Configuration via Command Line

Using the —config flag to override Dolphin settings from the command line

The --config flag allows you to override Dolphin configuration settings directly from the command line without modifying configuration files.

Syntax

--config=<System>.<Section>.<Key>=<Value>

or shorthand:

-C <System>.<Section>.<Key>=<Value>

Format

Configuration options follow a three-level hierarchy:

1. System - The configuration system (e.g., Dolphin, Core, DSP, GFX)
2. Section - The section within the system (e.g., General, Interface)
3. Key - The specific setting name
4. Value - The value to set

Multiple Configuration Options

You can specify multiple --config flags:

dolphin-emu \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=1 \
  --config=Core.Overclock=1.5 \
  --config=Core.Framelimit=0 \
  --exec=game.iso

Common Configuration Options

Core Settings

CPU Core Type

# Interpreter (most compatible, slowest)
--config=Core.CPUCore=0

# JIT Recompiler (default, fastest)
--config=Core.CPUCore=1

# JITIL Recompiler
--config=Core.CPUCore=2

# Cached Interpreter
--config=Core.CPUCore=4

CPU Emulation Speed

# Default speed
--config=Core.Overclock=1.0

# 150% speed
--config=Core.Overclock=1.5

# 50% speed (half speed)
--config=Core.Overclock=0.5

Frame Limit

# No limit (run as fast as possible)
--config=Core.Framelimit=0

# Auto (match game's native framerate)
--config=Core.Framelimit=100

# 60 FPS limit
--config=Core.Framelimit=60

Sync GPU

# Enable (more accurate, slower)
--config=Core.SyncGPU=True

# Disable (faster)
--config=Core.SyncGPU=False

Idle Skipping

# Enable (better performance)
--config=Core.SyncOnSkipIdle=True

# Disable (more accurate timing)
--config=Core.SyncOnSkipIdle=False

Dolphin General Settings

ISO Paths

# Set game search paths
--config=Dolphin.General.ISOPath0=/games/gamecube
--config=Dolphin.General.ISOPath1=/games/wii

Confirm on Stop

--config=Dolphin.Interface.ConfirmStop=True

Show FPS

--config=Dolphin.General.ShowFPS=True

Graphics Settings

Enable Widescreen Hack

--config=GFX.Settings.wideScreenHack=True

Internal Resolution

# Native resolution (1x)
--config=GFX.Settings.InternalResolution=1

# 2x resolution
--config=GFX.Settings.InternalResolution=2

# 4x resolution
--config=GFX.Settings.InternalResolution=4

Aspect Ratio

# Auto
--config=GFX.Settings.AspectRatio=0

# Force 16:9
--config=GFX.Settings.AspectRatio=1

# Force 4:3
--config=GFX.Settings.AspectRatio=2

VSync

--config=GFX.Settings.VSync=True

Anti-Aliasing

# None
--config=GFX.Settings.MSAA=0

# 2x MSAA
--config=GFX.Settings.MSAA=2

# 4x MSAA
--config=GFX.Settings.MSAA=4

DSP Settings

Audio Backend

# Cubeb (recommended)
--config=DSP.Settings.Backend=Cubeb

# No audio output
--config=DSP.Settings.Backend=No audio output

# OpenAL
--config=DSP.Settings.Backend=OpenAL

DSP Emulation Engine

Note: The audio emulation engine can also be set via --audio_emulation:

# HLE (High Level Emulation - faster)
--audio_emulation=HLE

# LLE (Low Level Emulation - more accurate)
--audio_emulation=LLE

Finding Configuration Keys

Configuration files are located in the user directory:

• Windows: %USERPROFILE%/Documents/Dolphin Emulator/Config/
• Linux: ~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/Config/ or ~/.dolphin-emu/Config/
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Dolphin/Config/

Main Configuration Files

• Dolphin.ini - General Dolphin settings
• GFX.ini - Graphics settings
• DSP.ini - Audio settings
• GameSettings.ini - Per-game settings

Examine these files to find available keys and their current values.

Example Configurations

Performance Testing

Maximum speed, no rendering:

dolphin-emu \
  --batch \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --video_backend=Null \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=1 \
  --config=Core.Framelimit=0 \
  --config=Core.SyncOnSkipIdle=True \
  --config=DSP.Settings.Backend="No audio output"

Accuracy Testing

Most accurate settings:

dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --audio_emulation=LLE \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=0 \
  --config=Core.SyncGPU=True \
  --config=Core.SyncOnSkipIdle=False

High Quality Rendering

dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --video_backend=Vulkan \
  --config=GFX.Settings.InternalResolution=8 \
  --config=GFX.Settings.MSAA=8 \
  --config=GFX.Settings.wideScreenHack=True \
  --config=GFX.Settings.AspectRatio=1

Speedrun Practice

dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --config=Dolphin.General.ShowFPS=True \
  --config=Core.Overclock=1.0 \
  --config=Dolphin.Interface.ConfirmStop=False

TAS Recording

Deterministic settings for tool-assisted speedruns:

dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=0 \
  --config=Core.SyncGPU=True \
  --config=Core.GPUDeterminismMode=fake-completion \
  --audio_emulation=LLE

Value Types

Boolean Values

--config=Setting=True
--config=Setting=False

Numeric Values

# Integer
--config=Setting=4

# Float
--config=Setting=1.5

String Values

# Simple string
--config=Setting=value

# String with spaces (use quotes)
--config=Setting="value with spaces"

Persistence

Command-line configuration options:

• Override the current configuration
• Do not permanently modify configuration files
• Only apply for the current session

To make changes permanent, modify the configuration files directly or change settings through the GUI.

Precedence

Configuration sources in order of priority (highest to lowest):

1. Command-line --config flags
2. Game-specific settings (GameSettings.ini)
3. User configuration files (Dolphin.ini, GFX.ini, etc.)
4. Default values

Debugging Configuration

View effective configuration:

# Enable logger to see loaded configuration
dolphin-emu \
  --logger \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=1 \
  --exec=game.iso

Configuration loading is logged at startup, allowing you to verify which settings are active.

See Also

• Dolphin Options - All command-line flags
• Batch Mode - Headless execution with configuration