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A keyboard and mouse are useful for particular Batocera setup tasks and mouse-driven games, but they are not required for every game—and support depends on the emulator and title. Use the guidance below to choose the right input, understand controller hotkeys, and diagnose missing games or launch and control problems.
When do you need a keyboard and mouse with Batocera?
It depends on what you are doing. Batocera documents a keyboard and mouse as necessary for some system-specific setup and configuration tasks, not as a universal requirement for playing games.
- ScummVM configuration: Batocera’s ScummVM documentation says a mouse and keyboard are required for configuration.
- Sega Model 2: Batocera’s Model 2 documentation calls for a keyboard and mouse when configuring controls or using the emulator’s service menu.
- Mouse-driven applications: Some Flatpak applications are designed around mouse-and-keyboard input and may only work when those peripherals are connected. See the Flatpak documentation for app-specific notes.
- Controller-oriented games: Many games can be played with a gamepad, so a mouse may not be needed at all.
These requirements apply to the named systems and applications; they do not establish that every keyboard, mouse, wireless receiver, or Bluetooth device will work. The cited documentation does not provide a universal pairing procedure or compatibility guarantee for wireless peripherals.
Can you play without a mouse?
Often, yes. The game’s intended controls determine whether a mouse is necessary. For ScummVM point-and-click adventures, mouse input is the expected way to interact, but Batocera notes that the left analog stick can act as a cursor alternative in many games. It also says most games configure automatically, while some need a per-game pad-to-keyboard profile created from the game’s menu. Check the ScummVM system page for the relevant setup details.
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For another emulator or a Steam title, check that system’s documentation and the individual game’s controls rather than assuming that keyboard or mouse input is supported—or that a gamepad will substitute cleanly.
What are Batocera’s controller hotkeys?
Batocera’s common shortcut pattern is to hold the configured controller hotkey while pressing another button. The exact commands and their availability vary by emulator, so treat the examples as common mappings, not a universal list. Batocera’s controller shortcuts documentation describes mappings such as:
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- Hotkey + Start to exit to the menu.
- Hotkey + a face button to open an emulator menu, when that emulator supports it.
- Hotkey + other buttons for functions such as saving or loading states, where available.
The hotkey is commonly the controller’s Home or Guide button. If your controller has no dedicated Home/Guide button, Batocera recommends using Select. Avoid assigning the hotkey to Start or another button you use frequently: Batocera warns that mapping it to Start can cause the associated command to trigger immediately. See the controller configuration guide to configure your controller.
Moonlight keyboard shortcuts
These keyboard combinations apply to Moonlight sessions, not to Batocera games generally. Batocera’s Moonlight documentation lists:
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- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Q: quit the session.
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + X: toggle windowed/full-screen mode.
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z: toggle mouse mode.
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S: toggle performance statistics.
Moonlight instructions differ by release: Batocera v43 and later use Moonlight-QT, while versions up to v42 used Moonlight Embedded. Check the instructions for the version you are running.
Why isn’t my keyboard working in a game?
First identify whether the game is supposed to accept keyboard input. Controls can differ between games in the same system, and a keyboard used for configuration does not necessarily serve as an in-game control device.
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- Look up the game’s system page and confirm its expected input method and controls.
- For ScummVM, check whether that title expects mouse input or needs a per-game pad-to-keyboard profile. Try the left analog stick as a cursor in games where it works.
- For Sega Model 2, launch the ROM, then configure that game’s controls in
model2-config. The Model 2 guide says to press Escape to return from full-screen to windowed mode. - If the issue is in Steam, check the game’s controls and title-specific Proton compatibility reports. Batocera’s Steam documentation suggests validating game content and trying a different Proton version for some launch problems; neither step guarantees that a title will work.
How do you use the Sega Model 2 service menu?
Model 2 uses specific keyboard controls for service-menu navigation. After launching a ROM, press Escape to return from full-screen to windowed mode; press F2 to open the service menu, F1 to navigate, and F2 to confirm. Configure game-specific controls in model2-config after the ROM has been launched. The steps are specific to Model 2, not general Batocera shortcuts; see its system documentation.
Why isn’t my game showing up in the menu?
A missing entry is usually a game-list or file-format issue to check before investigating custom configuration. Follow Batocera’s troubleshooting guide:
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- Refresh the game list from Game Settings.
- Confirm the game is in a file format accepted by that system. Use Batocera’s compatibility chart and system documentation to check supported formats.
- If the game still does not appear, review any custom EmulationStation system or feature configuration and custom scripts, which can affect the menu.
Batocera systems appear in the menu when games have been added for them. A refresh will not make an unsupported file format compatible.
Why won’t a Flatpak launch?
Flatpak problems have several possible causes; the following are troubleshooting branches, not guaranteed fixes. Consult the Flatpak documentation for the application in question.
Quick Recap
- The app expects mouse and keyboard: Connect the input devices if the application is designed for them.
- The app is stored on a NAS: Batocera’s documentation says Flatpaks currently do not work on a NAS.
- The app may be blocked by its sandbox: Test whether it needs to run outside the sandbox, following the app-specific guidance.
- The menu entry may be stale: Refresh the game list and check that the application is listed correctly.
Which input should you use?
| Task or game type | Likely input | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| ScummVM configuration | Mouse and keyboard | Batocera documents both as required for configuration. |
| ScummVM point-and-click game | Mouse; left analog stick may substitute in many games | Some games need a per-game pad-to-keyboard profile. |
| Sega Model 2 setup or service menu | Keyboard and mouse for setup; keyboard for documented service-menu commands | Configure controls in model2-config after launching the ROM. |
| Controller-oriented game | Usually a gamepad | Check the game’s system page for controls and any emulator-specific shortcuts. |
| Steam game | Depends on the title | Check the game’s controls, Proton reports, and the Proton version in use. |
| Mouse-and-keyboard-oriented Flatpak | May require mouse and keyboard | Check app requirements, storage location, and sandbox behavior. |
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