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This guide follows the current Cemu 2.6 workflow. It does not cover downloading copyrighted game files from unauthorized sources: Cemu’s supported setup is based on game data dumped from your own Wii U.
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What you need before installing Cemu
- A Windows, Linux, or supported macOS computer. macOS support is experimental.
- A Wii U console if you need to dump games, updates, DLC, saves, or online files.
- A FAT32-formatted USB drive or SD card for Dumpling. Use a 32 KB (32768-byte) allocation unit; for devices larger than 32 GB, the current Cemu guide recommends guiformat.
- A compatible controller. Nintendo Switch controllers, DualShock 4, and DualSense controllers can provide motion input through SDLController; Xbox controllers provide standard button input but not motion controls through this method.
Cemu compatibility is not universal. Some Wii U games do not work, some boot but later crash, and compatibility can change after Cemu or GPU-driver updates. Compatibility-list entries may also be out of date, so treat them as guidance rather than a guarantee.
Install the latest Cemu release
The official repository currently lists Cemu 2.6 as its latest release. Download it from the official Cemu releases page. Cemu is distributed as a ZIP archive rather than a conventional installer.
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- Extract the ZIP archive to a permanent folder.
- Choose a location that does not require administrator privileges. Avoid
Program Filesand similar protected directories. - On Windows, right-click the Cemu executable and choose Properties.
- Open Compatibility, enable Disable full-screen optimizations, and select Change high DPI settings.
- Enable Use this setting to fix scaling problems for this program instead of the one in settings.
- Enable Override high DPI scaling behaviour. Scaling performed by: Application, then click Apply and OK.
Since Cemu 2.1, there is one release channel instead of separate experimental releases. In Cemu’s update settings, you can choose whether to receive cutting-edge updates immediately or after a delay. New installations use non-portable mode by default. To make Cemu portable, create a folder named portable beside the Cemu executable. Cemu also provides File → Open Cemu folder and File → Open MLC folder shortcuts for locating its files.
Complete the first-launch setup
On first launch, Cemu opens the Cemu quickstart guide. Use this sequence:
- Create an
mlc01folder in a safe location with enough free space. - Leave the Game path field blank. The current workflow installs games into Cemu rather than relying on a manually configured game-directory path.
- Click Download community graphic packs.
- Click Next.
- Do not configure input yet; click past that step.
- Enable Automatically check for updates, or leave it disabled if you prefer to update manually through the Help menu.
- Click Close.
Community Graphic Packs can add higher resolutions and frame rates, anti-aliasing improvements, color or bloom changes, and game modifications. They are configured later on a per-game basis.
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Dump your Wii U games with Dumpling
The current Cemu setup guide requires a Wii U and a FAT32 USB storage device or SD card for dumping. Dumpling creates decrypted dumps, so those files do not require CDecrypt, encryption keys, or a keys.txt file.
Launch Dumpling
- Turn on the Wii U. Do not allow the console to format the USB device.
- Load the Wii U account intended for online use.
- Open the top-left avatar, enable Save password?, then return to the Home Menu.
- Insert the game disc if you are dumping a disc.
- Insert the FAT32 USB device or SD card.
- Open the Wii U Internet Browser and visit dumplingapp.com.
- Tap Launch Dumpling.
If the Wii U freezes for more than 10 seconds after Dumpling starts, hold the Power button for four seconds, reboot, reset the browser’s saved data, and try again.
Choose what to dump
- Game disc: choose Dump a game disc, verify the Wii U account, and select Start.
- Online files: choose Dump files to use Cemu online, verify the account, and select Start.
- Friend List and other applications: choose Dump Wii U applications (e.g. Friend List, eShop etc.), select Friend List, press +, and select [Confirm].
Dumpling organizes game content into folders such as Games, Updates, and DLC. Keep these categories separate; do not merge updates or DLC into the base-game directory.
Install a game, update, or DLC in Cemu
- In Cemu, choose File → Install game title, update or DLC.
- In the file picker, open the Dumpling
Games,Updates, orDLCfolder. - Open the relevant title folder, then its
metafolder. - Select
meta.xml. - Allow Cemu to install the content automatically.
Use the installation command for updates and DLC. Do not choose File → Load for update or DLC content; treating those files as the base game can cause startup failures. Do not merge their files into the base-game folder to save space. According to the current troubleshooting guidance, that can break the base game and require a redump and replacement of the game data.
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Downloading eShop content through Cemu
Cemu also supports downloading eShop titles directly through its Download Manager:
- Choose Tools → Download Manager.
- Select the account and click Connect.
- Right-click the desired title and click Download.
- Repeat the process for its updates and DLC.
On Linux, update or DLC installation can fail through the normal picker. The current guide says affected users may need to extract the title directly into mlc01/usr/title.
Important: Breath of the Wild needs its update
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild requires its latest game update to function properly in Cemu. Without it, you may see A System update is required or a white/yellow screen after Open your eyes....
Configure a controller
- Open Options → Input settings.
- Set Emulated controller to Wii U GamePad.
- Click the Controller field.
- Set API to SDLController.
- Select your physical controller and map its buttons.
- Enter a controller profile name and click Save.
If the controller does not appear, try a different controller API. To add another input device, click the + button beside the Controller field. This is useful for using two Joy-Cons or combining a normal controller with a phone that supplies motion input.
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Choose graphics and performance settings
Open Options → General settings → Graphics. The current optimization guidance recommends:
| Setting | Recommended choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics API | Vulkan | It generally runs faster than OpenGL and supports asynchronous shader compilation. |
| Graphics Device | Your most powerful GPU | Important on systems with integrated and discrete GPUs. |
| Windows VSync | Match emulated display (Experimental) | Recommended for the standard setup. |
| Async shader compiler | Enabled | Reduces shader-compilation pauses when supported by the driver. |
| Windows audio API | XAudio2 | Current recommended Windows audio setting. |
If you use a variable-refresh-rate display such as G-SYNC, set VSync to Off instead of Match emulated display (Experimental).
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Async shader compilation requires a GPU driver supporting Vulkan 1.2 or newer; Vulkan 1.1 is not sufficient. Temporary graphical errors are expected while shaders compile, and some shaders or pipelines can still cause short stalls.
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Why Cemu stutters after an update
Cemu rebuilds shader and Vulkan pipeline caches after a Cemu update or GPU-driver update because the previous cache is no longer valid. Stuttering during the first play sessions is therefore expected. Cemu builds these caches as the game runs; a shader cache cannot be completely generated in advance. Downloadable precompiled caches exist, but their coverage is incomplete.
For Vulkan, shader caches are independent of game region, while pipeline caches are tied to the region that generated them. Do not disable shader or pipeline caching to eliminate stutter: doing so would produce a black screen. If the cache-creation notification is distracting, disable it at Options → General settings → Overlay.
Steam’s Shader Precaching can conflict with Cemu’s Async Shader Compile and cause missing graphics or models. Disable Steam’s Shader Precaching for Cemu and avoid third-party launchers when starting Cemu.
Transfer a Wii U save
- Right-click the game in Cemu.
- Click Save directory.
- On the SD card or USB device, open
dumpling/Saves/[Game Title]. - Copy the save contents into the directory opened by Cemu.
Use online features with Pretendo
Nintendo’s Wii U servers have shut down, so Cemu cannot use the original Nintendo online service. Online play currently requires the alternative Pretendo service.
You need a working Pretendo PNID configured on your Wii U and online files dumped from that Wii U with Dumpling.
Install the dumped online files
- In Cemu, choose File → Open Cemu folder.
- Copy
otp.binandseeprom.binfrom/dumpling/Online Filesinto the Cemu folder. - Choose File → Open MLC folder.
- Copy the
sysandusrfolders from/dumpling/Online Files/mlc01into Cemu’smlc01folder. - Overwrite files when prompted.
Enable Pretendo
- Open Options → General settings.
- Open the Account tab.
- Read the warning text.
- Check Pretendo.
You can select Offline to disable online functionality. A custom online service can be selected with the custom option when its network_services.xml file is placed in the Cemu folder.
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Do not use mods, cheats, or hacks online. Do not share online files, and do not use the same account simultaneously on the Wii U and Cemu; the current guide warns that these actions can lead to a temporary or permanent ban. Reformatting or selling the Wii U can unlink the PNID and prevent further Cemu online access until the account is relinked and the required files are obtained again.
Troubleshoot the most common Cemu problems
Cemu is stuck on “Loading…” or crashes to the desktop
- Open Task Manager and click More details.
- Open the Details tab.
- Confirm that
Cemu.exeis not still running in the background. - Close it if necessary, then restart Cemu.
A corrupted shader cache can also prevent startup. Close Cemu, temporarily rename its shaderCache folder, and test again so Cemu can generate a new cache. If the problem affects only one title, the base-game, update, or DLC dump may be incomplete or corrupt. Redump the affected content; reinstalling game data does not affect saves.
Vulkan is missing, crashes, or cannot start a game
Use the latest Cemu version, a GPU supporting Vulkan 1.1 or newer, and current NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel drivers. Symptoms can include Cemu crashing when opening General settings, no Vulkan option appearing, a missing GPU in the device list, a crash when selecting Vulkan, or an immediate game crash.
On a dual-GPU system, make sure both the integrated GPU/APU and discrete-GPU drivers are current. If normal driver updates do not resolve the problem, the current troubleshooting guide says reinstalling both sets of drivers with DDU may be necessary.
The controller produces “Can’t initialise DirectInput”
Unplug the controller, restart Windows, wait until Windows has fully booted, and reconnect the controller. For normal Cemu configuration, also try SDLController or another available controller API if the device is not detected.
The file picker crashes
Crashes in File → Load or File → Install game title, update or DLC can be caused by third-party Windows shell or taskbar customization software, missing Intel Optane/RST software on supported systems, or a damaged Windows installation. Temporarily remove or update shell-customization utilities and check the Windows installation if the problem persists.
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Quick Recap
Useful Cemu features
- Game List context menu: right-click a game to copy its title ID, name, or icon, or delete that game’s shader cache.
- Title-ID launching: use the
--title-idcommand-line option to launch a specific title. - Folder shortcuts: use File → Open Cemu folder and File → Open MLC folder instead of hunting through Windows Explorer.
- Graphic Packs: use community packs for resolution, frame-rate, visual, and game-specific changes, while remembering that modifications can affect compatibility.
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