You can build Dolphin for Linux using Ubuntu’s Linux build instructions, but that is not the same as building Dolphin’s separate Nintendo Switch application target. Official documentation does not confirm a working end-to-end Dolphin setup for Ubuntu running on Switch hardware, so treat installation and game performance as experimental rather than guaranteed.
First, distinguish the two Dolphin build targets
This guide concerns Ubuntu or another Linux environment running on Nintendo Switch hardware, with Dolphin launched as a Linux application. Dolphin also documents a separate build target for software that runs as a Nintendo Switch application. The latter requires devkitPro, libnx, and the Switch CMake toolchain; those are not automatically required when compiling the Linux version inside Ubuntu. Dolphin’s upstream README documents these as separate build paths.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con - Handheld Gaming Console | $323.72 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con (Renewed) | $194.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Nintendo Switch Lite - Turquoise | $229.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Nintendo Switch – Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con (Renewed) | $200.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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The distinction matters because the existence of a Switch-targeted build does not demonstrate that the Linux build works well on a Switch Linux image. Dolphin’s official materials do not identify a supported Ubuntu-on-Switch image or verify a particular kernel, graphics driver, or game configuration.
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| Route | Best suited to | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Official Linux Flatpak | Readers who want a packaged release or development build without compiling Dolphin themselves. | Whether the specific Ubuntu image supports Flatpak and its runtime. Official Linux ARM64 downloads exist, but that alone does not establish compatibility with Switch hardware. |
| Compile from source | Readers who need to modify, inspect, or troubleshoot a build and can provide the current compiler and dependencies. | Follow Dolphin’s current Linux guide for the Ubuntu release in use; generic Linux build steps have not been tested as a Switch-specific recipe. |
| Native Nintendo Switch target | Readers intentionally building a Switch application, rather than running Dolphin as a Linux program. | Use the distinct devkitPro/libnx setup and Switch CMake toolchain documented upstream. |
Dolphin’s download page lists official Linux x86_64 and aarch64 Flatpak builds. The aarch64 package is relevant to ARM Linux in general, but the listing does not prove that a Switch’s Linux image, drivers, or hardware environment can run Dolphin successfully. The page identifies release 2609 as the September 2026 release and says development builds appear several times daily; development versions are less tested than releases. See Dolphin’s official download page.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Check your Ubuntu release before installing
Dolphin’s Linux build guide warns that Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (and older) uses an APT package described as a highly outdated 2016 build and advises against installing Dolphin Emulator from APT on those versions. Use the project’s official Flatpak instructions where the image supports them, or compile from source using the current guide. Read the official Linux build guide.
For source builds, confirm that the Ubuntu release provides the dependencies and a compiler capable of building the current code. Dolphin’s guide notes that a compiler too old for C++23 must be replaced or selected explicitly; it gives Ubuntu 20.04 as an example where a newer GCC or Clang may need to be chosen manually. Do not assume that package availability or compiler defaults are identical across Ubuntu images.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
Generic upstream Linux source-build procedure
The following is Dolphin’s documented generic Linux sequence, not a recipe verified on Nintendo Switch hardware. Consult the current Linux guide for the dependencies and prerequisites that match your Ubuntu release before running it.
- Obtain the Dolphin source tree and enter its directory, following the upstream README’s source setup instructions.
- Initialize the source submodules:
git submodule update --init - Create and enter a build directory, then configure with CMake:
mkdir Build,cd Build,cmake .. - Compile using the available processor count:
make -j $(nproc) - Optionally install system-wide with
sudo make install. Skip this if you do not want a system installation; confirm the install target and permissions are appropriate for your environment.
Dolphin’s upstream README recommends a recent GCC or Clang compiler and describes CMake as required for non-Windows builds. Its Linux commands explain the general build flow, but they do not establish that the Switch’s Linux image has the necessary drivers or resources for a usable Dolphin session. Consult the upstream README and source repository.
Rank #3
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
What is—and is not—established about running games
The official sources establish that Linux ARM64 packages are available and that Dolphin can be built for Linux; they do not establish compatibility with a specific Switch Ubuntu image. They also do not document a tested graphics-driver stack, name supported Switch revisions, or publish game-by-game performance results for Ubuntu on Switch. Compatibility and speed therefore remain unknown for a particular setup until tested on that setup. Avoid treating the ARM64 package listing or generic Linux build instructions as proof that a game will launch or run acceptably.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Rank #4
- Compact, lightweight handheld system
- Available in a range of fun colors
- Online and local wireless multiplayer
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
- Identify the exact Ubuntu image and release, Switch model or revision, and CPU architecture before choosing an installation route.
- Confirm Flatpak/runtime support or the source-build dependencies and compiler on that image.
- Use Dolphin’s Linux instructions for a Linux application; use the separate devkitPro/libnx path only when building a native Switch application.
- Test the specific game and graphics configuration on the actual system; official documentation reviewed here does not provide a validated compatibility matrix.
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