03 quickstart

03 — Quickstart

Install, first launch, Easy Mode, folder structure, launching a first game. Related: 01 — Overview · 05 — Configuration

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 or 11 (x64 or ARM64 — native ARM64 builds are provided).
• .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (the app targets net10.0-windows, runtime 10.0.2).
• Dokan (optional but recommended) — required for on-the-fly mounting of .iso, .xiso, .zip, and universal CHD mounting. The app detects Dokan and shows a specific message when it is missing.
• A writable folder for the app (the launcher refuses to run from a temp folder and detects non-writable installs).
• Your own emulators and ROMs (the launcher ships none).

Install

1. Download the latest release zip (release_{version}_{rid}.zip, rid = win-x64 or win-arm64) from the GitHub releases page.
2. Extract to a folder (e.g. C:\SimpleLauncher). Do not run from a temporary/Downloads extraction folder.
3. Run SimpleLauncher.exe.

On first launch the app:

1. checks required files and folder writability;
2. scans installed storefront games (Steam, Epic, GOG, …) into a "Microsoft Windows" system — this is skipped if systems already exist;
3. if still no systems, shows the welcome message and opens Easy Mode (or you can close it and use Expert Mode).

Folder structure

SimpleLauncher/
├── SimpleLauncher.exe
├── appsettings.json, mame.dat, parameters.md, WhatsNew.md
├── audio/                     UI sound effects (click, notification, shutter, trash)
├── emulators/                 recommended place for emulators
├── images/
│   ├── systems/               system logos for the selection screen
│   └── [SystemName]/          game cover art
├── roms/[SystemName]/         default game location per system
├── title_snapshots/ gameplay_snapshots/ videos/ manuals/ walkthrough/
│   └── [SystemName]/          additional media (context menu → View Media)
├── cabinets/ carts/ flyers/ pcbs/   arcade media folders
├── tools/                     bundled utilities (see 11 — Bundled Tools)
├── samples/                   emulator config templates
└── resources/                 language strings

Data files (settings.xml, system.xml, favorites.dat, playhistory.dat, …) live next to the exe (portable mode) or in %LocalAppData%\SimpleLauncher\ — see 05 — Configuration.

Easy Mode (guided setup)

1. Edit System → Easy Mode.
2. Pick a system from the dropdown (presets contain recommended settings + download links).
3. Optionally choose a ROMs folder (blank → SimpleLauncher\roms\[SystemName]).
4. Download Emulator (and Download Core for RetroArch, Download Image Pack optionally) — downloads show progress and can be stopped.
5. Add System — saves the configuration to system.xml and creates the default folders.

Expert Mode (manual)

Edit System → Expert Mode opens the full system.xml editor: system name, multiple ROM folders, image folder, formats, extract-before-launch, group-by-folder, and up to 5 emulators with parameters. Path fields support the placeholders %BASEFOLDER%, %SYSTEMFOLDER%, %EMULATORFOLDER%, %ROM%, %NAME%, %ROMSYSTEMFOLDER% (see 05 — Configuration and 18 — Emulator Parameters).

Launching your first game

1. Select a system on the system-selection screen.
2. Pick an emulator in the emulator dropdown (or use the system's default).
3. Double-click a game (or single-click + Launch) — compressed archives are extracted or mounted automatically per the system's settings (see 06 — Systems & Launch).

Where to find help

• Emulator parameters per system: parameters.md in the app folder (also shown via the Help pane in Edit System) — see 18 — Emulator Parameters.
• Update history: Help → Update History (WhatsNew.md).
• Bugs/support: the built-in Support Window or the GitHub issues.
• Debug logs: see 13 — Logging & Debug.

Related docs

• 01 — Overview
• 05 — Configuration
• 06 — Systems & Launch
• 08 — UI Layer