> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/dolphin-emu/dolphin/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Dolphin Command-Line Options

> Complete reference for all Dolphin emulator command-line options

Dolphin can be launched from the command line with various options to control its behavior, load games, configure settings, and more.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
Dolphin.exe [options]... [FILE]...
```

## Options Reference

<ParamField path="--version" type="flag">
  Display the program's version number and exit.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --version
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-h, --help" type="flag">
  Show the help message with all available options and exit.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --help
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-u USER, --user=USER" type="string">
  Specify a custom user folder path for configuration and save data.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --user=/path/to/user/folder
  ```

  This is useful for:

  * Using multiple Dolphin configurations
  * Portable installations
  * Testing different settings
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-e FILE, --exec=FILE" type="string">
  Load and execute the specified game file.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --exec=/path/to/game.iso
  ```

  Supported file formats:

  * ISO, GCM (GameCube/Wii disc images)
  * GCZ (compressed GameCube)
  * WIA, RVZ (compressed disc formats)
  * WBFS (Wii backup file system)
  * WAD (WiiWare/Virtual Console)
  * ELF, DOL (GameCube executables)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-m MOVIE, --movie=MOVIE" type="string">
  Play a movie (input recording) file.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --movie=/path/to/recording.dtm
  ```

  Used for:

  * Tool-assisted speedruns (TAS)
  * Input playback
  * Demo recordings
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-n TITLE_ID, --nand_title=TITLE_ID" type="string">
  Launch a NAND title using its 16-character ASCII title ID.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --nand_title=0001000248414C45
  ```

  This launches installed Wii channels, WiiWare, and Virtual Console titles directly from the NAND.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-s FILE, --save_state=FILE" type="string">
  Load the specified save state file on startup.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --exec=game.iso --save_state=game.sav
  ```

  Must be used with `--exec` or `--nand_title`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-C CONFIG, --config=CONFIG" type="string">
  Set a configuration option using the format `System.Section.Key=Value`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --config=Dolphin.General.ISOPath0=/games
  ```

  See the [Configuration Guide](/cli/configuration) for details on available options.

  Multiple config options can be specified:

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu \
    --config=Core.CPUCore=1 \
    --config=Core.Overclock=1.5
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-d, --debugger" type="flag">
  Show the debugger pane and additional View menu options on startup.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --debugger --exec=game.iso
  ```

  Enables:

  * Code view
  * Registers
  * Breakpoints
  * Memory view
  * Network debugging
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-l, --logger" type="flag">
  Open the logger window on startup.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --logger
  ```

  Useful for:

  * Development
  * Troubleshooting
  * Viewing emulation warnings
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-b, --batch" type="flag">
  Run Dolphin in batch (headless) mode without the user interface.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --batch --exec=game.iso
  ```

  Requires `--exec` or `--nand-title`. See [Batch Mode](/cli/batch-mode) for more details.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-c, --confirm" type="flag">
  Enable the "Confirm on Stop" dialog.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --confirm --exec=game.iso
  ```

  Prevents accidental game termination by requiring confirmation.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-v VIDEO_BACKEND, --video_backend=VIDEO_BACKEND" type="string">
  Specify which video backend to use for rendering.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --video_backend=Vulkan --exec=game.iso
  ```

  Available backends:

  * `Vulkan` - Modern, cross-platform, recommended
  * `OGL` - OpenGL backend, widely compatible
  * `D3D` - Direct3D 11 (Windows only)
  * `D3D12` - Direct3D 12 (Windows only)
  * `Software Renderer` - CPU rendering, for debugging only
  * `Null` - No rendering, for testing
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-a AUDIO_EMULATION, --audio_emulation=AUDIO_EMULATION" type="string">
  Choose the audio DSP emulation engine.

  ```bash theme={null}
  dolphin-emu --audio_emulation=LLE --exec=game.iso
  ```

  Available options:

  * `HLE` - High Level Emulation (default)
    * Faster performance
    * Less accurate
    * Suitable for most games
  * `LLE` - Low Level Emulation
    * Slower performance
    * Near-perfect accuracy
    * Required for some games
    * Has two submodes (Interpreter and Recompiler) that cannot be selected from CLI
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Launch a game with specific settings

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu \
  --exec=/games/SuperSmashBros.iso \
  --video_backend=Vulkan \
  --config=Core.CPUCore=1
```

### Run in batch mode for automation

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu \
  --batch \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --save_state=speedrun.sav
```

### Launch with debugging enabled

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --debugger \
  --logger
```

### Use custom user directory

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu \
  --user=/path/to/portable/dolphin \
  --exec=game.iso
```

### Play a TAS movie

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu \
  --exec=game.iso \
  --movie=worldrecord.dtm
```

## Platform-Specific Notes

### Windows

The executable is typically `Dolphin.exe`:

```bash theme={null}
Dolphin.exe --exec="C:\Games\game.iso"
```

### Linux

The executable is usually `dolphin-emu`:

```bash theme={null}
dolphin-emu --exec=/home/user/games/game.iso
```

### macOS

Access the binary inside the app bundle:

```bash theme={null}
/Applications/Dolphin.app/Contents/MacOS/Dolphin --exec=/path/to/game.iso
```

## Exit Codes

* `0` - Successful execution
* Non-zero - Error occurred

## See Also

* [Batch Mode](/cli/batch-mode) - Running Dolphin headless
* [Configuration](/cli/configuration) - Using --config flag
* [DolphinTool Overview](/cli/dolphin-tool/overview) - Command-line utilities