---
name: "mgba-qt"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "mgba-qt"
version: "0.10.5-5"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mgba-qt"
---

# mgba-qt(6)

Game Boy Advance emulator

## NAME

**mgba-qt** – Game Boy Advance emulator

## SYNOPSIS

**mgba-qt** \[**-123456fg**\] \[**-b** *biosfile*\] \[**-C** *option*=*value*\] \[**-l** *loglevel*\] \[**-p** *patchfile*\] \[**-s** *n*\] \[**-t** *statefile*\] *file*

## DESCRIPTION

**mgba-qt** is a Game Boy Advance emulator. The options are as follows:

- **-1**

  Scale the window 1×.

- **-2**

  Scale the window 2×.

- **-3**

  Scale the window 3×.

- **-4**

  Scale the window 4×.

- **-5**

  Scale the window 5×.

- **-6**

  Scale the window 6×.

- **-b** *biosfile*, **--bios** *biosfile*

  Specify a BIOS file to use during boot. If this flag is omitted, **mgba-qt** will use the BIOS specified in the configuration file, or a high‐level emulated BIOS if none is specified.

- **-C** *option*=*value*, **--config** *option*=*value*

  Override the given config *option* with *value*.

- **-f**

  Start the emulator full‐screen.

- **-g**

  Start a [gdb(1)](/gdb/1.md) session. By default the session starts on port 2345.

- **-l** *loglevel*

  Log messages during emulation. *loglevel* is a bitmask defining which types of messages to log:

  - 1 – fatal errors

  - 2 – errors

  - 4 – warnings

  - 8 – informative messages

  - 16 – debugging messages

  - 32 – stub messages for unimplemented features

  - 64 – in‐game errors

    The default is to log warnings, errors, fatal errors, and status messages.

- **-p** *patchfile*, **--patch** *patchfile*

  Specify a patch file in BPS, IPS, or UPS format.

- **-s** *n*, **--frameskip** *n*

  Skip every *n* frames.

- **-t** *statefile*, **--savestate** *statefile*

  Load initial game state from *statefile*.

## CONTROLS

The default controls are as follows:

- A

  **x**

- B

  **z**

- L

  **a**

- R

  **s**

- Start

  ⟨**Enter**⟩

- Select

  ⟨**Backspace**⟩

- Load state

  **F1**–**F9**

- Save state

  ⟨**Shift**⟩‐**F1**–**F9**

- Frame advance

  ⟨**Ctrl**⟩‐**n**

## ENVIRONMENT

- XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME

  The location where **mgba-qt** will look for the configuration directory. If not set, *~/.config* is used.

## FILES

- *$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mgba/config.ini*

  Default [mgba(6)](/mgba/6.md) configuration file.

- *$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mgba/qt.ini*

  Default **mgba-qt** configuration file.

- *portable.ini*

  If this file exists in the current directory, **mgba-qt** will read *config.ini* and *qt.ini* from the current directory instead of *$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/mgba*.

## AUTHORS

Jeffrey Pfau ⟨*jeffrey@endrift.com*⟩

## HOMEPAGE

- *mGBA homepage:* **https://mgba.io/**

- *Development repository:* **https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba**

- *Bug tracker:* **https://github.com/mgba-emu/mgba/issues**

- *Message board:* **https://forums.mgba.io/**