Introduction: 🎮 How to Install Batocera on Orange Pi Zero 3 and Zero 2W

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Looking to turn your compact Orange Pi board into a retro gaming console? Batocera is a lightweight Linux-based operating system designed for retro gaming emulation — and now it runs well on small boards like the Orange Pi Zero 3 and Orange Pi Zero 2W.

In this guide, I'll walk you through how to install Batocera, configure it, and start playing your favorite retro games.

Supplies

What You’ll Need

  1. Orange Pi Zero 3 or Orange Pi Zero 2W
  2. MicroSD card (16GB or more recommended)
  3. Power supply (5V/2A, via USB-C or micro-USB)
  4. HDMI adapter (for Zero 3, use USB-C to HDMI or expansion board)
  5. USB keyboard/gamepad
  6. Wi-Fi network
  7. Computer to flash the image

Step 1: Download the Batocera Image

Batocera now supports the Orange Pi Zero 3 and Zero 2W with test or community builds.

  1. Visit: https://mirrors.o2switch.fr/batocera/orangepi-zero3/stable/rc/
  2. Download the latest .img file available for your board.
✅ Note: The image for Zero 3 generally works on the Zero 2W due to similar Allwinner SoC architecture.


Step 2: Flash the SD Card

Download: https://balena.io/etcher

Open Etcher

Click “Flash from file” → select Batocera .img

Select your SD card → click “Flash!”

Step 3: Boot Up Batocera

Insert the flashed SD card into your Orange Pi.

Connect it to a display, keyboard, and controller.

Power it on.

Batocera should boot automatically — the splash screen and UI will load after a few seconds.

Step 4: Set Up Wi-Fi

Use your keyboard to navigate to the Main Menu > Network Settings

Enter your Wi-Fi network name and password.

Wait for it to connect — now you're online and ready for updates or scraping metadata.

Step 5: Add Games

Once Batocera is connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet, it gets a local IP address on your network.

🖥️ To Find Your Local IP in Batocera:

  1. From the Batocera main menu, go to:
  2. Main Menu > Network Settings
  3. Look for the line labeled "IP Address"
  4. It will look something like: 192.168.1.105 or 192.168.0.123
✏️ Write down this IP address! You'll use it to connect from your PC or Mac.

🗂️ Access Batocera File System from Your Computer

💻 On Windows:

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. In the address bar, type:
  3. \\192.168.x.x (replace with your actual IP)
  4. Press Enter — you should see Batocera's shared folders (roms, bios, etc.)

🍏 On macOS:

  1. In Finder, press Cmd + K
  2. Type:
  3. smb://192.168.x.x
  4. Connect, and browse the shared folders.

📁 What You Can Do via Network Access:

  1. Copy ROMs to appropriate system folders (/roms/nes, /roms/snes, etc.)
  2. Upload missing BIOS files to /bios
  3. Change or upload custom themes under /userdata/themes


Step 6: Performance & Tips

  1. Performance: Smooth for NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis. N64 and PSP may struggle.
  2. Cooling: These small boards can overheat. Use a small heatsink or case with passive airflow.
  3. Bluetooth: Zero 2W Bluetooth generally works better but Wi-Fi limit distance
  4. you should turn off wifi if you use speaker bluetooth. Expect add game


Step 7: ❗ Known Issues

  1. Some PS1 games lag
  2. Audio out may require HDMI or specific settings
  3. Bluetooth pairing slower but work

Step 8: Final Thoughts

Using Batocera on the Orange Pi Zero 3 or 2W is an awesome way to repurpose small SBCs for retro gaming — and it’s entirely open-source. Performance won’t rival a Pi 5, but it’s a fun and cost-effective project, especially for emulating older 8/16-bit systems.

If you're looking for a cheap, compact, and silent emulation box — this is a great weekend project.

Step 9: Credit

reddit:click me