mattials
English
iGBA

ROM hack white screen: what a bad patch does and how to fix it

A ROM hack that shows a white screen in iGBA almost always has a patched file at fault, not the app. Re-patch from a clean copy of the exact base revision the author lists, apply the patch once, keep the name iGBA gives the copy, and delete any cheats written for the original game.

3 min read · Updated 2026-09-26

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play ★ 4.4 (2,692)

This page is only about hacks. For a plain game file that will not open, such as an empty copy or a wrong extension, our black screen guide is the right one.

Patch problems, most likely first

Patched-file causes of a white or blank screen
CauseHow it shows upFix
Wrong base revisionWhite screen, or iGBA refuses a UPS or BPS patchPatch the exact revision the author lists
Patched twiceBlank screen or garbageStart again from the clean backup
IPS on the wrong baseBroken file, no warning at allCheck the base by hand; IPS cannot
Patch for another hack versionOdd graphics or a freeze early onUse the patch that matches your version
Cheats from the original gamePicture breaks after adding a codeRemove them from Cheats
Wrong save typeSave errors, or save damage laterSet Flash 128K, reopen

Redo the patch from scratch

  1. Delete the broken game from iGBA with Delete ROM File. Only the game file goes; saves stay.
  2. Find the original backup in your library, not the patched copy. If you only have the patched copy, you need a fresh backup from your cartridge.
  3. Compare it with the base the author lists. iGBA checks UPS and BPS patches against it and refuses a mismatch; IPS patches are never checked.
  4. Pick the patch with Import ROMs, choose the clean original and tap Apply Patch, once.
  5. Open the new copy. To keep your progress, export the old save first and bring it in with Import .sav.

The step people skip is the first. A clean original makes the rest quick, and every other fix assumes it.

Why IPS fails without a word

An IPS patch is a list of byte positions and the bytes to write there. It never looks at what is already in those positions. Give it a file from another revision and it overwrites the wrong bytes, then reports success. UPS and BPS carry a checksum of the file they expect, so iGBA stops you before it writes anything.

Cheats and old codes

A hack moves data around. A cheat code written for the original game may write to a place that now holds something else. Remove everything from the Cheats list, play a minute, then add codes one at a time.

A renamed file, a missing save

If the hack runs but your progress is gone, you probably renamed the file. iGBA ties the save to the file name, so the old save, named after the old file, is still there. Rename the file back, or long-press the game and use Import .sav with the old save.

Save corrupted or save type

Big hacks such as Radical Red use a 128K flash chip. On 64K the game stumbles late, and a save written that way is missing half its data. Check Save diagnostics under Settings → Saving; our Flash 128K guide explains the rest and how to recover.

Questions and answers

Why does my ROM hack show a white screen?
Usually the patched file is wrong: a different base revision than the author lists, a patch applied twice or a patch for another version. Re-patch from a clean copy.
Why is Radical Red white on my iPhone?
Check that the patch went on the exact base the author lists and that it was applied once. Then remove cheats and check the save type.
Why is my ROM hack not working at all?
First check what you imported: a game goes into the library, while a patch opens the patch screen and needs a base game. After that, suspect the base revision.
Is my Radical Red save file corrupted?
If it was written on a 64K chip, half of it is missing. Try Recover In-Game Save, an older save state or a backup, and read our Flash 128K guide.
Do I need a BIOS file for a hack?
No. iGBA has no BIOS setting and never asks for one.

More iGBA guides