Desktop App¶
NX Redux also runs as a desktop app on macOS (Apple Silicon) and Linux (x86_64) — the same launcher, tools, and bundled libretro cores as the handheld build, in a window on your computer.
Experimental
The desktop build is experimental. It is packaged alongside every release but gets far less testing than the device builds, and some rough edges are expected. Device releases are never affected by desktop issues — if something breaks here, your handheld is fine.
Download & install¶
Grab the desktop artifact for your OS from the releases page:
| OS | File |
|---|---|
| macOS (Apple Silicon) | NXRedux-<version>-macos-arm64.zip |
| Linux (x86_64) | NXRedux-<version>-x86_64.AppImage |
macOS — unzip and move NXRedux.app wherever you like. The app is not
code-signed, so macOS blocks the first launch:
- Double-click the app. macOS shows a warning that it could not verify the app; close that dialog (do not choose Move to Trash).
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and scroll down to the
Security section. There is a notice that
NXReduxwas blocked; click Open Anyway and confirm. - Launch the app again. From now on it opens normally with a double-click.
Linux — make the AppImage executable (chmod +x NXRedux-*.AppImage) and
run it. If it refuses to start, your distribution may be missing FUSE 2
(libfuse2); either install it or run the AppImage with
--appimage-extract-and-run.
On first launch the app creates its data folder at ~/NXRedux with the same
layout as an SD card — put your games in Roms/ and BIOS files in Bios/
using the usual per-system subfolders (e.g. Roms/Game Boy Advance (GBA)/),
then restart the app or refresh the list. Saves, states, and settings all
live under this folder too, so it is the only thing you need to back up.
Keyboard controls¶
The default keyboard layout mirrors RetroArch's, so it should feel familiar:
| Key | Button |
|---|---|
| Up Down Left Right | D-pad |
| X | A |
| Z | B |
| S | X |
| A | Y |
| Q | L1 |
| W | R1 |
| E | L2 |
| R | R2 |
| Enter | Start |
| Right Shift | Select |
| Space | Menu (in-game menu / shortcuts) |
| Backspace | Power |
Volume, display brightness, wifi networking and bluetooth are handled by your computer, not by the app — the device volume/brightness shortcuts do not apply here.
External controllers¶
Plug in (or pair) any controller SDL recognizes as a game controller — Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and most generic USB/Bluetooth pads work. Hot-plugging is supported: connect or disconnect at any time, including mid-game. One controller is active at a time.
The mapping follows button position, matching the handheld layout:
| Controller | Button |
|---|---|
| D-pad | D-pad |
| Right face button | A |
| Bottom face button | B |
| Top face button | X |
| Left face button | Y |
| Shoulders | L1 / R1 |
| Triggers | L2 / R2 (digital past half-pull) |
| Stick clicks | L3 / R3 |
| Back / Select | Select |
| Start | Start |
| Guide / Home | Menu |
| Select + Start together | Menu |
The left stick works as true analog in cores that support it and doubles as a D-pad in menus; the right stick is passed through to cores as analog only.
macOS reserves the Home button
Recent macOS intercepts the controller's Guide/Home button system-wide to open the Games app, and offers no way to remap it. Use Select + Start pressed together instead — it opens the menu without involving the Home button, and the game never sees the two buttons held.
Netplay¶
Netplay works in the desktop build. When a game supports it, the game list
shows the Y NETPLAY hint; press Y to Host or Join a session. The
flow is the same as on the handhelds — see the Netplay page.
Two things are specific to desktop:
- It connects over your existing network only — there is no hotspot option. On the handhelds one device can host a Wi-Fi hotspot for the other; on the desktop that is intentionally left out, because managing a computer's Wi-Fi hotspot cleanly across both macOS and Linux is more trouble than it's worth. Both players simply need to be on the same network — Wi-Fi or Ethernet, either works.
- Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 netplay are not available, because those systems run on standalone emulators the desktop build doesn't include yet (see Limitations). Netplay for the bundled libretro cores — including Game Boy and Game Boy Advance link — works normally.
Limitations¶
- Systems that use standalone emulators on the handhelds — Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Nintendo DS — are not included in the desktop build yet. Everything running on a bundled libretro core is. Bringing these standalone emulators (and their netplay) to the desktop is something we plan to explore in the future.
- Device-specific settings (display hardware, audio routing, Bluetooth, LED control, boot logo) are hidden — the host OS owns those.
- Sleep/power management is intentionally disabled; quit from the window close button like any desktop app.