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DolphiniOS – How to install and play Nintendo Wii and GameCube emulator for iPhone and iPad with JIT enabled

Best Console Nintendo Wii jilaxzone.com

Nintendo Wii - One of the best game console ever made! Back in the day, I even had 2 of them.

DolphiniOS tested working with latest iOS and iPadOS running at full speed!

Early May 2024 was like miracle happened for many retro gamers having iPhone or iPad. After so many years, finally Apple gave in and allowed emulators to exist in Apple App Store. Multiple game emulators started appearing, however and unfortunately for DolphiniOS – the emulator for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo GameCube – even until today (as of when this article is written) has never appeared on the Apple App Store. The main reason behind as the developer wrote it on the official website (https://oatmealdome.me/blog/why-dolphin-isnt-coming-to-the-app-store/) is: “We are not able to submit DolphiniOS to the App Store or AltStore PAL, because Apple still does not allow us to use a vital technology that is necessary for Dolphin to run with good performance: JIT (Just-In-Time compiler)”.

For those who miss swinging those Wii Remote and Nunchuck, follow the steps below to bring back those nice memories back. Image courtesy of Evan Amos. Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii#/media/File:Wiimote-in-Hands.jpg)

And that’s my main reason writing this article. So, although DolphiniOS is not available on Apple App Store, but that doesn’t mean you can’t install and play Nintendo GameCube or Wii on your iPhone or iPad. Inside this article, I’m going to walk you through all the steps you need to get DolphiniOS up and running at full speed including how to setup JIT, so DolphiniOS can run both Nintendo GameCube and Nintendo Wii games at their full speed. So, without further ado, let’s start.


Steps overview

These are the high-level steps available on this article. While I fully recommend the steps to be done in sequence as shown below, but feel free to jump around to section that interest you.

1) Prerequisites: Things you need to prepare.
2) Steps to install DolphiniOS on latest iOS & iPadOS: Full detail steps to get DolphiniOS installed – including how to enable JIT.
3) Controllers Recommendation – Play better with Controller!: To play the games better with recommended physical controllers.
4) Other retro game emulators available on iPhone (and iPad and iPod Touch): In case you need other emulators available on iPhone and other iOS / iPadOS devices.


Prerequisites

These are the things you need to prepare to get DolphiniOS installed and running. If there are certain things you don’t have / don’t know yet, don’t worry, as part of the installation and configuration steps, all the download links and how to create / configured them are shared in details.


1) Install SideStore on your iPhone & iPad

This is the most important steps, and you need to do this since DolphiniOS emulator as of when this article is written does not exist yet on the Apple App Store.
SideStore is a fork from AltStore (that doesn’t require computer to refresh once installed) which enables your iPhone / iPad to sideload apps that are non-existent in Apple App Store. So, using SideStore, we are going to sideload the Nintendo Wii / GameCube emulator.

LinkComplete steps to install SideStore – FREE, untethered sideloading at JILAXZONE.
AltStore vs SideStore – you don’t need to install both of them, you just need to pick one of them.

In case you are still preferring to use AltStore instead of SideStore, you can follow the steps to get AltStore installed on your iPhone/iPad here:

LinkComplete steps to install AltStore – FREE, sideloading at JILAXZONE.

2) Get the Nintendo GameCube and/or Nintendo Wii games / ROMs ready

Well, due to legal reasons, I won’t detail much here. Google here is your best friend. You may want to start with this: https://www.google.com/search?q=dumping+nintendo+wii+games or https://www.google.com/search?q=dumping+nintendo+gamecube+games.

Super Mario Galaxy Wii Cover Art Box. Courtesy of Nintendo, Arkhandar (Wikipedia)

I have to remind you this: Please DO RESPECT the Console Maker, Game makers, Developers, Publishers by always buying and playing the originals on their original systems. Without you supporting them, there won’t be any good and great systems and games in the coming future.

If you need game recommendations, do check out my article below for Nintendo Wii games recommendation.

LinkRecommended multiplayer Nintendo Wii games which you can play 2 player or more together at JILAXZONE

3) Transfer the Nintendo GameCube and/or Nintendo Wii games to your iPhone and iPad

Follow these 2 methods to transfer your Nintendo GameCube or Nintendo Wii games into your iPhone or iPad.


Adding Nintendo Wii / GameCube games to your iPhone or iPad WITHOUT using Computer

Step a) Using the step detailed here: Configuring Safari Download Folder on your iPhone at JILAXZONE, on your iPhone, set your Safari default download folder into On My iPhone > Downloads.


Step b) Once you have set the download folder, now open Safari on your iPhone. Head to the game repository, then choose the game that you want to add (read: download) into your iPhone. Tap on the game title or “Download” button to start download the game from the game repository. DolphiniOS iOS supports GameCube/Wii games in the .iso format. If you game is in .zip format, there will be extra step (detailed below) you need to do.


Step c) Safari will start downloading Nintendo Wii/GameCube game to On My iPhone > Downloads folder.


Step d) This is optional step and to be done only if your Nintendo Wii/GameCube game is in zip format. Go to Files app, navigate to On My iPhone > Downloads. Tap on the .zip file to start extracting the Nintendo Wii/Gamecube games into .iso format.


You are all set.


Adding Nintendo Wii / Gamecube games to your iPhone or iPad WITH the help of Computer

Before Start:
1) iTunes – Ensure you have iTunes installed on your Computer. It’s required to transfer your Nintendo Wii/GameCube games into your iPhone.
2) Data Transfer Cable (Lightning cable or USB-C cable) – Required to connect your iPhone to the Computer so iTunes can recognize it.

Prepare the Nintendo Wii/GameCube games in this format: .iso, then do the following steps to add any Nintendo Wii/GameCube games into your iPhone:

Step a) Plug your iPhone to your Computer.

Step b) On your Computer, open iTunes. On iTunes screen, click on your iPhone icon located on top section to show your iPhone details.

Step c) On iPhone detail screen inside iTunes, on the left side of the iTunes screen, click on “File Sharing”.

Step d) On File Sharing section, click on “DolphiniOS” or any apps that enables you to store the files into them. Click “Add File…” to add the game. If you can’t find the “Add File…” button, scroll the iTunes File Sharing screen a little bit down.

Step e) Locate your Nintendo Wii/GameCube games to add and then click on “Add”. Add only Nintendo Wii/GameCube games with .iso format.

Step f) Once finished transferring the game, click on “Done” button, then click on “Eject” button to safely remove your iPhone from your Computer.


Adding Nintendo Wii / GameCube games to your iPhone or iPad using the help of Computer

With or without Computer, using the above steps, you should be able to get any Nintendo Wii/GameCube games into your iPhone or iPad.


Steps to install DolphiniOS on latest iOS & iPadOS

Here’s how to install and configure DolphiniOS so you can play Nintendo Wii and GameCube games on your iPhone and iPad.

The steps written here are tested on:

a) Latest iOS – at the time this article is written is iOS 17 Public Beta (17.5.1) and using the iPhone that I currently have – iPhone XR. In case you are not on iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 yet, check the link here to get iOS 17 & iPadOS 17: Here’s how to update iPhone to iOS 17 today (iPad included!) at JILAXZONE.

b) Latest Windows – at the time this article is written is Windows 11 Pro Insider Review Build 26085. In you are also using Windows and would like to install Windows 11, check the link here to get them installed: Getting Windows 11 and installing on your Computer at JILAXZONE.

Should you are using different version of iOS or iPadOS and / or different version of Windows, the steps may be slightly different but should not deviate too much. Anyway, in case you have questions / issues, feel free to put them down on the comment section down below, I’ll be more than happy to help you.

Step 1) Download DolphiniOS into your iPhone & iPad

Using your iPhone/iPad, open the link using Safari.

I would highly recommend trying beta version – since its newer and it has rewritten code (supposedly to be more optimized). However, if after installing beta on your device, you are encountering multiple issues, only then install the stable version.

Stablehttps://github.com/OatmealDome/dolphin/releases/download/3.2.1/DolphiniOS-NJB-3.2.1-213.ipa
Beta (Recommended)https://github.com/OatmealDome/dolphin-ios/releases/download/v4.0.0b7/Non-Jailbroken.ipa
Download directly DolphiniOS into your iPhone Files app.

Whichever version you choose, download the .ipa file directly using your iPhone/iPad. Click the link above from Safari browser. Once downloaded, the file shall be stored under your Files app. In case you don’t know, IPA (.ipa) is short for iOS Application Package (iOS app/game file – it’s like EXE file for Windows or APK file for Android). In case you don’t know where Safari put the downloaded file, configure it here: Configure Safari default download folder for iOS at JILAXZONE.


Step 2) Install DolphiniOS Emulator to iPhone & iPad

Before start:
Ensure you have installed SideStore on your iPhone/iPad and you have downloaded the DolphiniOS emulator .ipa file.

Follow these steps to install DolphiniOS. If you haven’t installed SideStore, do check out the Prerequisites section above.

Step 2a) Run SideStore app.

Step 2b) Inside SideStore, go to “My Apps” tab.

Step 2c) Tap on “+” button located on the top left of SideStore screen.

Tap on the “+” icon to select .ipa file to install.

Step 2d) Navigate to the download folder where you have downloaded DolphiniOS emulator .ipa file. Tap on the file to begin installing. In case prompted, key-in your Apple ID and password – this is required for code signing.

DolphiniOS should now in-progress being installed to your iPhone/iPad, you just need to wait until it finished installing. Once finished installing, it will appear on “My Apps” tab under “Active” section.


Step 3) Move the game to DolphiniOS Game folder on your iPhone & iPad

Before start:
Ensure DolphiniOS is installed on your iPhone or iPad and you have dumped your own Nintendo GameCube or Nintendo Wii games into your iPhone.

Follow these steps to move any Nintendo Wii or Nintendo GameCube games into DolphiniOS game folder. If you haven’t dumped your own Nintendo Wii/Nintendo GameCube games, do check out the Prerequisites section above.

Step 3a) Once DolphiniOS is installed, open Files app.

Step 3b) Inside Files app, navigate to “On My iPhone” > DolphiniOS > Software. This is where DolphiniOS game folder is located.

Step 3c) Move your Nintendo Gamecube and Nintendo Wii game ROMs into this location.

Once you have moved the games, you can check them by opening DolphiniOS from Home screen. If you moved the games into the correct folder, you should be able to see the games listed there, however when you tap on the game, the game won’t run and instead showing you with this “Waiting for JIT” screen:

If you are getting “Waiting for JIT” screen. Go to “Configure JIT on your iPhone & iPad” section for the workaround.

Don’t worry, you just miss 1 step to play the games. Refer into the next step to get rid of the message.


Step 4) Configure JIT on your iPhone & iPad

Like I mentioned earlier, the main reason why DolphiniOS is not yet available on Apple App Store was due to JIT is not enabled on iOS/iPadOS by default. Hence follow the steps on this section to configure JIT enabling it for DolphiniOS usage.

First time setup will take you about 30 minutes (depending on your device and Internet speed), but once the initial setup has been done, next time would be just about less than 5 minutes.

LinkSetup JIT on iPhone/iPad running iOS 17 and up (or iPadOS 17 and up) at JILAXZONE

Step 5) Run DolphiniOS on iPhone & iPad

Before start:
Ensure you have configured JIT on your iPhone and iPad.

At this point, DolphiniOS should started on its own, you just need to tap on which game do you want to play with.

Once JIT is enabled for DolphiniOS, the game is run 60fps

On my own test using iPhone XR (iPhone released back in 2019 with 3GB of RAM), I can get Mario Kart Double Dash! for GameCube to run at 60fps and Super Mario Sunshine for GameCube to run to run at 30fps (its maximum speed), so they are playable!


Controllers Recommendation – Play better with Controller!

Playing retro games is always better with controller!

While you can always use the touchscreen of the iPhone to play the games, but for greater fun and enjoyment, I would recommend you to play the games with the Controller using physical buttons – so the experience is (almost) the same as the original. Just in case you need recommendation, here they are. I am personally using Nimbus and DualShock 4 to play the games.

Game controllers – which side are you on? Image courtesy of Final Weapon (https://finalweapon.net)

All controllers’ images shown below are trademarks of the respective owners.

8BitDo M30

The Bluetooth controller that looks like the 6-button SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive controller.

Get 8BitDo M30 on Amazon
Get 8BitDo M30 on AliExpress
Get 8BitDo M30 Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress
Backbone Controller 2nd Generation with USB-C / Lightning
The controller that uses USB-C (or lightning) to connect. Very handy and portable to carry around.

Get Backbone Controller on Amazon
Razer Kishi
Best telescopic controller for iPhone. It comes with Lightning connector for passthrough charging as well as better low-latency gaming.

In case you need it:
Get Razer Kishi for Android on Amazon
Get Razer Kishi for Android on AliExpress

Get Razer Kishi for iPhone on Amazon
Get Razer Kishi for iPhone on AliExpress
SteelSeries Nimbus+

For playing iOS games. I like it because it’s MFi certified – Made for iOS, any controller-compatible games will for sure run with this controller.

In case you need it:
Get SteelSeries Nimbus+ on Amazon
Get Nimbus iPhone clipper on AliExpress.
Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller
Great controller from Xbox compatible with your Xbox (of course!) as well as Windows PC, Android and iOS, recommended for those with big hands.

Read here for pairing Xbox Series X|S Controller with your iPhone at JILAXZONE.

In case you need it:
Get Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller on Amazon
Get Xbox Series X|S Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress

Get Xbox One Controller on Amazon
Get Xbox One Controller on AliExpress
Get Xbox One Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress
PS5 DualSense
Awesome controller from PlayStation compatible with your PS5 (of course!) as well as Android and iOS, recommended for those with smaller hands.

Read here for pairing PS5 DualSense Controller with your iPhone at JILAXZONE.

In case you need it:
Get PS5 DualSense on Amazon
Get PS5 DualSense Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress
PS4 DualShock
While DualSense is the latest PlayStation controller but doesn’t mean DualShock 4 is bad. DualShock 4 is indeed one of the cheaper alternatives to get into gaming on your Android and iOS, recommended for those with smaller hands.

In case you need it:
Get PS4 DualShock 4 on Amazon
Get PS4 DualShock 4 on AliExpress
Get PS4 DualShock 4 Android/iPhone Clipper on AliExpress

Here’s my own setup:

This is my retro gaming setup. What about you? (In picture: iPhone paired with DualShock 4 controller)

Note: If you buy anything from Amazon / AliExpress using links above, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost charged on your purchases.


Other retro game emulators available on iPhone and iPad (and iPod Touch!)

These are retro game emulators available on the iOS and iPadOS platform. Some of them are available officially on Apple App Store, while the rest of them, you can install via Sideloading method – no jailbreak required. Head out to their individual links for detail step by step on how to get them installed on your device.

Do you know that you can play PS2 games now on iPhone? Check the installation guide below. Image courtesy of Evan Amos.
EmulatorDescriptionInstallation guide Link
CEMUNintendo Wii U emulator, workaround for iOSCEMU workaround for iOS at JILAXZONE
DeltaMultiple Nintendo console emulator for iOS1) Apple App Store Link
2) (Sideload) Delta for iOS at JILAXZONE
Delta iPacMultiple SEGA Genesis & Nintendo console emulator for iOSDelta iPac for iOS at JILAXZONE
DolphiniOSNintendo Wii & Nintendo GameCube emulator for iOSDolphiniOS for iOS at JILAXZONE
EmuThreeDS(Early) Nintendo 3DS emulator for iOSEmuThreeDS for iOS at JILAXZONE
eNGEPS1 emulator for iOSeNGE for iOS at JILAXZONE
FlycastSEGA Dreamcast emulator for iOSFlycast for iOS at JILAXZONE
iNDSNDS emulator for iOSiNDS for iOS at JILAXZONE
Play!PS2 emulator for iOSPlay! for iOS at JILAXZONE
PPSSPPPSP emulator for iOS1) Apple App Store Link
2) (Sideload) PPSSPP for iOS at JILAXZONE
ProvenanceMultiple game console emulator for iOSProvenance for iOS at JILAXZONE
RetroArchMultiple game console emulator for iOS1) Apple App Store Link
2) (Sideload) RetroArch for iOS at JILAXZONE
RetroGameBotMultiple game console emulator runs on Safari for iOSRetroGamesBot for iOS at JILAXZONE
YuzuNintendo Switch emulator, workaround for iOSYuzu workaround for iOS at JILAXZONE

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