eNES How to add ROMs to iPhone and iPad with eNES
To add ROMs to an iPhone, put your own game file where the Files app can see it, then tap Import ROM in eNES and pick it, or open the file in the Files app and choose eNES. The game is copied into the eNES library and is ready to play.
★ 4.4 (183) Which files can you add?
| Extension | System |
|---|---|
| .nes | NES |
| .sfc | SNES |
| .smc | SNES |
eNES registers these three file types with iOS, so the Files app shows them as eNES documents. A .zip archive has to be unzipped first: tap it in the Files app and iOS extracts it next to the archive.
eNES has no built-in source for these files and never links to one; only move over a .nes, .sfc or .smc file you have the right to use under the law where you live, such as homebrew distributed by its author.
How to put ROMs on iOS: get the file onto the device
Pick whichever route matches where that file is now.
- From a Mac: AirDrop the file to the iPhone and save it to Files, or copy it into iCloud Drive.
- From a Windows PC: copy it into iCloud Drive or another cloud drive whose app shows up in the Files app.
- From a USB stick or SD card reader: connect it to the iPhone or iPad and it appears in Files under Locations.
- Already on the device: it is probably under On My iPhone or Downloads in the Files app.
How to install ROMs on iPhone: import into eNES
Method 1: from inside eNES
- Open eNES and tap Import ROM, or the + button above the list.
- Browse to the file in the Files picker and tap it.
- The game appears in the library. Tap it, then Play.
Method 2: from the Files app
- Open the Files app and find your .nes, .sfc or .smc file.
- Tap the file, or tap Share and choose eNES.
- eNES opens and imports it automatically into the library.
Where eNES keeps your games
Imported files are copied into the app's own folder, so you can delete the original from Downloads afterwards. If iCloud Drive is turned on for the device, that folder lives in your iCloud Drive and is backed up with it. Save states are stored separately inside the app.
NES games in this library can also go to the eNES app on Apple Watch: open the game's page and use its Apple Watch section. SNES games stay on the iPhone. If the file lives in iCloud Drive and has not been opened for a while, give the iPhone a few seconds to download it before you send it.
If the import fails
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| ROM Already Exists | You already have this game. Choose Replace to overwrite it or cancel. |
| Not enough disk space to import this ROM. | Free some space on the device and try again. |
| File is too large to be a valid ROM. | The file is not an NES or SNES game, or it is still zipped. |
| Import Failed | The file could not be read. Download or copy the file again. |
Common mistakes
- Leaving the file in a mail or chat attachment. Save it to Files first.
- Renaming a file to .nes that is really something else. The extension has to match the real content.
- Deleting a game to tidy up. Delete ROM also removes its saves; keep it if you want them.
Questions and answers
Do I need a computer to add ROMs to my iPhone?
Can I add ROMs without iTunes or a cable?
Does eNES include any games?
More eNES guides
- How to play NES games on iPhone and iPad with eNES
- How to play SNES games on iPhone and iPad with eNES
- How NES and SNES save states work in eNES
- How to enter NES and SNES cheat codes in eNES
- How to connect a controller to iPhone and play eNES with it
- Play NES games on Apple Watch: installation and transfer
- All questions about eNES
- Back to eNES