docs: give RetroArch's Windows system folder

RetroArch defaults system_directory to :\system, the folder of retroarch.exe (platform_win32.c), for the installer as for the portable archive. %APPDATA%\RetroArch holds only a fallback retroarch.cfg.
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Abdessamad Derraz committed 2026-10-21 10:10:25 +02:00
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commit 1fff3137e8
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@@ -726,5 +726,22 @@ class FirstInstallWalkthrough(unittest.TestCase):
self.assertNotIn("cannot stop and ask", section)
class RetroArchWindowsSystemFolder(unittest.TestCase):
"""Getting started gave %APPDATA%\\RetroArch\\system for the Windows
installer. RetroArch's default is `:\\system`, the folder of
retroarch.exe (platform_win32.c). %APPDATA% is where a retroarch.cfg
can live, and install.py reads it there."""
def test_page_and_installer_agree(self):
import install
source = inspect.getsource(install)
self.assertIn('ra_dir or exe_dir / "system"', source)
self.assertTrue(str(install._os_default_dests("windows")["retroarch"]).replace("\\", "/").endswith("/system"))
section = _section(_page("getting-started.md"), "RetroArch")
self.assertNotIn("%APPDATA%\\RetroArch\\system", section)
self.assertIn("`system\\` next to `retroarch.exe`", section)
if __name__ == "__main__":
unittest.main()
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@@ -108,18 +108,19 @@ RetroArch uses the `system_directory` setting in `retroarch.cfg`. Default locati
| OS | Default path |
|----|-------------|
| Windows (installer) | `%APPDATA%\RetroArch\system\` |
| Windows (portable .7z) | `system\` next to `retroarch.exe` |
| Windows (installer or portable .7z) | `system\` next to `retroarch.exe` |
| Windows (UWP/MSIX package) | `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\1e4cf179-f3c2-404f-b9f3-cb2070a5aad8_*\LocalState\system\` |
| Linux | `~/.config/retroarch/system/` |
| Linux (Flatpak) | `~/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/system/` |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/RetroArch/system/` |
| Steam Deck (Flatpak) | `~/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/system/` |
| Android | `/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/system/` |
Windows has two layouts because the installer stores its data under `%APPDATA%`
while the portable archive keeps everything inside the folder you extracted it
to. If both exist on the machine, the one RetroArch actually reads is the one
shown in the UI.
On Windows, `retroarch.cfg` is read beside `retroarch.exe` first, then from
`%APPDATA%\RetroArch\`. Either way, a `system_directory` left at its default is
the `system` folder beside `retroarch.exe` (`:\system` in RetroArch's
`frontend/drivers/platform_win32.c`, where `:` stands for the folder of the
executable).
To check your actual path: open RetroArch, go to **Settings > Directory > System/BIOS**, or look for `system_directory` in `retroarch.cfg`.