A console-style launcher for Nintendo emulators.
A frameless, controller-friendly dashboard to launch, download, and set up emulators for the DS, DSi, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, and Switch — all from one place.
- Console dashboard — a clean, horizontally-scrolling tile grid for every system, launch on click.
- Two launch modes — start the emulator directly, or boot straight into the console's Home Menu / system menu.
- Switch Home Menu — boot the Switch Home Menu even on emulators that don't accept a Home Menu flag: HomePad locates the Home Menu (qlaunch) inside the installed firmware automatically and launches it.
- Right-click menu — per-tile actions (with icons) to launch the Home Menu or emulator, and open the emulator / NAND / MLC folders.
- Console mode — a fullscreen, gamepad-navigable layout with on-screen hints; focus is trapped to the active screen so input never leaks to the background.
- Opening screen — a branded splash while the app boots.
- Built-in downloader — fetch the latest emulator releases per system, with live progress and cancel.
- Installer tab — set up the harder consoles in a couple of clicks:
- Nintendo Switch — install system firmware (NCA folder) and decryption keys (
prod.keys/title.keys) into the emulator's data folder; status chips show keys, firmware count, and whether the Home Menu is bootable. - Nintendo 3DS — install system files (
aes_keys.txt,seeddb.bin,shared_font.bin) into the emulator'ssysdatafolder. - Data folders are auto-detected (portable
user/next to the emulator, then%APPDATA%), with a rotating find button when several exist, plus live status chips showing what's already installed.
- Nintendo Switch — install system firmware (NCA folder) and decryption keys (
- Per-system emulator folders — point each console at its emulator, with console icons and live path validation (missing paths are flagged in red).
- melonDS (DS / DSi) — manage BIOS, firmware, and NAND paths, written straight into melonDS's config.
- 3DS NAND & Cemu (Wii U) MLC — dedicated cards that show the resolved path, and a Home System status: whether the Home Menu file exists, plus its detected region and title ID.
- Controller support — detect connected gamepads with a player indicator and a vibration test; full gamepad navigation in console mode.
- Live status bar — battery, Wi‑Fi, volume, and clock.
- Themes — dark or light, with selectable icon colors (white / black) including an optional per-console override.
- Discord Rich Presence — shows the system you're browsing or playing, with a link to the latest release.
- System tray support.
- Update checker — the toolbar checks GitHub for the latest release and shows a clear "update available" dialog with release notes.
| System | Emulators |
|---|---|
| Nintendo DS / DSi | melonDS |
| Nintendo 3DS | Borked3DS, Azahar, Mandarine |
| Nintendo Wii | Dolphin |
| Nintendo Wii U | Cemu |
| Nintendo Switch | Eden, Citron-Neo, Sudachi, Suyu |
Grab the latest installer or portable build from the Releases page, or build it yourself.
Prerequisites: Node.js, Rust, and the Tauri prerequisites. Windows is the primary target.
npm install
npm run tauri dev # run in development
npm run tauri build # build a release installer + portable exeTauri 2 (Rust) + TypeScript and Vite.
HomePad is an independent launcher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo or any other company. It does not include or distribute any emulators, games, BIOS, firmware, or keys — use them only where you have the legal right to do so. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.