How to Download mGBA Emulator for Windows, Mac, Linux, and More
If you are a fan of retro gaming, you might have heard of mGBA, one of the best emulators for Game Boy Advance games. mGBA is a fast, accurate, and easy-to-use emulator that lets you play your favorite GBA games on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Wii, and PlayStation Vita. In this article, we will show you how to download and install mGBA on your device of choice.
Downloading mGBA for Windows
Windows users have two options to download mGBA: a portable .7z archive or an installer .exe file. Both options are available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You can download them from the official website or from the links below:
download m gba
Choosing the right version of mGBA for Windows
The portable .7z archive is a compressed file that contains the executable and all the necessary files to run mGBA. You can extract it anywhere on your computer and run it without installing anything. This is useful if you want to keep your emulator settings and saves in one place, or if you want to use mGBA on multiple computers without installing it every time.
The installer .exe file is a program that will guide you through the installation process of mGBA. It will create a shortcut on your desktop and add an entry to your Start menu. It will also associate .gba files with mGBA, so you can open them directly by double-clicking them. This is useful if you want to integrate mGBA with your system and have easy access to it.
The 32-bit and 64-bit versions refer to the architecture of your processor. Most modern computers have a 64-bit processor, which can run both 32-bit and 64-bit programs. However, some older computers have a 32-bit processor, which can only run 32-bit programs. To find out which version you need, you can check your system information or use this online tool. Generally speaking, the 64-bit version is recommended if your processor supports it, as it may offer better performance and compatibility.
Installing mGBA on Windows
If you downloaded the portable .7z archive, you will need a program like to extract the archive. Once you have extracted it, you can run mGBA.exe to launch the emulator. You can also create a shortcut to it on your desktop or anywhere else for convenience.
If you downloaded the installer .exe file, you just need to run it and follow the instructions on the screen. You can choose where to install mGBA and whether to create a desktop shortcut or not. Once the installation is complete, you can run mGBA from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.
Downloading mGBA for Mac
Mac users can download mGBA as a .dmg file, which is a disk image that contains the application bundle. You can download it from the official website or from the link below:
Choosing the right version of mGBA for Mac
The .dmg file is compatible with macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or later. If you have an older version of macOS, you may need to use an older version of mGBA or try another emulator. You can check your macOS version by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left corner and selecting About This Mac.
Installing mGBA on Mac
To install mGBA on Mac, you need to open the .dmg file and drag the mGBA icon to the Applications folder. This will copy the application bundle to your system. You can then run mGBA from the Applications folder or create a shortcut to it on your dock or desktop.
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Downloading mGBA for Linux
Linux users have several options to download mGBA, depending on their distribution and preference. You can download a .tar.xz archive, a .deb package, a .rpm package, a Flatpak package, or a Snap package. You can also use your package manager to install mGBA from your distribution's repository, if available. You can download these options from the official website or from the links below:
Choosing the right version of mGBA for Linux
The .tar.xz archive is a compressed file that contains the executable and all the necessary files to run mGBA. You can extract it anywhere on your computer and run it without installing anything. This is useful if you want to keep your emulator settings and saves in one place, or if you want to use mGBA on multiple computers without installing it every time.
The .deb package is a software package that can be installed on Debian-based distributions, such as Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS, etc. You can install it using your graphical package manager or using the command line with dpkg or apt.
The .rpm package is a software package that can be installed on Red Hat-based distributions, such as Fedora, CentOS, openSUSE, etc. You can install it using your graphical package manager or using the command line with rpm or yum.
The Flatpak package is a software package that can be installed on any Linux distribution that supports Flatpak, which is a universal app platform. You can install it using your graphical package manager or using the command line with flatpak.
The Snap package is a software package that can be installed on any Linux distribution that supports Snap, which is another universal app platform. You can install it using your graphical package manager or using the command line with snap.
Installing mGBA on Linux
If you downloaded the .tar.xz archive, you will need a program like to extract the archive. Once you have extracted it, you can run ./mGBA in a terminal to launch the emulator. You can also create a shortcut to it on your desktop or anywhere else for convenience.
If you downloaded the .deb package, you can install it by double-clicking it and following the instructions on the screen. Alternatively, you can open a terminal and enter sudo dpkg -i .deb or sudo apt install ./.deb, where is the name of the downloaded file. This will install mGBA on your system and create a shortcut in your applications menu. You can then run mGBA from there or create a shortcut to it on your dock or desktop.
If you downloaded the .rpm package, you can install it by double-clicking it and following the instructions on the screen. Alternatively, you can open a terminal and enter sudo rpm -i .rpm or sudo yum install ./.rpm, where is the name of the downloaded file. This will install mGBA on your system and create a shortcut in your applications menu. You can then run mGBA from there or create a shortcut to it on your dock or desktop.
If you downloaded the Flatpak package, you can install it by double-clicking it and following the instructions on the screen. Alternatively, you can open a terminal and enter flatpak install .flatpak, where is the name of the downloaded file. This will install mGBA on your system and create a shortcut in your applications menu. You can then run mGBA from there or create a shortcut to it on your dock or desktop.
If you downloaded the Snap package, you can install it by double-clicking it and following the instructions on the screen. Alternatively, you can open a terminal and enter snap install .snap, where is the name of the downloaded file. This will install mGBA on your system and create a shortcut in your applications menu. You can then run mGBA from there or create a shortcut to it on your dock or desktop.
Downloading mGBA for Other Platforms
mGBA is also available for some other platforms, such as Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Wii, and PlayStation Vita. These platforms require some additional steps and tools to run mGBA, as they are not officially supported by the emulator. You can also download the source code of mGBA and compile it yourself, or use the development builds of mGBA and medusa, which are experimental versions of the emulator with new features and bug fixes.
Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Wii, and PlayStation Vita
To run mGBA on these platforms, you will need to have a homebrew-enabled device, which means that you have modified your device's firmware to allow running unofficial software. This process varies depending on your device and model, and may involve some risks of bricking your device or voiding your warranty. Therefore, we do not recommend doing this unless you know what you are doing and are willing to take full responsibility for any consequences. You can find more information about homebrewing your device on websites like .
Requirements and limitations of mGBA on homebrew platforms
Once you have a homebrew-enabled device, you will need to download the appropriate version of mGBA for your platform from the official website or from the links below:
You will also need to have some GBA games in .gba format to play with mGBA. You can either dump them from your own cartridges using a device like , or download them from online sources (which may be illegal depending on your country's laws).
Keep in mind that running mGBA on these platforms may have some limitations in terms of performance, compatibility, features, and stability. For example, some games may run slower than normal, some may have graphical glitches or sound issues, some may not work at all, and some features like save states or cheats may not be available or functional. These limitations are due to the hardware and software differences between these platforms and the original GBA hardware.
How to install and run mGBA on homebrew platforms
The installation and running process of mGBA varies depending on your platform and homebrew method. Here are some general steps that may apply to most cases:
Copy the downloaded file of mGBA to your device's SD card or internal memory using a USB cable or a card reader.
Copy your GBA games to your device 's SD card or internal memory using a USB cable or a card reader. You can create a folder named mGBA or GBA to organize your games.
Launch your homebrew launcher or menu on your device and select mGBA from the list of applications. If you don't see mGBA, you may need to refresh or scan your SD card or internal memory for new applications.
Once mGBA is running, you can use the menu to load your GBA games and start playing. You can also adjust the settings, such as video, audio, input, and emulation options, to suit your preferences.
Source code and development builds
If you are interested in the development of mGBA, or if you want to try the latest features and bug fixes before they are officially released, you can download the source code or the development builds of mGBA and medusa. Medusa is a fork of mGBA that aims to support more platforms, such as Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Nintendo DS.
How to get the source code of mGBA
The source code of mGBA is hosted on GitHub, where you can view, download, clone, fork, or contribute to it. You can also report issues, request features, or submit pull requests there. To download the source code, you can either use the button on GitHub, or use the git command line tool with the following command:
git clone
To compile the source code, you will need some tools and libraries, such as CMake, Qt5, SDL2, zlib, libpng, libzip, etc. The exact requirements and instructions vary depending on your platform and configuration. You can find more information on how to build mGBA from source on the .
How to use the development builds of mGBA and medusa
The development builds of mGBA and medusa are pre-compiled binaries that are updated regularly with the latest changes from the source code. They are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, 3DS, Switch, Wii, and Vita. You can download them from the official website or from the links below:
To use the development builds, you just need to extract them and run them as you would with the stable releases. However, keep in mind that these builds are experimental and may have bugs, crashes, or compatibility issues that are not present in the stable releases. Therefore, we do not recommend using them for regular gaming or replacing your stable version with them. You should always backup your saves and settings before using them.
Conclusion and FAQs
mGBA is a great emulator for Game Boy Advance games that supports a wide range of platforms and features. It is fast, accurate, easy-to-use, and constantly updated by its developer and community. In this article, we have shown you how to download and install mGBA on various platforms, such as Windows, Mac , Linux, and other homebrew platforms. We have also explained how to get the source code and the development builds of mGBA and medusa, if you are interested in the development of the emulator. We hope that this article has helped you to enjoy your GBA games with mGBA.
Here are some FAQs that you may find useful:
Q: How do I load and play GBA games with mGBA?
A: To load and play GBA games with mGBA, you need to have the game files in .gba format on your device. You can either dump them from your own cartridges or download them from online sources. Then, you can use the File menu or the Load ROM button to browse and select the game file. The game will start automatically and you can use your keyboard, mouse, or controller to play.
Q: How do I save and load my game progress with mGBA?
A: To save and load your game progress with mGBA, you have two options: in-game saves and save states. In-game saves are the same as saving on a real GBA, where you use the game's own save feature (usually from a menu or a checkpoint). These saves are stored in .sav files in the same folder as your game files. Save states are snapshots of the emulator's state at any point, which you can create and load using the emulator's menu or keyboard shortcuts. These saves are stored in .ss# files in the same folder as your game files.
Q: How do I customize the settings and options of mGBA?
A: To customize the settings and options of mGBA, you can use the Settings menu or the Tools menu to access various categories, such as video, audio, input, emulation, bios, enhancements, etc. You can change things like window size, fullscreen mode, filters, shaders, sound volume, controller mapping, frame rate, cheats, etc. You can also use the Config menu to save and load different configurations for different games or platforms.
Q: How do I use cheats with mGBA?
A: To use cheats with mGBA, you need to have cheat codes for your game in .cht format. You can either create them yourself or download them from online sources. Then, you can use the Tools menu or the Cheats button to open the cheat manager. There, you can add, edit, enable, disable, or delete cheats for your game. You can also import or export cheat files from or to your device.
Q: How do I update mGBA to the latest version?
A: To update mGBA to the latest version, you need to download the new version from the official website or from this article and replace your old version with it. You can also use the Help menu or the Check for Updates button to check if there is a new version available and download it automatically. However, this feature may not work on some platforms or versions.
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