Drag and Drop Imports

Drag and Drop Import is the quickest way to start a guided import directly from File Explorer. Drop game files or folders onto LaunchBox, then confirm how they should be added.

🗯️ What is it?

When you drag files or folders from Windows File Explorer and drop them anywhere on the main LaunchBox window, LaunchBox opens an import wizard for those items.

The wizard first asks what kind of files you dropped:

• ROM Files for games that run through an emulator

• MS-DOS Games for DOS game folders and files

• None of the Above for other game files that do not fit those categories

After that choice, the wizard shows the relevant platform, emulator, file-handling, metadata, media, and review options.

🤔 Why should I care?

Drag and Drop Import is useful when:

• You only have a few games to add

• You just downloaded or moved a game and already have its folder open in File Explorer

• You want to add a folder without navigating through the Tools menu

• You want LaunchBox to suggest a platform from the selected sidebar platform or the dropped folder name

• You still want a chance to review emulator, metadata, media, and advanced options before importing

The benefit is convenience: dropping the files starts the same careful import process without making you browse for them again.

❓ How do I use it?

1. Prepare the files

In Windows File Explorer, select the game file, group of files, or folder you want to import. Keep all selected ROMs for the same platform whenever possible.

2. Drop them onto LaunchBox

Drag the selected items over the main LaunchBox window and release them. You can drop them anywhere inside that main window.

3. Choose the file type

Select ROM Files, MS-DOS Games, or None of the Above. Your choice determines which setup pages appear later.

4. Confirm the platform

For ROM files, check the suggested platform. LaunchBox may use the platform currently selected in the sidebar, the dropped folder name, or the folder containing the first dropped file as a suggestion.

If you use a custom platform name, choose the correct Scrape As value so LaunchBox can find matching metadata and media.

5. Configure the emulator, if needed

For ROM files, choose an existing emulator or let LaunchBox install and configure a supported emulator when that option is available. If the emulator requires BIOS, firmware, or other dependencies, supply or verify them on the dependency page.

MS-DOS imports follow the DOS-specific path instead and can offer options for configurations, setup files, disc mounting, and folder naming.

6. Choose how files are handled

• Use files in their current location when the current folder is already where you want the games to remain.

• Copy files when you want LaunchBox to keep its own copy without changing the originals.

• Move files when you want LaunchBox to relocate the originals into its game folders.

7. Choose metadata, media, and advanced options

Select the metadata, images, EmuMovies content, bezels, manuals, duplicate handling, folder scanning, and other options that apply to your import.

8. Review the results

LaunchBox shows the games it found before making changes. Rename or remove entries that do not look right.

9. Finish the import

Select Finish to add the games. Game entries are added during the import, while selected media may continue downloading in the background.

💡 Good to know

• Always confirm the suggested platform; a folder name is only a helpful guess.

• Drag and Drop Import is intended for one target platform at a time. Use Tools > Import > ROM Files > Multiple Platforms when your files span several systems.

• Use the Single Platform wizard when you want the same guided controls but prefer to browse to the files from inside LaunchBox.

• If you do not want a wizard at all, Automated ROM Imports may be a better fit for files placed in LaunchBox's monitored Games folders.