Your First 15 Minutes: Install LaunchBox and Play Your First Game

Follow a beginner-friendly first-session path from downloading and installing LaunchBox to importing, checking, and successfully playing your first game.

Written By launchbox

Last updated 6 days ago

This quick-start guide takes you from a new LaunchBox installation to a working first game. Start with one game you legally own or are legally permitted to use, confirm that it launches correctly, and then expand your library.

Your goal: Install LaunchBox, add a game, configure what it needs, and reach its normal startup screen.

About the “15 minutes”: This is a short first-session path, not a guaranteed timer. A slow download, a large media selection, an emulator update, or required BIOS or firmware can make setup take longer.

✅ Before you begin

You need:

  • A Windows PC supported by the current version of LaunchBox

  • An internet connection for downloading LaunchBox and, if selected, metadata, media, and a supported emulator

  • One game you legally own or are legally permitted to use

For an emulated game, you may also need BIOS, firmware, keys, or other files required by the system or emulator. LaunchBox and emulator downloads do not include copyrighted system files.

If you prefer to begin with a PC game from a supported storefront, install that storefront client and sign in to it first.

1. Download LaunchBox

Download LaunchBox from the official website:

Download LaunchBox for Windows

  1. Enter your email address on the download page.

  2. Open the download message and use its link to download the installer.

  3. Run the LaunchBox setup file.

If the message does not arrive, check your junk or spam folder and confirm that the email address was entered correctly.

2. Choose where LaunchBox will live

During setup, choose the parent folder where the installer should create the LaunchBox folder. A local internal SSD usually provides the best performance.

For example, selecting D:\Games creates D:\Games\LaunchBox.

Avoid protected Windows locations such as Program Files. LaunchBox stores library data, settings, and downloaded media inside its installation folder and needs write access there. A cloud-synchronized folder can also cause conflicts if two computers change the same library files.

Your game files do not have to be stored inside the LaunchBox folder. They can remain on another internal drive, an external drive, or a network location, but that location must be available whenever you play.

3. Complete the first run

Open LaunchBox and follow any welcome or first-run prompts that appear. The desktop application is where you import games, manage emulators, edit game details, organize the library, and launch games.

If you enable storefront imports during setup, LaunchBox may begin adding installed storefront games automatically. Metadata and media can continue downloading in the background, so you do not need to wait for every image before testing a game.

If Windows or security software asks about the application, verify that you downloaded it from the official LaunchBox website before allowing it to run.

4. Choose the easiest first path

Use one of these paths for your first test:

Option A: An emulated game

Pick one ROM or disc image from a single platform. One known-good game makes platform identification, emulator setup, and troubleshooting easier.

Option B: An installed storefront game

Use a game already installed through a supported storefront. This is often the fastest first test because the storefront has already installed the game and its required client. Automatic storefront scanning may add more than one installed game; that is normal.

5A. Import one emulated game

In LaunchBox, go to Tools > Import > ROM Files > Single Platform.

  1. Add the individual game file. You can select a folder instead, but every supported game file found there may be proposed for import.

  2. Confirm the game’s platform. If you use a custom platform name, set Scrape As to the matching standard platform so LaunchBox can find the correct metadata.

  3. Choose an emulator you already have, or let LaunchBox download and configure a supported emulator when that option is offered.

  4. If a dependency page appears, supply or verify any required BIOS, firmware, keys, or other files. The exact requirements come from the selected emulator and platform.

  5. For your first import, choose Use files in their current location unless you specifically want LaunchBox to copy them into its game folders.

  6. Select the metadata and images you want. The default choices are a sensible starting point; choosing less media makes the first import faster.

  7. Review the proposed game entry, then select Finish.

Choose Move files into LaunchBox only when you intend to relocate the originals. Moving files can break paths used by other applications.

For every wizard option, see Single Platform Imports.

5B. Add an installed storefront game

On a new installation, automatic storefront imports are enabled by default and normally add installed games. If your game is not present:

  1. Go to Tools > Manage > Storefronts.

  2. Find the relevant storefront and make sure automatic imports are enabled.

  3. Use the installed-games option for the quickest setup. Sign in through LaunchBox only if that storefront requires it or if you want to import games that are not installed.

  4. Go to Tools > Scan for Storefront Games.

  5. Allow the scan and any background metadata downloads to begin, then find the game in your library.

The storefront client may open or remain running when LaunchBox starts the game. For storefront-specific requirements, see Managing Storefront Games in LaunchBox.

6. Find and review the game

Select its platform in the left sidebar, then select the game in the main area. Check the title, artwork, and game details. If a scan added several storefront games, use the search box to find the one you want to test.

If an emulated game was matched incorrectly, right-click it and choose Edit. Correct the title or platform and use its metadata search to select the right database entry. You can also review its launching path and emulator before trying to play.

7. Play your first game

Double-click the game, or select Play from its game details or right-click menu.

For an emulated game, LaunchBox starts the configured emulator and passes it the game file. For a storefront or native Windows game, LaunchBox starts the appropriate client or executable.

Your first setup is successful when the game reaches its normal startup screen and accepts input. Close the game normally to return to LaunchBox.

8. If the game does not launch

Work through these checks in order:

  1. Test outside LaunchBox. Open the game directly in its emulator or storefront client. If it fails there too, fix that emulator, game file, or storefront installation first.

  2. Check the game path. Right-click the game, choose Edit, open its launching settings, and confirm that the referenced file still exists.

  3. Check the emulator. For an emulated game, confirm that the intended emulator is selected and that the platform appears in the emulator’s Associated Platforms list under Tools > Manage > Emulators.

  4. Check system files. Confirm that the emulator has any BIOS, firmware, keys, runtimes, or other dependencies it requires.

  5. Check recent changes. Confirm that the game file was not moved, renamed, deleted, disconnected on another drive, or quarantined by security software.

Testing outside LaunchBox first separates an emulator, storefront, or game-file problem from a LaunchBox configuration problem.

9. Add the rest of your collection

After one game works, expand your library with the method that fits your collection:

Beginner tip: Add and test one platform at a time. A small working library is easier to build on than a large import with an unknown launch problem.