R36S Setup Guide 2026: From Box to Playing in 5 Minutes
Your iGC R36S ships ready to play — thousands of games are preloaded and the firmware is pre-configured by our Lab team. This guide walks you through everything: unboxing, first boot, navigating ArkOS, using save states and fast forward, adjusting settings, and fixing the most common issues. You'll be playing your first game within 5 minutes of opening the box.
Official iGC Setup Guide · Last updated: July 2026 · For iGC R36S Definitive Edition (ArkOS)
⚡ 5-Minute Quick Start
- Charge for 30 minutes — plug in via USB-C before first use
- Press and hold Power button — 3 seconds to boot
- Wait for EmulationStation — 30–45 seconds to load
- Browse with D-pad — left/right to switch systems, up/down for games
- Press A to launch a game — it starts immediately
- Press Select + R1 to save state — save your progress anytime
📦 What's in the Box
Your iGC R36S Definitive Edition ships with everything you need to start playing immediately:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| R36S Console | Pre-configured by iGC Lab. Screen protector pre-applied. |
| USB-C Charging Cable | Use any USB-C charger (5V/2A recommended). Not included. |
| microSD Card (preloaded) | 64GB or 128GB — already inserted. Do not remove during play. |
| Quick Start Card | Basic button reference. This guide covers everything in detail. |
| Protective Pouch | Soft carry case for storage and travel. |
⚠ Important: Do not remove the microSD card while the R36S is powered on. The preloaded game library is stored on this card. If you need to add games or files, always power off the device first.
⚡ First Boot & Charging
Before First Use — Charge for 30 Minutes
The R36S ships with a partial charge. Before your first gaming session, charge for at least 30 minutes to ensure a stable battery level. Use any USB-C charger at 5V/2A — phone chargers work perfectly.
🔋 Charging Indicators
- Red LED solid — charging
- Red LED off — fully charged
- Battery icon on screen — shows charge level
- Full charge time: ~2.5 hours from empty
- Charge while playing: Yes — USB-C supports this
⚡ Power Controls
- Power ON: Hold Power 3 seconds
- Power OFF: Hold Power 3 seconds → select Shutdown
- Sleep mode: Short press Power
- Wake from sleep: Short press Power
- Force restart: Hold Power 10 seconds
First Boot Sequence
- Hold the Power button for 3 seconds — the iGC boot screen appears
- ArkOS loads — this takes 20–30 seconds on first boot
- EmulationStation launches — the main game browser appears
- You'll see your game systems listed (NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, etc.)
- Use the D-pad to navigate — you're ready to play
✅ First boot tip: The first boot may take slightly longer than subsequent boots as ArkOS indexes your game library. After the first boot, startup time is typically 20–25 seconds.
🎮 Navigating ArkOS & EmulationStation
The iGC R36S runs ArkOS with EmulationStation as the front-end. EmulationStation is the visual game browser you see when you boot up — it organizes your games by system and lets you launch them with a single button press.
EmulationStation Navigation
| Action | Button | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch system | D-pad Left / Right | Cycles through NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, etc. |
| Browse games | D-pad Up / Down | Scrolls through game list |
| Launch game | A button | Starts the selected game |
| Game options | X button | View game info, edit metadata |
| Main menu | Start button | EmulationStation settings |
| Quick search | Select button | Search games by name |
| Jump to letter | R1 / L1 | Skip through alphabetical game list quickly |
In-Game RetroArch Menu
While playing any game, you can access the RetroArch menu for save states, fast forward, settings, and more:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open RetroArch menu | Select + X |
| Quick save state | Select + R1 |
| Quick load state | Select + L1 |
| Fast forward (hold) | Select + R2 |
| Rewind (if enabled) | Select + L2 |
| Screenshot | Select + B |
| Exit to EmulationStation | Select + Start |
🎮 Button Layout & Controls
R36S Button Layout
Face Buttons (Right side)
- A — Confirm / Select
- B — Back / Cancel
- X — Action / Menu
- Y — Action
Shoulder Buttons
- L1 / R1 — Shoulder buttons
- L2 / R2 — Trigger buttons
- L3 / R3 — Analog stick click
Navigation
- D-pad — Directional input
- Left analog — Movement
- Right analog — Camera / secondary
System Buttons
- Start — Pause / Menu
- Select — Hotkey modifier
- Power — On/Off/Sleep
- Volume — Up/Down rocker
✅ Key concept — the Select hotkey: The Select button is the "hotkey modifier" on the R36S. Holding Select and pressing another button activates system functions (save state, fast forward, exit game). You will use Select + R1 and Select + L1 constantly — memorize these two shortcuts first.
💾 Save States — Complete Guide
Save states are the most powerful feature on the R36S. They let you save your exact game state — mid-battle, mid-level, anywhere — and reload it instantly. This is fundamentally different from in-game saves.
Save State Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Save (Slot 0) | Select + R1 | Saves to slot 0 instantly. Screen flashes briefly. |
| Quick Load (Slot 0) | Select + L1 | Loads slot 0 instantly. Returns to exact saved moment. |
| Save to specific slot | Select + X → Save State | Opens RetroArch menu → choose slot 0–9 |
| Load from specific slot | Select + X → Load State | Opens RetroArch menu → choose slot to load |
| Change active slot | Select + X → State Slot | Change which slot Select+R1/L1 uses |
When to Use Save States
✅ Save Before These Moments
- Every legendary Pokémon encounter
- Every gym leader / boss battle
- Every Elite Four attempt
- Before using a one-time item (TM, Master Ball)
- Before a difficult platforming section
- Before any major story decision
- When you need to stop playing mid-level
💡 Pro Save State Strategy
- Use multiple slots — don't overwrite your only save
- Slot 0 = quick save (current session)
- Slot 1 = beginning of current area
- Slot 2 = beginning of current chapter
- Save states do not replace in-game saves
- Use both — in-game save + save state
⚠ Important: Save states are stored on the microSD card. If you remove or replace the microSD card, your save states will be lost. Always use in-game saves as a backup for important progress.
⚡ Fast Forward — Complete Guide
Fast forward speeds up gameplay by 2x–4x. It's one of the most useful features on the R36S — especially for Pokémon grinding, RPG dialogue, and any repetitive game sections.
Fast Forward Controls
| Method | Shortcut | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Hold fast forward | Hold Select + R2 | Fast forward while held, normal speed when released |
| Toggle fast forward | Select + X → Fast Forward Toggle | Stays at fast forward until toggled off |
| Adjust speed | Select + X → Fast Forward Rate | Set to 2x, 3x, or 4x in RetroArch settings |
Best Uses for Fast Forward
| Use Case | Recommended Speed | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon EXP grinding | 4x | 75% less time |
| Pokémon egg hatching | 4x | Hatch in seconds |
| RPG dialogue / cutscenes | 2x | 50% less time |
| Random encounter grinding | 3x | 67% less time |
| Overworld travel | 2x | 50% less travel time |
| Battle animations (Pokémon) | 2x | Battles feel much faster |
⚙️ Recommended Settings
Display Settings
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 60–70% | Maximizes battery life. Bright enough for most environments. |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 (default) | Correct ratio for GBA/SNES/PS1 games. |
| Integer scaling | ON | Eliminates pixel distortion. Sharper image. |
| Shader | None (default) or CRT-simple | None = sharpest. CRT-simple = retro scanline look. |
| Screen filter | Bilinear (default) | Smooth scaling. Nearest = sharper pixels. |
Audio Settings
| Setting | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Volume | Use volume rocker on device. 50–70% for speaker. |
| Headphones | 3.5mm jack — plug in for private listening. Volume auto-adjusts. |
| Audio sync | ON (default) — keeps audio in sync with gameplay. |
Battery Optimization Settings
| Setting | For Max Battery |
|---|---|
| Brightness | 50–60% — biggest battery impact |
| WiFi | OFF when not needed — saves ~15% battery |
| Volume | Use headphones — speaker uses more power |
| Sleep timer | Set to 5 minutes — auto-sleep when idle |
🎮 Finding Games by System
Your iGC R36S organizes games by system in EmulationStation. Here's what's preloaded and where to find it:
| System | Label in ES | 64GB | 128GB | Notable Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy Advance | GBA | ✅ | ✅ | Pokémon Emerald, Zelda, Metroid |
| Game Boy Color | GBC | ✅ | ✅ | Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal |
| Super Nintendo | SNES | ✅ | ✅ | Super Mario World, Zelda ALTTP, FF6 |
| Nintendo Entertainment System | NES | ✅ | ✅ | Super Mario Bros, Mega Man, Contra |
| PlayStation 1 | PSX / PS1 | ✅ | ✅ | FF7, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro |
| Sega Genesis | Genesis / MD | ✅ | ✅ | Sonic, Streets of Rage, Mortal Kombat |
| Nintendo 64 | N64 | ✅ | ✅ | Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye |
| PSP | PSP | Selected | ✅ | Patapon, Tactics Ogre, Crisis Core |
| Nintendo DS | NDS | ❌ | ✅ | Pokémon HeartGold, Platinum |
🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues
❌ Issue: Device won't turn on
Solution:
- Charge for 30 minutes — battery may be fully depleted
- Hold Power button for 5 seconds (not 3)
- Try a different USB-C cable and charger
- If still unresponsive, hold Power for 10 seconds to force restart
❌ Issue: Game won't launch / crashes on startup
Solution:
- Exit to EmulationStation (Select + Start)
- Try launching the game again
- If it crashes again, the ROM file may be corrupted — contact iGC support
- For PSP games: ensure PPSSPP is set to Vulkan backend
❌ Issue: Screen is too dark / too bright
Solution: Adjust brightness with the volume rocker while holding the Power button — or go to ArkOS Settings → Display → Brightness. Recommended: 60–70% for indoor use.
❌ Issue: Audio is crackling or out of sync
Solution:
- Open RetroArch menu (Select + X)
- Go to Settings → Audio
- Ensure Audio Sync is ON
- Set Audio Latency to 64ms (default)
- If using fast forward, audio crackling is normal — it stops when you release
❌ Issue: Save state not working
Solution:
- Ensure you're pressing Select + R1 (not just R1)
- A brief screen flash confirms the save was successful
- Save states are per-game — they only load in the same game
- If microSD card is full, save states may fail — check storage
❌ Issue: PSP game running slowly
Solution:
- Open PPSSPP menu (Select + A during PSP game)
- Set Rendering Resolution to 1x PSP (native)
- Set Backend to Vulkan
- Disable Anisotropic Filtering and Postprocessing Shaders
- Enable Fast Memory and I/O on Thread
- See our full PSP optimization guide for more
❌ Issue: Device gets hot during PSP gaming
Solution: Some heat during PSP emulation is normal — the H700 processor works harder for PSP games. Ensure the device has airflow (don't cover the back). If the device becomes uncomfortably hot, take a break or switch to a less demanding game. Thermal throttling may reduce PSP performance during extended sessions.
✅ Still need help? Contact the iGC support team at [email protected] — we respond within 24 hours. Include your order number and a description of the issue.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I save my game on the R36S?
Press Select + R1 to quick save a save state at any moment. Press Select + L1 to load it. You can also use the in-game save system (pause menu → Save) for permanent saves. Use both — save states for quick saves, in-game saves for important progress.
How do I use fast forward on the R36S?
Hold Select + R2 to activate fast forward while playing. Release to return to normal speed. You can adjust the fast forward speed (2x, 3x, 4x) in the RetroArch menu (Select + X → Settings → Frame Throttle → Fast Forward Rate).
How do I exit a game on the R36S?
Press Select + Start to exit the current game and return to EmulationStation. Always save your game (in-game save or save state) before exiting.
How long does the R36S battery last?
The R36S 3,200mAh battery delivers approximately 7.5 hours on GBA games, 6.5 hours on PS1 games, and 4.5 hours on PSP games at 60–70% brightness. Reduce brightness to 50% for maximum battery life.
Can I add more games to the R36S?
Yes. Power off the R36S, remove the microSD card, connect it to a computer via a microSD card reader, and copy ROM files to the appropriate system folder (e.g., /roms/gba/ for GBA games). Reinsert the card, power on, and EmulationStation will detect the new games automatically.
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