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How to use the GBA link cable nearby or online, or trade with yourself on one iPhone

Two nearby iPhones or iPads link over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with no internet. For a friend far away, or an iPhone with an Android phone, the Online section of Link Cable pairs you with a room code; both players need the latest iGBA and the exact same game file. One device alone can still trade: pause and tap Self Trade to trade with a copy of your own save, or swap a party member between two different saves on the same phone.

6 min read · Updated 2026-09-26

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Nearby or online?

Nearby play needs no internet: Apple's MultipeerConnectivity reaches the other device directly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the way AirDrop does. Online play goes over the internet through a small relay we run, which only forwards the game data between the two phones. That is the route for a friend in another city, or for an Android phone.

Same Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?

For nearby play, either. The devices don't need a shared router; MultipeerConnectivity falls back to Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi. Turn both on, allow Local Network for iGBA, and let Wireless Linking find the other device. Online play only needs each phone to have a connection.

iPhone to iPad?

Yes. Any two iPhones or iPads on the same iGBA version link, nearby or online, with the same game file.

Can iPhone link to Android?

Yes, online. iGBA 2.17.0 on iPhone and 1.0.5 on Android share the same link engine, so an iPhone and an Android phone trade and battle through Online, in GB, GBC and GBA games. Nearby linking stays within each system: iPhone with iPhone, Android with Android. Save files also move between the two, since both read .sav, .igbasave and .igbabackup files.

Exact-file compatibility check

The link checks the game's data, not its name: two files called differently still match, but a different region, revision or patched copy counts as a different game. Saves don't need to match: each device sends its own when the link connects.

Connection checklist

  • The latest iGBA on both devices; an older version is refused
  • The exact same game file on both, each saved in-game once
  • Nearby: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, Local Network access allowed for iGBA, no VPN or guest Wi-Fi
  • Online: a working connection on both, and the game already open
What works, depending on who you're playing with
SituationWhat works
One phoneSelf Trade
Two iPhones/iPads nearbyThe link cable, nearby or online
iPhone + AndroidThe link cable through Online
A friend far awayOnline, with a room code

Trade on one iPhone

Both one-device tools sit under Self Trade in the pause menu, shown only in the trading games iGBA recognises. Any other game needs the two-device link.

Virtual partner: trade with a copy of your save

  1. Put the one to trade in the first party slot — the banner asks for slot 1.
  2. Pause, tap Self Trade, then Emulated Link Self-Trade (In-Game). A red Stop Self Trade button appears.
  3. Trade in-game as if a friend had plugged in. The partner is your own save mirrored back, so trade evolutions still happen.
  4. Tap Stop Self Trade when done.

Save editor: swap between two saves

  1. Import the second game, open it once and save inside — keep MyGame.sav beside MyGame.gba so the editor reads its header.
  2. Open the receiving game, pause, tap Self Trade, then Save File Trade (Editor).
  3. Under Partner Saves, tap the other save — a different game shows an orange different game tag.
  4. Pick one on each side, tap Review Trade, Trade Now, then Done.

Trade between two nearby devices

  1. Settings, Beta features, turn on Link Cable (beta) on both devices. That adds Link Cable to the pause menu.
  2. Copy the same game file to both and save in-game on each — a different region or revision counts as a different game.
  3. Pause, tap Link Cable, turn on Wireless Linking on both. The other device appears under Nearby Players.
  4. Tap the other player's name; they get a Link Cable request and tap Connect.
  5. When Link cable connected appears, tap Start link play on each. The game restarts to sync, after saving a Pre-Link state.
  6. Walk to the trade or battle room on both, pause, and tap Plug Link Cable.
  7. Finish the trade or battle, then tap the other player in Link Cable and confirm Disconnect. You should see Link ended — game progress saved.

While linked, the pause menu loses save states, rewind, cheats and speed, since each would change one game and not the other.

Play online, also between iPhone and Android

  1. Update iGBA on both phones: 2.17.0 or later on iPhone, 1.0.5 or later on Android. Older versions cannot link with these.
  2. On iPhone, turn on Link Cable (beta) under Settings, Beta features. On Android the link cable is already in the pause menu.
  3. Both players open the same game file and save in-game once. Online play needs the game open.
  4. Pause and tap Link Cable. Under Online, one player taps Create online room and sends the 6-letter code with Share code; the other taps Join with a code… and types it.
  5. No one to play with? Find a player with this game pairs you with anyone online right now with the same game and version.
  6. When the two connect, both games restart from the save to stay in sync; on iPhone, confirm with Start link play. Then go to the trade or battle room on both and plug the cable from the pause menu.
  7. To finish, tap the room line in Link Cable and confirm Disconnect.

Online play depends on both connections. If one phone loses signal or the app closes, the link ends and both games go back to the save from before the link; after 30 seconds without the other player the session closes on its own. Reconnect and carry on. Expect a little more input delay than nearby.

Supported games and versions

Evolve-by-trade only happens with the virtual partner or two linked devices; the save editor never plays the trade scene. The editor crosses between any two saves of the same generation (not Japanese with non-Japanese GB/GBC); the two-device link needs identical files, so it cannot cross versions. Battles and other link modes only work between two devices.

Virtual link versus save editor

  • Emulated Link Self-Trade (In-Game) runs the real trade scene against a virtual partner, so evolve-by-trade works — but you only get back what you sent.
  • Save File Trade (Editor) never runs a trade. It rewrites both save files directly, so it can cross between two games, but no scene plays and nothing evolves.

Before writing, the editor copies both saves aside and reads them back to confirm the arrival landed correctly; a failed write restores both files and Trade Error says why.

Fix a failed connection

Nearly every failure is one of two things: different game files, or devices that can't reach each other.

  • Can’t link: both devices must load the exact same game — copy one file to both.
  • Nobody under Nearby Players: allow Local Network access on both, avoid guest Wi-Fi or a VPN, move closer.
  • Can’t link: both devices need the same app version — update both.
  • Link lost sync or the other player disconnected — both games restore to their pre-link saves; reconnect.
  • Couldn’t sync save data — try connecting again: your save didn’t arrive in 30 seconds.
  • Room not found. Check the code and try again.: the code is mistyped, or the room closed. Create a new one.
  • Couldn’t reach the online service. Check your connection and try again.: one phone has no working internet.
  • The online service refused the connection. Update iGBA and try again.: one side runs an older version.

On one device:

  • No Self Trade row: iGBA doesn't recognise the game — common with modified files.
  • Save File Not Found: save in the game once, then retry.
  • No compatible partner saves found.: import and save the partner game once — only the same generation shows up.

Read the guide: How to Use an Xbox or PS5 Controller With a GBA Emulator on iPhone

Questions and answers

Can you trade with yourself on one iPhone?
Yes, in the trading games iGBA recognises. Emulated Link Self-Trade (In-Game) trades with a copy of your save, which is how you evolve one by trading. Save File Trade (Editor) swaps between two different saves. Both are under Self Trade in the pause menu.
Can iPhone and Android play the GBA link cable together?
Yes, online, with iGBA 2.17.0 or later on iPhone and 1.0.5 or later on Android. Pause, tap Link Cable and use Online: create a room and share the code, or join with one. Nearby linking only works iPhone with iPhone or Android with Android.
Can two different GBA versions trade over the link cable?
Not between two devices: the link needs the exact same file on both and shows Can’t link: both devices must load the exact same game otherwise. On one device, Save File Trade (Editor) swaps between two games that trade on the original hardware, without the trade scene.
Does the save editor trigger trade evolutions?
No. It writes the save files while the game is not running, so the trade scene never plays and nothing evolves. Use the virtual partner or two devices.

More iGBA guides