R36S Beginner's Guide: First Setup, Hotkeys, Saving, Charging and Troubleshooting

November 3, 2026

R36S retro handheld beginner setup guide

Setting up a new R36S takes about ten minutes: charge it, put the microSD card in, power it on, and pick a system from the menu. The things worth learning on day one are a few hotkeys (Select + Start to leave a game, Select + R1/L1 for save states), how to shut it down safely, and how to charge it gently. This guide covers all of that. It also applies to the R36H and R36S Plus, which use the same RK3326 chip and the same kind of ArkOS-based Linux software.

Quick reference

What you want to do	Usual way on ArkOS-based firmware
Exit a game back to the menu	Select + Start (some builds need two presses)
Save state / load state	Select + R1 / Select + L1
Open the RetroArch menu in a game	Select + X
Shut down safely	Exit the game first, then Start → Quit → Shutdown in the main menu
Charge	Included cable + a plain 5V/2A adapter
Wi-Fi	R36S: none. R36H and R36S Plus: yes

Hotkeys can differ between firmware versions and from one batch of R36-family units to the next. If a combo doesn't work, check the troubleshooting section below.

What's in the box and first boot

The box contains the console and a USB-C charging cable. If you ordered a bundle, it also has a microSD card. The R36S (from ₱2,499) has a 3.5" 640×480 IPS screen, two analog sticks, 1GB of RAM, and a 3,200mAh battery. The R36H (from ₱2,699) is similar and has a 3,000mAh battery. The R36S Plus (from ₱2,699) has a larger 4.0" screen and a battery of about 3,500mAh.

Charge it fully first. A unit that won't turn on out of the box is usually just low on battery. On many units the power LED changes colour when the battery is low.
Insert the microSD card with the console switched off. Push it in until it clicks. The R36 family boots from the card, so it won't start without one.
Press the power button. The first boot can take longer than later ones because the system may expand the card and set itself up. Leave it alone until the menu appears.
Set brightness and volume to a comfortable level before your first game.

Getting around EmulationStation

The menu you land on is EmulationStation, the front end that lists your game systems and games.

D-pad left/right moves between systems (Game Boy, SNES, PlayStation, and so on). Only systems that have games on the card are shown.
A opens a system or starts a game. B goes back.
Start opens the main menu, where you'll find sound, display, scraping, and the Quit/Shutdown options.
Select in a game list usually opens options such as sorting and filtering.
The Options or tools section (the name depends on your build) has utilities such as Wi-Fi tools (only useful on the R36H and R36S Plus), plus backup tools and settings. Leave unfamiliar tools alone until you know what they do.

To see which games run well on the R36S before you load anything, check the compatibility list at games.gamecove.ph.

Adding games you own

Use only games you own. Back up your own cartridges and discs, and copy the files to the card yourself. On ArkOS-style cards, games go on the card's exFAT partition, usually named EASYROMS, which Windows and Mac computers can read directly.

Shut the console down properly, then take out the card and put it in a card reader.
Open the EASYROMS drive. You'll see one folder per system, with short names such as gb, gba, nes, snes, psx, and n64.
Copy each game file into the folder for its system. Don't rename or move the system folders.
Some systems, PlayStation for example, need BIOS files dumped from your own console. These go in the bios folder.
Eject the card safely from your computer, put it back in the console, and boot. Use Start → Update Games Lists if new games don't appear.

Your card has a second partition that Windows can't read, and Windows may offer to format it. Always click Cancel. Formatting it erases the operating system.

Save states vs in-game saves

There are two ways to save, and they work differently.

In-game saves are the game's own save system, such as a save point in an RPG. The emulator writes these to a save file, the same way a cartridge battery used to. They're the most reliable way to keep long-term progress.
Save states are snapshots of the exact moment you're at, made with Select + R1 (save) and Select + L1 (load) in RetroArch-based emulators. They're handy on a commute when the jeep reaches your stop mid-level.

Don't rely only on save states. They can break after an emulator update, and loading one by accident overwrites what's on screen. Use the game's own save regularly, and treat states as a quick bookmark. Every so often, copy the saves folder to your computer as a backup.

Essential hotkeys

In most emulators, Select acts as the hotkey button. The combinations below are the ArkOS defaults documented on the official ArkOS wiki for RK3326 devices. R36-family firmware is community-built and based on ArkOS, so a few combos may differ on your unit.

Combo	Action	Notes
Select + Start	Exit game, back to EmulationStation	Some builds need you to press it twice
Select + R1	Save state	RetroArch, N64 (Mupen64plus) and Mednafen cores
Select + L1	Load state	Same as above
Select + X	RetroArch quick menu	Change save slots, controls and shaders here
Select + D-pad left/right	Change save state slot	Varies by emulator
Brightness	Select + Vol +/–, Select + D-pad up/down, or R3 + D-pad up/down	Depends on firmware build; try each one
Volume	Vol +/– buttons	Also adjustable in Start → Sound settings

Standalone emulators such as PPSSPP (PSP) and DraStic (DS) use their own menus and keys. If Select + Start doesn't work in one of them, open that emulator's menu and exit from there.

Shutting down safely

Corrupted microSD cards are the most common R36S problem, and most of them come from cutting the power while the system is writing to the card.

Exit your game first with Select + Start so the emulator can finish writing your save.
Then go to Start → Quit → Shutdown in EmulationStation, and wait until the screen and LED are fully off.
Don't hold the power button to force it off unless the console has frozen.
Don't take out the card or let the battery run completely flat while you're playing.

Charging and battery life

Use the included cable with a plain 5V/2A wall adapter. That matches the 5V 1.5–2A range that R36S user manuals recommend.
Owners often report that some units charge unreliably from USB-C-to-USB-C fast chargers. A basic USB-A adapter is the safest choice. Don't use high-wattage laptop chargers.
Charge with the console off where you can, and away from pillows or a hot car dashboard.
Battery life depends on the system you're emulating and your screen brightness. NES and Game Boy games last much longer than PS1 or N64. Expect several hours of mixed play on a full charge. Lowering the brightness helps more than anything else.
To store the console for weeks, charge it to around half first instead of leaving it at 0% or 100%.

Heat and humidity care in the Philippines

Don't leave it in a parked car or in direct sun. Heat wears out lithium batteries.
During rainy season, keep it in a closed case with a silica gel pack. Our R36S EVA carrying case also protects the screen and sticks in a bag. More options are in our accessories collection.
If you bring it from an air-conditioned room into humid outdoor air, let it adjust before switching it on.
Wipe sweat off the buttons and sticks after long sessions. Moisture and grime cause sticky buttons over time.

Common problems and fixes

Black screen or boot loop

First, charge the console fully. Then, with the power off, take the microSD card out, check that the contacts are clean, and push it back in firmly. If it still won't boot, the card may be corrupted. Copy your saves and games off it, then re-flash it with the correct image for your exact model. Clone units and newer screen batches can need a different image. A worn-out card should be replaced with a reputable brand.

Stick drift

If your character moves on its own, open the stick calibration tool in your firmware's options or tools menu. Its name varies by build. Rotate both sticks fully in circles, then leave them centered while it finishes. In RetroArch, you can also raise the analog deadzone a little.

No sound

Press Vol + a few times, then check Start → Sound settings. If you can hear the menu but not a game, open the RetroArch menu (Select + X) and check that audio is turned on. Very occasionally a re-flash or firmware update fixes it.

No Wi-Fi on the R36S

The R36S has no built-in Wi-Fi. That's normal, not a fault. Wi-Fi options left over from ArkOS can still appear in the menus, but you'll add games and updates through the microSD card. The R36H and R36S Plus units we stock do have Wi-Fi, which you can turn on from the system settings for things like RetroAchievements.

Hotkeys don't work

Check that you're using Select as the hotkey, and try pressing the combo twice. Different firmware builds map buttons differently. If you've re-flashed your card, the defaults may have changed.

When to contact GameCove

Message GameCove on our chat or Facebook page if your console:

won't power on or charge after several hours on a 5V/2A adapter
has dead buttons, a cracked or flickering screen, or stick drift that calibration doesn't fix
gets hot or swells while charging (unplug it right away and stop using it)
won't boot even with a card you know is working.

Include your order details and a short video of the problem so we can help faster.

FAQ

Does this guide work for the R36H and R36S Plus?

Yes. All three use the RK3326 chip and ArkOS-based Linux, so the menus, folders and most hotkeys are the same. The main differences are screen size and battery capacity.

Can I connect the R36S to Wi-Fi?

No. The R36S has no built-in Wi-Fi, so you add games and updates by copying files to the microSD card from a computer. If you want Wi-Fi in the same family, the R36H and R36S Plus have it.

Which hotkey saves my game?

In most emulators, Select + R1 saves a state and Select + L1 loads it. For long-term progress, also use the game's own save feature.

Can I use my phone's fast charger?

A plain 5V/2A adapter with the included cable is the safest option. Some units charge unreliably or not at all from USB-C-to-USB-C fast chargers.

How long does the battery last?

It depends on the system and brightness. Lighter systems such as Game Boy and NES at moderate brightness get the most playtime, while PS1 and N64 drain the battery faster.