License and integrity

The frontend is GPLv3, ships without ads or game images, and scanners often flag cores in error. Read the license, hashes and your responsibility before you whitelist a file.

License

GPLv3

Free software. Source is inspectable. Cores may use other licenses.

Current stable

1.22.2

Tagged 20 Nov 2025. Android listing 1.22.2_GIT, 196.99 MB, published SHA256.

Ads / IAP

None

1.21.0 notes: no in-app ads, monetization SDKs or paywalled features.

Legal usage

RetroArch is a frontend. It does not grant rights to game images, BIOS files or copyrighted assets. Only load content you obtained legally. Do not use this site as a ROM index. We will not link to one.

Ethical usage

Preserve software you own, study cores, and keep multiplayer honest. Do not present piracy as a feature of RetroArch. Netplay still requires matching, legally held copies.

User responsibility

You choose the build, you verify the hash, you decide antivirus exclusions, and you obey local law. Whitelisting a file you did not verify is on you. This page is information, not a warranty.

No-malware clarification

Public maintainer replies have stated there are no viruses in RetroArch and that scanner flags are a cost-of-doing-business problem, not proof of infection. That is not a guarantee that every unofficial mirror is clean. Prefer packages whose size and date match 1.22.2 (Win64 setup 209037 KB, 20 Nov 2025) or the listed Android SHA256. Nightly folders change every day. If a helper site offers a "cracked" RetroArch, skip it.

Need install steps after you decide the file is yours? Use the Setup path.