How to Enter NES Cheat Codes in an Emulator

Q: Does eNES accept SNES hex codes?

Yes. Under Cheats (SNES), type 8 hex digits such as 7E0200FF: the first 6 are the address and the last 2 are the value.

Which cheat code formats work?

Code formats eNES accepts
System	Format	Example shape
NES	6 letters	SLAIUZ
NES	8 letters (with compare byte)	ZEXPYGLA
SNES	8 hex digits	7E0200FF
SNES	8 letters in two groups of 4	XXXX-XXXX

The NES letter codes use a 16-letter alphabet: A P Z L G I T Y E O X U K S V N. Any other letter makes the code invalid. Codes come from classic cheat books and fan lists for the game you own; eNES also lets you search its list with Search database and shows Suggested for this game when it has some.

How to enter cheat codes on the NES emulator

Start the game and tap the hammer icon at the top of the screen.
Type the code, with or without a dash. Letters are converted to upper case for you.
Tap Add Code. The cheat appears under Active Cheats and applies at once.
Flip its switch off to pause it, or swipe to delete it. Delete all cheats clears the game's list.
For SNES games the screen is called Cheats (SNES) and works the same way.

The free version shows Free: 1 active cheat. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited. Turn one off before turning another on, or upgrade for no limit.

What a code really does: worked examples

A cheat code is a compressed instruction: 'when the game reads this address, give it this value instead'. eNES decodes each letter to a number from 0 to 15, then reshuffles the bits into an address and a value. These examples use the app's own code-field placeholder and an invented code, not codes for any real game.

Decoded by the same rules eNES uses
Code	Address	New value	Compare value
SLAIUZ (NES, 6 letters)	$DA03	$B5 (181)	None
ZEXPYGLA (NES, 8 letters)	$94A7	$02 (2)	$03 (3)
7E0200FF (SNES, hex)	$7E0200	$FF (255)	None

For SLAIUZ, the letters map to 13, 3, 0, 5, 11 and 2. The address always lands in the cartridge area, $8000 and up. An 8-letter code adds a compare value: the swap only happens when the original byte at that address matches it, which keeps the cheat from breaking other parts of the game.

SNES hex codes are simpler: the first 6 digits are the memory address and the last 2 are the value. So 7E0200FF writes 255 to address $7E0200 while it is on.

Tips and common mistakes

If eNES rejects a code, the letters or the length are wrong. Check for O versus 0 and for letters outside the 16-letter alphabet.
A code written for a different region or revision of the game may do nothing or cause glitches.
Stacking many cheats can crash a game. Add them one at a time and make a save state first.
Some codes are meant to be turned on only at a certain point, such as on the title screen.

Questions and answers

Why does a valid code do nothing?

It was probably made for another version of the game. Codes patch exact addresses, so a different region or revision can move the data elsewhere.

How many cheats can I use at once?

One in the free version, unlimited with Pro. Cheats you turn off stay in the list, so you can swap between them.

Does eNES accept SNES hex codes?

Yes. Under Cheats (SNES), type 8 hex digits such as 7E0200FF: the first 6 are the address and the last 2 are the value.

How to enter NES and SNES cheat codes in eNES