ES-DE on Android Guide: My Favorite Launcher!

This guide will walk you through the setup and configuration of my favorite Android frontend: EmulationStation Desktop Edition (ES-DE). In addition to configuring it for your Android handheld, phone, or tablet, we'll also scrape media, launch Android apps and games, create custom configurations, and more.

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Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
00:54 key ES-DE features
03:06 initial setup and installation
05:34 first configuration
08:08 adding your games
09:17 setting up emulators
13:39 custom systems
15:50 integrating Android apps
18:44 configuring themes
21:57 scraping boxart
26:34 cleaning up scraped media
31:42 Android app media
32:57 set as home launcher
34:06 custom collections
36:36 transfer ES-DE between devices
38:41 summary and conclusion

Theme song written by Jim Gray of Our Ghosts:

^^ use code "RGC10" for 10% off your order

This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

#EmulationStation #ESDE #Android #AndroidGaming #retroid #odin2

[RetroGameCorps]

One note: if you try to pull up a PSP game and get a black screen, this is a known issue (and a bug in Android). Open up PPSSPP, go to the Games tab, then tap on the "Browse" button (it has a folder icon), which will bring up your Files browser. Browse to the root of your SD card, then go to ROMs > psp and select "Use this Folder" and confirm. That should reset the file location and allow games to launch from ES-DE.

[ES-DE_Frontend]

Thanks for the great video! Two comments though, placing the ES-DE application data directory on an SD card leads to performance issues on some devices, so if ES-DE starts or runs very slowly it's a good idea to move this folder to internal storage instead. And launching native Android apps and games has actually been supported in ES-DE as of the 3.0.2-21 release, meaning ES Applauncher is only needed for importing your apps and games and not for launching them. I anyway plan to add a built-in import tool in a future version, hopefully for the 3.2.0 release.

[racingaerials]

I'm no front end gang, but I do have one rule.

Russ uploads video, I watch video.

[cal]

Dad: hey son, the new RGC video just dropped wanna watch it?

Me: yeah man, i wanna do it

[jordansoodsma]

Just bought my RG406V when it came out. It will be my first retro handheld. This is perfectly timed to help me. Thanks Russ!

[michaelbrown]

Thanks Russ, another great video. Will come back to this when my RP5 eventually arrives!

[ftlbaby]

Russ, the quality improvements in your guides is astonishing. Pro level tutorial right here. If you sold future guides I would be willing to pay. Two years ago I got so frustrated trying to setup my RP3+ that it has sat in a drawer for two years! I followed your guide and it is working great now. Of course, I realize a part of the frustration was that I do not like the form factor, so I have ordered a couple of devices from your best or '24 recap. Fingers crossed.

[yochrisnelson]

I had JUST given up on tinkering with it on my android handheld 😅 Just when I think I’m out, Russ pulls me back in

[ryecatcher]

I am loving this crazy handheld adventure and Russ is our Sherpa!

[sendoh]

I'll definitely use and re-visit this guide for when my RP5 arrives in November

[dudubenabou]

Such an amazing job man. Thank you for another amazing guide.

I would add (if i may) after you have all your rom folder that you actually have games in them. It is recommended to delete all other folders that are empty. It makes es-de scan folders faster. 😁

[DarrellBell]

The ES Applauncher trick to get images for Android apps was the thing I needed. Thank you, sir.

[Man_of_Oil]

Yessss, this launcher breathed new life into my RP2S after using Daijisho for so long. Im a big fan of it, I used an old video guide of yours to set that up and it works amazing.

[devarionarias]

I love ES-DE and have been using it on all my reto game devices. Well worth supporting! Thanks for the guide, Russ.

[svenbtb]

I finally got my RP5 today! Will definitely be following this to help me get things all set up, thank you so much for your guides you make!

(and of course for all of your other videos as well, Love your content man)

[ciaranmccarthy]

The ES-DE branding was to differentiate this project from the original Emulation Station, hopefully the title of the video doesn't cause confusion.

[kinjui]

Its just something about your intros that give me a good feeling

[jg]

Definitely my favorite channel for retro handheld information. Im gonna buy a retroid pocket 5 for my birthday 🥳

[aqeelshahid]

Some of the most thorough and helpful I've come across in all of youtube. Thanks

[gamingtyphoon]

Your videos convinced me to buy this frontend and the Odin 2. Should be arriving Monday, and I can’t wait