Download RetroArch 1.22.2

What the installer does

Windows

• Delivered as an NSIS (Nullsoft) setup program (.exe) for x64 and x86.
• Installs for all users on the PC, which normally requires administrator rights.
• No custom silent switch is declared; winget falls back to its default for this installer type (/S).
• Shows up in Windows “Installed apps” as “RetroArch”.
• Upgrades install over the existing version.

Mac

• Delivered as a disk image (.dmg) for Apple silicon and Intel.
• Installs the app RetroArch.app into the Applications folder.
• A full “zap” removal also deletes up to 3 support, cache and preference locations in your home folder.
• The cask does not pin a checksum for this download (an unversioned URL), so the file can change without notice.

Linux

• Delivered as a "flatpak" installer for x64 and ARM64.
• The manifest does not state an install scope.
• No silent-install switch is declared in the manifest.

Description

RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players. It enables you to run classic games on a wide range of computers and consoles through its slick graphical interface. Settings are also unified so configuration is done once and for all. In addition to this, you are able to run original game discs (CDs) from RetroArch. RetroArch has advanced features like shaders, netplay, rewinding, next-frame response times, runahead, machine translation, blind accessibility features, and more!

RetroArch at a glance

Is RetroArch safe?

Scan info

File integrity

Old versions

Windows versions

15 versions listed. Open a version for its installers, checksums and a command that pins it.

Mac versions

Homebrew casks list only the current release. Earlier builds appear in the cask’s history on GitHub, and Homebrew cannot install them directly.

Linux versions

Flathub lists only the current release, and Flatpak installs the newest build; earlier versions cannot be chosen from the listing.

Alternatives to RetroArch

Similar apps in Game development and emulation on Everyversion. Each one links to the download location named in the publisher’s package data, with a SHA-256 checksum.

• Cemu
  Cemu
  2.62.6
• PCSX2
  PCSX2 Team
  2.8.22.8.2v2.8.2
• PPSSPP
  PPSSPP Project
  1.20.41.20.41.20.4

See all 6 Game development and emulation

RetroArch FAQ

Is RetroArch safe to download from here?

We host no installers. Every download button goes to the download location named in the package listing, and the checks below were run on those files.

On 2026-11-07 we downloaded the latest 3 installers from those sources and re-computed the SHA-256 of each: 2 of 3 match the package catalog’s value, 1 had no catalog hash to compare. Code signatures: 1 valid, 2 not signed.

VirusTotal: none of its 43 security engines flagged any of the 3 scanned files.

Reports exist for 3 of 4 files, so the rating does not cover the rest.

Our rating: Safe so far. No check is a guarantee. See the security details above and our Security and Trust Center. Publisher’s website: RetroArch’s official website.

Does RetroArch update itself after I install an old version?

For Windows, we have no information on whether RetroArch updates itself, and for Mac, we have no confirmation that the app updates itself, although many apps check for updates and offer to install them. Look for an update setting in RetroArch (see RetroArch’s documentation) before you rely on an older version.

Does RetroArch cost anything?

No. RetroArch is free and open source (license: GPL-3.0-only).

Which versions of RetroArch are listed here, and how far back?

For Windows, we list 15 versions, from 1.10.3.0 (2022-04-15) up to 1.22.2, and for Mac, only the current release (1.22.2) is listed, because older Mac builds are not kept in the package listing, and for Linux, we list 1 version, from 1.22.2 (2025-11-22) up to 1.22.2. This page shows all of the Windows versions.

Where do the download links go?

They go straight to the source named in the package catalog, with nothing added by us: for Windows, to buildbot.libretro.com, and for Mac, to buildbot.libretro.com, and for Linux, to dl.flathub.org. We host no files. Compare the SHA-256 shown next to each file with the one you compute after downloading. Publisher’s website: RetroArch’s official website.