custom Textures

• HiresTextures = True or False to enable and disable "Load Custom Textures" respectively.

Prefetch Custom Textures

• CacheHiresTextures = True or False to enable and disable "Caching custom textures to RAM on startup".

Crop to 4:3 or 16:9

• Crop = False or True to crop the picture from native aspect ration to 4:3 or 16:9.

Cull Vertices on the CPU

• CPUCull = True or False to enable and disable "Cull Vertices on the CPU" respectively.

[Video_Enhancements]

The following entries go under [Video_Enhancements] (or [Graphics.Enhancements]) section of the GameINI.

Anisotropic Filtering

Values starting from 0 represent the drop down order in the list that dolphin uses.

• MaxAnisotropy = 0 will set it to the top of the list value of 1x equivalent of disabling it. 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x would need 1, 2, 3, 4 to be used respectively.

Force Texture Filtering

As of 5.0-18025 the option changed. Valid values are: 2 for linear, 1 for nearest and 0 for no filtering.

• ForceTextureFiltering = 2 will set forced linear filtering.

For older builds, which at the time of writing includes beta 5.0-17995, use the following.

• ForceFiltering = True or False to enable and disable "Force Texture Filtering" respectively.

Post-processing Effects

This option will only work with the OpenGL and Vulkan backend on versions before 5.0-9638. Use the names listed in the drop down menu of the option, below we use sepia as an example.

• PostProcessingShader = sepia, also you can put the name of your preferred shader here.

Force 24-Bit Color

• ForceTrueColor = True or False to enable and disable "Force 24-Bit Color" respectively.

Disable Copy Filter

• DisableCopyFilter = True or False to enable and disable "Disable Copy Filter" respectively.

Arbitrary Mipmap Detection

• ArbitraryMipmapDetection = True or False to enable and disable "Arbitrary Mipmap Detection" respectively.

OutputResamplingMode

 Default = 0,
 Bilinear = 1,
 BSpline = 2,
 MitchellNetravali = 3,
 CatmullRom = 4,
 SharpBilinear = 5,
 AreaSampling = 6,

[Video_Hacks]

The following entries go under [Video_Hacks] (or [Graphics.Hacks]) section of the GameINI.

EFB Copies

• EFBToTextureEnable = True or False to enable "EFB to Texture" and "EFB to Ram" respectively.

Scaled EFB Copy

• EFBScaledCopy = True or False to enable and disable "Scaled EFB Copy" respectively.

Skip EFB Access From CPU

• EFBAccessEnable = True or False to disable and enable "Skip EFB Access From CPU" respectively. Beware that it has the opposite behavior of the GUI option!

Ignore Format Changes

• EFBEmulateFormatChanges = True or False to disable and enable "Ignore Format Changes" respectively. Beware that it has the opposite behavior of the GUI option!

Bounding Box

• BBoxEnable = True or False to enable and disable "Bounding Box" calculation respectively.

Vertex Rounding

• VertexRounding = True or False to enable and disable "Vertex Rounding" respectively.

XFB copies

• XFBToTextureEnable = True or False to enable "XFB to Texture" and "XFB to Ram" respectively.

Immediate XFB

• ImmediateXFBEnable = True or False to enable and disable "Immediate XFB" respectively.

Skip Presenting Duplicate Frames

• SkipDuplicateXFBs = True or False to enable and disable "Skip Presenting Duplicate Frames" respectively.

Defer EFB copies to RAM

• DeferEFBCopies = True or False to enable and disable "Defer EFB Copies to RAM" respectively.

Defer EFB Cache Invalidation

• EFBAccessDeferInvalidation = True or False to enable and disable "Defer EFB Cache Invalidation" respectively.

Manual Texture Sampling

• FastTextureSampling = True or False to disable and enable "Manual Texture Sampling" respectively. Beware that it has the opposite behavior of the GUI option!

[Video_Hardware]

The following entries go under [Video_Hardware] (or [Graphics.Hardware]) section of the GameINI.

V-Sync

• VSync = True or False to enable and disable "V-Sync" respectively.

[Video_Stereoscopy]

The following entries go under [Video_Stereoscopy] (or [Graphics.Stereoscopy] although that is currently bugged, see here) section of the GameINI.

Stereoscopic 3D Offset Settings

• StereoDepthPercentage = 100 Percentage to multiply with the depth value of StereoDepth in #Stereoscopic 3D Settings.
• StereoConvergence = 0 Base convergence value to be multiplied with the percentage value of StereoConvergencePercentage in #Stereoscopic 3D Settings.
• StereoEFBMonoDepth = True or False to enable and disable "Monoscopic Shadows" respectively.

Stereoscopic 3D Mode

Values starting from 0 represent the drop down order in the list that dolphin uses.

• StereoMode = 0

Stereoscopic 3D Settings

• StereoDepth = 20 Separation distance between the virtual cameras.
• StereoConvergencePercentage = 100 Distance of the convergence plane.
• StereoSwapEyes = True or False to enable and disable "Swap Eyes" respectively.

[DSP]

The following entries go under [DSP] (or [Dolphin.DSP]) section of the GameINI.

Audio Backend

• Backend = No audio output
• Backend = ALSA
• Backend = Cubeb
• Backend = Pulse
• Backend = OpenAL
• Backend = OpenSLES
• Backend = WASAPI (Exclusive Mode)
• Backend = XAudio2 This option was removed in 5.0-10950 and later for many reasons, Dolphin will try to use Cubeb instead.

DSP Emulator Engine

• EnableJIT = True or False for "LLE recompiler" and "LLE interpreter" respectively. This is when #DSP HLE is disabled.

Volume

• Volume = 100, values starting from 0 up to 100 max are valid.

[Wii]

Wii System Language

Implemented in 5.0-2023 and later.

• Language = 1 for English

Choose a number for the language you want from the list below:

0 = Japanese
1 = English
2 = German
3 = French
4 = Spanish
5 = Italian
6 = Dutch
7 = Simplified Chinese
8 = Traditional Chinese
9 = Korean

Wii Aspect Ratio

Set the Wii Aspect Ratio to 4:3 or 16:9

• Widescreen = True for 16:9 or False for 4:3

[Dolphin.BluetoothPassthrough]

Enable

• Enabled = True or False to Enable or Disable bluetooth passthrough.

See also

• Forum Thread